Best Platinum USA rental car benefit (Avis, Hertz, National)?
Nov 3, 2022, 4:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 5,662
Best Platinum USA rental car benefit (Avis, Hertz, National)?
I don't rent cars often enough to have status with a particular company. I've looked over the three options that give some perk to Platinum holders and I don't see a clear winner. Any chance that I missed something in the fine print? (I need to book a car soon, just can't figure out which vendor to use.)
Nov 3, 2022, 5:57 pm
#2
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Previous discussion from 2011: Avis, Hertz or National? I wouldn't look at that thread for answers, because too much will have changed, but it may give you ideas about factors to consider.
Nov 3, 2022, 6:48 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (CC SUBs & BD), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 3,276
Don't use Hertz. MANY reports and episodes of people arrested after Hertz reports their rental car as being stolen. Search "Hertz lawsuit", many results including:
Hertz Is Still Having Rental Car Customers Wrongfully Arrested, Lawsuit Claims
Hertz faces lawsuit from 47 customers claiming false arrests
Hertz Is Still Having Rental Car Customers Wrongfully Arrested, Lawsuit Claims
Hertz faces lawsuit from 47 customers claiming false arrests
Nov 3, 2022, 7:14 pm
#4
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Hertz gives a four hour grace period to return a car without charging for extra hours. 4 hour grace period with Hertz + Amex Plat?
(We typically rent from Hertz. No arrests.)
(We typically rent from Hertz. No arrests.)
Nov 4, 2022, 10:39 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: New York, USA / London, UK
Posts: 34
Thanks for sharing... this is great, my PC status was about to expire... although every time I travel, I make a booking with both National (Exec Elite) and Hertz (President's Circle) and I always end up taking a car w/ National instead bc of their fleet quality
Nov 5, 2022, 11:02 am
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,423
IMO the National Executive benefit is the most valuable. National is all around easier/better to deal with than Hertz. While I've never been arrested by Hertz, I've been screwed by them many times - everything from crappy cars and won't let you choose another one to charging for fuel when I returned on a full tank.
I also think there's something to be said for NOT patronizing a company that routinely has its customers arrested due its own errors, and refuses to fix its processes.
I also think there's something to be said for NOT patronizing a company that routinely has its customers arrested due its own errors, and refuses to fix its processes.
Nov 5, 2022, 8:00 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,696
National has the best cars, best rewards program, best customer service...but it's also the most expensive. Hertz is a poor man's National. I'd rank Avis third because it's just as expensive as the others but without any of the benefits.
Nov 6, 2022, 4:05 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 5,662
So, as indicated I don't rent quite enough for it to matter, but I'd like to make sure that I understand correctly: You arrive with two rental car reservations and only take one? Do you just cancel the other one from the app?
Nov 6, 2022, 7:56 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,222
Agree that National has the best fleet and service. Rewards program - good if you do a lot of short inexpensive rentals. I could spend $450 for a long-weekend rental from Manhattan and get the same credit toward a free rental as a $30 one-day rental, say, off-season in Florida. Hertz is "more fair" as it's based on spend and there are various redemption options. My other problem with National is that their hours in New York City are terrible, it's like they don't really want people renting cars from them. In terms of National pricing, I usually find that not using any code gives the best rate (cheaper than using the Amex code it seems!), unless you have a good corporate discount you can use.
Nov 8, 2022, 3:49 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,696
Agree that National has the best fleet and service. Rewards program - good if you do a lot of short inexpensive rentals. I could spend $450 for a long-weekend rental from Manhattan and get the same credit toward a free rental as a $30 one-day rental, say, off-season in Florida. Hertz is "more fair" as it's based on spend and there are various redemption options. My other problem with National is that their hours in New York City are terrible, it's like they don't really want people renting cars from them. In terms of National pricing, I usually find that not using any code gives the best rate (cheaper than using the Amex code it seems!), unless you have a good corporate discount you can use.
Nov 8, 2022, 2:10 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 5,662
That does sound good, but AmEx doesn't get you that tier, right? Just the one below.
Nov 8, 2022, 2:35 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,818