FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Thrifty Blue Chip not a scam but not much use.
Old Apr 3, 2012 | 2:06 pm
  #2  
Elola
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, DL Silver Medallion, Hilton Gold
Posts: 255
Originally Posted by pd154
I am sure it is in the small print somewhere but it makes the blue chip rewards almost useless for me.
You still pay tax and all fees, which is about same cost as the daily rental fee. ( I assumed this would be the case, although why you would pay tax on something that costs $0.00 relly does not make sense.
The thing that i did not realize is that you have to enter your "free day" as a code, thus not letting you enter any code which you would normally put in. It is tricky by thrifty as you usually get a little bit off for being a Bluechip member, or whatever other code you use For instance the "special deal" which is offered every time. So for my most recent rental, without redeeming any blue chip coupons i am paying $197, Using the Coupon code instead, It is $247 minus whatever they rebate me for using the coupons. ( 2 days looks like it will be 17 +17 = $34 so I will be paying $17 more for the privilege of using 2 coupons)!
I tried booking 2 days seperately but then no 1 week price so higher still.

I was going to change my rewards to airline points but I believe that there is a surcharge to do that also.

The pain in the rear is that many times i have not gone with other's like hertz or enterprise but thinking i was getting something i stuck with Thrifty.

Like I say in header, Thrifty is not a scam but the blue chip is no use for me so what is it?
Welcome to FT!

What you've discovered is not unique to Thrifty, it is the SOP for redeeming rental points across all companies. When you return your vehicle and your coupons/points are actually applied, your final total will be less than you were expecting, here's why:

--When you book the car you are quoted the full taxes/fees for the rental as if you are paying for the daily/weekly rate charges

--When you return the car, the daily/weekly rate charges are removed from the contract when the coupons/points are applied and you are left with the remaining charges:
***Any daily/one-time rental fees charged that are not a function of the rate (ie. a Vehicle Licensing Cost Recovery fee)
***The applicable taxes on those fees

You are correct that opting to receive credit instead for a US-based FF program will result in a fee being charged (usually no more than a few bucks per rental).

There are a plethora of threads that discuss both of these topics on each of the rental car forums.
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