rob_flies_ua, here's what I posted in the advance planning thread, updated with current info:
One thing I noticed that's missing is how easy it is to earn some/all of the hotel points needed with Avis/Budget to transfer to US for hits. Here are their good REGULAR hotel rewards (no coupon code required, free except noted):
Best Western(Avis only): 1000 per rental (5 rentals for a transfer)
Choice(both offer it, Avis charges $.75/day surcharge: 1000 per rental (5 rentals)
La Quinta: 1000 per rental (6 rentals)
Programs with a much more meager amount of points, but good for a small top-up:
Hilton: 250 per rental (40 rentals for a transfer)
Hyatt (Avis only): 300 per rental (17 rentals)
IHG: 125 per day (80 days)
SPG (Avis only): 50 per day (50 days)
Wyndham: 50 per day (160 days)
Other rental agencies don't offer as much as Avis/Budget does, although Hertz has 500 Marriott points per rental. Weekend rates can be cheap as well if you use a good corporate code.
Current promos that help (via Evan!'s
thread in Milesbuzz), details there:
5000 bonus HHonors points on 2+ day rentals with Budget (2 rentals = hit)
3x IHG points at Avis (375/day) with 2+ day rental
1,750 Best Western points at Avis with 2+ day rental (3 rentals = hit)
1,150 Wyndham points at Alamo on 3+ day rentals
1,000 Hyatt points at Avis on 2+ day rentals
Not everything here is lucrative, but it can help if you need to 'top off' an account to make a transfer. Plus, it's a way for car rentals prior to the start date of GS to count towards a hit, or if you'll have more than 6 car rentals during GS.