Using an Emerald Club "free day"
Feb 5, 2012, 10:01 pm
#32
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: AUS
Posts: 690
Feb 18, 2012, 11:39 am
#33
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
I booked a paid multi-day rental, returning the car to another airport. Then I tried to book the same reservation, using one free day; I was planning to cancel the prior reservation.
"No vehicles available". Right.
"No vehicles available". Right.
Nov 23, 2012, 1:01 am
#36
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,561
Yes, I am trying to use an award day (not a coupon free day). I have tried with a couple different codes and always get the same result. I usually only rent for long periods (more than a week) so it does no good to save it for a short jaunt. Here is what I tried:
7/26 - 8/4 in MCO
With code 8572130 and no free day, I get a rate of $337.
With code 8572130 and the free day, I get a rate of $528. In looking closer, I see that I am being charged the weekly rate $253, 2 extra days at $36 and then they are adding an "extension" for $251. So, it is almost like they are adding another week to my reservation. I also tried this with code 8572158 and for the dates of 3/22-3/31 and I get similar results.
Is it just me?? I think I may just go to earning miles even though I usually only fly Southwest. Thanks for the help!
7/26 - 8/4 in MCO
With code 8572130 and no free day, I get a rate of $337.
With code 8572130 and the free day, I get a rate of $528. In looking closer, I see that I am being charged the weekly rate $253, 2 extra days at $36 and then they are adding an "extension" for $251. So, it is almost like they are adding another week to my reservation. I also tried this with code 8572158 and for the dates of 3/22-3/31 and I get similar results.
Is it just me?? I think I may just go to earning miles even though I usually only fly Southwest. Thanks for the help!
I played around with this a little more today. It really seems to be code specific. The free day worked fine for any length of rental using the regular Emerald Club code. I also found a couple other codes that it worked fine with, but those codes did not give me as good of a rate. It really seems like these free days are only useful for one day rentals.
Thanks for the help.
Thanks for the help.
Code only - $436.41 ($353.39 + 1x extension @ $50.67)
Code + 1 free day - $700.05 ($343.63 + 7x extension @ $47.60 - $53.06 discount)
Code + 2 free days - $595.45 ($343.63 + 6x extension @ $47.96 - $94.76 discount)
Code + 3 free days - $504.52 ($343.63 + 5x extension @ $48.45 - $125.08 discount))
Code + 1x 1_2_Free code - $413.65 ($353.39 + 1x extension @ $50.67 - $18.96 discount)
Conversely, using the IBM code (for example) shows:
Code only - $368.06 ($180.00 + $36.00)
Code + 1 free day - $333.78 ($180.00 + $36.00 - $25.71 discount)
Code + 3 free days - $265.20 ($180.00 + $36.00 - $77.14 discount)
Code + 1x 1_2_Free code - $333.78 ($180.00 + $36.00 - $25.71 discount)
So for some reason, the KLM code (and a couple of others I tried) seems to go completely bonkers when you start mixing in free days. Anyone had any luck calling in to get this obvious error cleaned up?
Nov 28, 2012, 12:57 pm
#37
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, UA 1MM Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,001
That's absurd, I've never seen anything like this using an earned EC free rental day. What was the extra "$150 in charges" showing as on the contract? One way fees? I've never seen separate one-way fees at all on a National rental... it's usually just reflected in a really high one-day rate. Many members (including myself) save free rental days exactly for this purpose, i.e. expensive one-way rentals.
Jul 29, 2015, 10:24 am
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
I'm currently EE but might not quite make it back this year as I've taken on a client in NYC. If I make a reservation now for a rental next April (when I'll drop down to regular Exec), will I still be able to apply Free Days to the full price of PCAR/LCAR? Or will it recalculate at the time of rental to only discount the value of a FCAR?
Also, I currently have 3 free days but need to use 4. I'll earn the 4th free day in a couple months - I don't suppose there's any reason to make the reservation now, then apply the 4th day later, is there? Rental will be over a weekend at SFO, so I can't imagine they're going to suddenly run out of cars if I just wait until the 4th free day is in my account.
Also, I currently have 3 free days but need to use 4. I'll earn the 4th free day in a couple months - I don't suppose there's any reason to make the reservation now, then apply the 4th day later, is there? Rental will be over a weekend at SFO, so I can't imagine they're going to suddenly run out of cars if I just wait until the 4th free day is in my account.