Car Rentals [master thread]
#16
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Former long-time US GP; now AA dirt
Posts: 4,904
Well done! The issue for me is that rentals at PHL are usually cheap only on Sat-Sun. So I'd have to arrange that over three weekends, at the very least.
#18
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Ambassador, B6 Mosaic, SBUX Gold, Best Buy Elite
Posts: 1,838
Does anyone know if hertz posts the date you pick up the car or return it as the activity date? I usually take hertz points but I am picking up a car on 9/12 for return 9/15. If I am not going to get a hit I'd rather continue to take the hertz points.
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,489
Anyone have any problems with consecutive 1-day rentals from the same agency? I do regular 2-day weekend rentals at National and I remain fairly close to the rental location, making a car-swap on a Saturday night a rather painless exercise. In my experience, the rates don't really change on 1-day vs. 2-day rentals. (Although 3-day rentals are cheaper due to 3rd-Day-Free coupons.)
Would two National rentals post as 2 hits? If not, would one booked through Nationalcar.com followed by one booked through Alamo.com count as 2? Or would I need to walk across the street and hit Hertz or Avis?
It's a semi-small station: I wonder if the National people would bristle at this idea. I know them fairly well...I'd probably just be honest and tell 'em I'm doing it for the US Airways promo.
Would two National rentals post as 2 hits? If not, would one booked through Nationalcar.com followed by one booked through Alamo.com count as 2? Or would I need to walk across the street and hit Hertz or Avis?
It's a semi-small station: I wonder if the National people would bristle at this idea. I know them fairly well...I'd probably just be honest and tell 'em I'm doing it for the US Airways promo.
#20
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Programs: Military Space-A, UA Plat, AS MVP Gold 75K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,246
IIRC from last year, it was the day you picked up the car. Anyone remember differently?
#21
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: AA Plat Pto, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,535
Anyone have any problems with consecutive 1-day rentals from the same agency? I do regular 2-day weekend rentals at National and I remain fairly close to the rental location, making a car-swap on a Saturday night a rather painless exercise. In my experience, the rates don't really change on 1-day vs. 2-day rentals. (Although 3-day rentals are cheaper due to 3rd-Day-Free coupons.)
Would two National rentals post as 2 hits? If not, would one booked through Nationalcar.com followed by one booked through Alamo.com count as 2? Or would I need to walk across the street and hit Hertz or Avis?
It's a semi-small station: I wonder if the National people would bristle at this idea. I know them fairly well...I'd probably just be honest and tell 'em I'm doing it for the US Airways promo.
Would two National rentals post as 2 hits? If not, would one booked through Nationalcar.com followed by one booked through Alamo.com count as 2? Or would I need to walk across the street and hit Hertz or Avis?
It's a semi-small station: I wonder if the National people would bristle at this idea. I know them fairly well...I'd probably just be honest and tell 'em I'm doing it for the US Airways promo.
I would do National and Hertz. National requires you to keep the car Saturday night to get the lower weekend rates so swapping early would lead to a cost greater than just duplication of airport fees. I have limited experience with Hertz but I beleive I had a same day return at weekend rates last year.
My car strategy is to take advantage of the Alamo $15 rentals on the two weekends where that offer overlaps Grand Slam and pickup 2 rentals I would have incurred naturally. The remaining 2 rentals will be easy hits if I need them at the end of the promotion.
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,489
The more I think about it, I may just do a couple extra weekend rentals at my hometown HLE. For one, the swapping would nullify some 1-2-FREE credits since those need to be 2-day rentals to count. Second, the HLE rentals can sometimes be under $20/day all in since there aren't any airport fees - just local sales tax.
I'll probably be at 4 or 5 hits without doing anything unusual anyway.
I'll probably be at 4 or 5 hits without doing anything unusual anyway.
#23
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 441
Thanks for the $15 rate reminder. I like the sound of it. One potential issue is the rate requires a Saturday overnight, and I was planning on the rent-and-return-in-one-motion trick at the counter without driving. $15 is a great rate but it means I'd have to KEEP an actual car for a night?! Heavens, the things they ask of us.
#24
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BGM
Programs: HHonors Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Platinum, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 769
Thanks for the $15 rate reminder. I like the sound of it. One potential issue is the rate requires a Saturday overnight, and I was planning on the rent-and-return-in-one-motion trick at the counter without driving. $15 is a great rate but it means I'd have to KEEP an actual car for a night?! Heavens, the things they ask of us.
#25
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 441
Have you (or others) done the "rent and return at the same counter trick" successfully in the past? This is my first time going for the GS promotion and I was planning on trying to do this, but I wasn't sure if they'd go for it or not. Does anybody actually put up a fight about it? You'd think that they'd be more than willing to do it since they just get free money, right?
#26
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: AVL
Programs: Hhonors Diamond, Bonvoy LT Plat, TSA vilifier extraordinaire, Once upon a time... US Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 1,284
Have you (or others) done the "rent and return at the same counter trick" successfully in the past? This is my first time going for the GS promotion and I was planning on trying to do this, but I wasn't sure if they'd go for it or not. Does anybody actually put up a fight about it? You'd think that they'd be more than willing to do it since they just get free money, right?
Yes, I did this last year, as did several others. It depends on the counter agents' willingness and how long the line is -- and busy the office is -- but most FTers reported no problems, or very few. In my case I told the agent about the promo in a friendly, almost silly way, and they ate it up and were very nice about processing everything.
#27
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 2,851
Can you receive promotional miles from car rental and a "hit" as well.
Do you have to go through the link with U.S airways website to book for the car? I believe I have perks with my Amex Platinum card on car rental.
Am I able to receive the perks on using AMEX and promotional miles as well.
Thanks very much.
Do you have to go through the link with U.S airways website to book for the car? I believe I have perks with my Amex Platinum card on car rental.
Am I able to receive the perks on using AMEX and promotional miles as well.
Thanks very much.
#28
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 1,782
car rental procedures
I have what I hope is an easy question. Can I book a car rental anywhere and just use my Usair Div. Mile number on the reservation or do I need to book through the Usair website? I noticed that they put a code in the reservation (maybe US10?). Can I use a coupon code like Costco's and enter my DM number and still get a hit?
TIA
TIA
#29
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: HAJ, Germany
Programs: Honors Diamond, IHG Platinum Ambassador, Club Carlson Gold, LH SEN, TB Emerald
Posts: 312
for Hertz I know that you can put in your DM# and all is okay.
Perhaps you have to check on your bill/order that your number is printed on.
Perhaps you have to check on your bill/order that your number is printed on.
#30
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: US Gold; SPG Gold; Hilton Gold
Posts: 65
I have what I hope is an easy question. Can I book a car rental anywhere and just use my Usair Div. Mile number on the reservation or do I need to book through the Usair website? I noticed that they put a code in the reservation (maybe US10?). Can I use a coupon code like Costco's and enter my DM number and still get a hit?
TIA
TIA