FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Is it okay to drop off the rental car at different location when using free days?
Old Mar 22, 2013 | 11:01 am
  #1  
kay_jay
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: UA - Platinum; Starwood - Platinum; Alaska - MVP75; IHG - Platinum; Hilton - Gold; Marriott - Gold
Posts: 670
Is it okay to drop off the rental car at different location when using free days?

I am a National Emerald Executive and I have an upcoming trip coming up with strange situation:
I am already booked my flight one way from SFO to Cedar City, UT. I am getting much lower fare for my return flight from Las Vegas airport (fare from Cedar city is 4 times the LAS price), so I want to drop off at LAS airport.

My trip is for 4 days and I am using 4 free days that earned last year and using it for this reservation. [One of the best advantage using free days is that even if you drop off at a different airport, it wouldn't cost a penny extra. Rather if book by paying for the trip, it is outrageously expensive if you drop off at different airport]. I want to rent a mini-van. Total I will be paying for is $4.59. All looks great only if I am dropping off the mini van at Cedar City airport (same location where I picked up the mini van).

If I am dropping off at LAS instead of original pickup location, car selection narrows down to showing me only Compact, Intermediate and Full size car from Cedar City, UT. I called Cedar City National car agent and reason given is they want to have all their SUVs and minivan returned back to their location, so that they can have it and don't want them to be dropped off at different location. Fair enough. But I am getting 1/4th of airfare price from LAS.

I knew that when using Free day rentals, they cannot charge anything extra (except for fuel). Should I go ahead and book a mini-van reservation saying that I am dropping off at Cedar City, UT but really I am dropping at LAS? Will this be okay? Has any one done this?
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