Anyone use Honors points to rent a car?
Dec 1, 2003, 5:17 am
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Bryn Mawr PA & Wailea HI
Posts: 15,726
Try priceline.com or hotwire.com or orbitz.com after checking BFT. Honestly I have never heard of 20 dolla/day car rental taxes. I do not believe I have more than 30 dolla/day TOTAL for car rents in the past year or two.
MisterNice
MisterNice
Jun 16, 2006, 8:14 pm
#17
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
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Anyone use HHonors points to rent a car?
My oldest son is getting married. Since I don't have to shell out nearly the amount my daughter's wedding cost, I told him I'd provide the honeymoon. Of course, the less cash I use, the better. I have already booked the award flights and award rooms. Total out of pocket cost, $20 so far. He wants a car for 3 days. I noticed that I can book a free day rental for 15,000 HH points from Alamo. Anyone done this? It doesn't seem like good use of points, but the less cash I spend, the more I can give him to cover meals and incidentals.
thoughts?
thoughts?
Jun 16, 2006, 8:45 pm
#18
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SNA
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I've done it with Avis, though not for a couple of years. Fine if you have the points to spare, though if it is a weekend rental you can usually find pretty cheap prices. As I recall it was all pretty simple. Just call in the reservation as a HH points cert. As I recall I did it for my parents out of a local Avis office in the Chicago area. Never any problems.
Jun 17, 2006, 10:31 am
#19
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Eurozone
Programs: LH SEN, HH Gold
Posts: 3,002
There are some awesome Avis discount codes available, so personally, I don't think I would part with points for a car rental. Any feeling of gain by not spending real cash would be offset with the knowledge of how the points could be used more advantageously.
If your heart is already telling you it's not the best deal, then it probably isn't. The money (and then some) that you spend on the rental now will be recouped immediately the next time you get a room on wisely used points. That's how I see it.
If your heart is already telling you it's not the best deal, then it probably isn't. The money (and then some) that you spend on the rental now will be recouped immediately the next time you get a room on wisely used points. That's how I see it.
Jun 17, 2006, 4:14 pm
#20
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Abu Dhabi
Posts: 6,422
I agree, it is a bad use of points, since worst case scenario, you could priceline a car (and I've had success scoring full-size cars for riduculous amounts like $9/ day!).
Actually Avis is running a promo right now -- rent a car for 5 days and get a free weekend later. I know your son only wants a car for 3, but if his honeymoon will go on longer, you should do this and get a free weekend to use on him or someone else later.
BTW, congrats on BamaVol Jr's wedding! ^
Actually Avis is running a promo right now -- rent a car for 5 days and get a free weekend later. I know your son only wants a car for 3, but if his honeymoon will go on longer, you should do this and get a free weekend to use on him or someone else later.
BTW, congrats on BamaVol Jr's wedding! ^
Jun 17, 2006, 7:48 pm
#22
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: The County, Maine
Posts: 829
Check out www.hotwire.com
also. The pricing I have received from hotwire has been comparable to rates received from PL, and you know the price up front before reserving. This can be useful when comparing prices quoted from the regular rental car websites. I do not think that using points is a good idea. Can anyone verify if you are still responsible for all taxes and add-ons when using points for a car rental which makes it that much worse of a deal if true.
also. The pricing I have received from hotwire has been comparable to rates received from PL, and you know the price up front before reserving. This can be useful when comparing prices quoted from the regular rental car websites. I do not think that using points is a good idea. Can anyone verify if you are still responsible for all taxes and add-ons when using points for a car rental which makes it that much worse of a deal if true.
Jun 18, 2006, 6:40 am
#23
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
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Originally Posted by 3timesalady
I agree, it is a bad use of points, since worst case scenario, you could priceline a car (and I've had success scoring full-size cars for riduculous amounts like $9/ day!).
Actually Avis is running a promo right now -- rent a car for 5 days and get a free weekend later. I know your son only wants a car for 3, but if his honeymoon will go on longer, you should do this and get a free weekend to use on him or someone else later.
BTW, congrats on BamaVol Jr's wedding! ^
Actually Avis is running a promo right now -- rent a car for 5 days and get a free weekend later. I know your son only wants a car for 3, but if his honeymoon will go on longer, you should do this and get a free weekend to use on him or someone else later.
BTW, congrats on BamaVol Jr's wedding! ^
Unfortunately, the timing and location are fixed. They will spend Wed-Fri in Napa and Sat-Tue in San Francisco. Parking at the San Francisco Hilton in $46.50/day! And, they should not need a car for those 3 days. The car will be used to get to Napa and back, which I think is more essential, and possibly a day trip out of Napa - maybe Muir Woods, Sausalito or what ever takes their fancy. I think someone is going to gift them with a trip on the wine train.
I like the PL and Hotwire idea. I'd rather keep the 45,000 points. Sometimes I like the challenge of seeing how little a trip can cost overall, but it isn't a good use of points.
Aug 1, 2008, 11:58 pm
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,275
Anyone redeem car rentals with HH points?
In a frenzy to burn miles and points, I am thinking of burning my last 15,000 or so points on a car rental.
Can this be done immediately or must one request a certificate and wait 2-4 weeks then make a car reservation? I want to use it at the end of the month.
Can this be done immediately or must one request a certificate and wait 2-4 weeks then make a car reservation? I want to use it at the end of the month.
Aug 2, 2008, 1:48 pm
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,275
Answer: You won't be stuck with a certificate that you can't redeem because of award unavailability.
Call Hilton HHonors at 800 548 8690, open 5 am to 130 am Central Time (US).
They will give you an award code. Then you call the car rental company and reserve a car. Once you have a reservation, call Hilton again and they will deduct points.
Call Hilton HHonors at 800 548 8690, open 5 am to 130 am Central Time (US).
They will give you an award code. Then you call the car rental company and reserve a car. Once you have a reservation, call Hilton again and they will deduct points.
Aug 19, 2008, 5:54 am
#26
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: HILTON HONOURS
Posts: 2
honour points on car hire
Hi, im new so please forgive me if this is in the wrong place, but can i book car hire direct using my honour points as i cannot see to do it on line?
or can i book just car hire with my points?
or can i book just car hire with my points?
Aug 19, 2008, 6:07 am
#27
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ATL
Programs: DL, AA
Posts: 6,031
Welcome to FlyerTalk, pugg.
You an use your HHonors points to book a rental car, but you must call Hilton in order to book it.
You an use your HHonors points to book a rental car, but you must call Hilton in order to book it.