I actually saved tons of money over the years and will miss the coupons. This is like Southwest going from Rapid Rewards 1.0 (16 oneways get you 2 oneways anywhere) to RR 2.0 ($ based). Some will like it and some won't. At the end, Avis wins.

What I really dislike is how Avis is rolling this out. The program terms were changed without any notification, advance or not, in July. Suddenly, the coupons are expiring 1/15/2015 instead of the 6 months advertised when we earned the status. There is still no tangible information 3 months later.

I know Avis fully has the right to do so. However, it is just another way to show the customers they don't care, they are sleezy (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/avis-...practices.html) and they take the customers for granted.

Important update: Avis Rewards are changing.
 

Received today via e-mail:

The highway is more inviting when it comes with a few extras like Avis Preferred. With a complimentary Avis Preferred membership, at many locations, you can skip the lines go straight to your car and drive off. With the introduction of our new program, there are a couple of changes we want you to be aware of because you have elected to receive Frequent Traveler Credits.

Avis First will become Avis Preferred Plus:
Travel is important to you, and so are its rewards. That’s why we want to inform you that on or around November 20, 2014, Avis First will become Avis Preferred Plus. Though members will no longer have the option to receive Weekend Rental Rewards, you will continue to earn your choice of Frequent Traveler credits (airline, hotel, etc.).

If you are an Avis First member, please continue to use the avisfirst.com website throughout the transition process to monitor your activity and view any unused or expired Weekend Rental Rewards.

Free Day Rewards:
On or around November 20, 2014 Ali’i Club, Avis RentSavers California, Avis RentSavers Arizona, NY RentControl, and Avis Weekender Club programs will end. As a result members can continue to earn rewards on qualifying rentals until this time and any newly issued coupons can be used until January 15, 2015. Though you will no longer have the option to receive these rewards, you will continue to earn your choice of Frequent Traveler credits (airline, hotel, etc.).

Learn more about these changes and additional details of our new program.

Here to get you there, the way you want to go.

avis first - preferred plus.....k I dont care

no weekend rentals:k...seems like a demotion

everything else remains the same

okay so whats the point of all this bs? name change and less rewards is supposed to make us feel good?

Until I saw this latest from Avis in the post above, I might have thought so, but the wording in there is curious:
Previously, you couldn't earn those and qualify for free weekend rentals at the same time. (That's why I never got any weekend rental coupons except each time I reach First after dropping out of First; because I value the best airline/hotel bonuses more than an occasional free weekend rental with lots of restrictions.) But the fact that you couldn't was buried in the Avis First T&Cs.

It sounds like now, if they create a points program, it'll be really clear (like it is at Hertz) that you're choosing on a per-rental basis whether to earn Avis points or to earn partner credits. Before you couldn't see that choice at all (and many people were simply mystified as to why they never earned free weekend rentals, because they didn't realize that choosing to earn partner credit disqualified that). So if they make this more clear, that's something else that's changing.

Also, free weekend rental earning started over every year. If earned points stay around from to year (they haven't explained that much yet, I don't think), then that would yet something else that's changing.

I don't see where you can earn Avis points under the new setup. Just partner points/miles.

Look at the Avis email quoted in post 2 of this thread, which says (in part):

Received this today also and assume it is a stealth dilution. My Avis rentals have declined a lot in the past year anyway owing to crazy out-of-line rate quotes no loyalty program can compensate for.

Even had an Avis rep ring my work line to ask why I wasn't using them more. I said they can stop charging twice as much as the competition for unkempt, grubby cars with 40,000+ miles on them.

Classic, what was the reply?

You know, I sort of miss Hertz but my current company uses Avis. Since UA announced a deal with Hertz, I looked into it more. A lot of people actually hate Hertz and think it has gone down the hill.

I guess they are all pretty bad nowadays...

I follow both this forum and the Hertz forum, and i always chuckle because both sides moan about how bad their rental company is and say how much better the other company is. On the surface, though, I would tend to agree more with the Hertz people (and you)--their fleet is very high mileage and their cars not well equipped (as a whole) compared to Avis's fleet. But with Avis, a lot of times you pay for what you get, aka pay more than Hertz.

+1. The grass is always greener on the other side. I'm Avis First (or whatever the new name will be) but have been giving all my business recently to National, as a back-up status. I have been getting a little spoiled on National, though. The new version of Avis First might not be enough to cause me to shift back to Avis come January.

I must say I love Avis's skip the line approach. I hated it when I go with another Rental and I had to wait in line with only one agent and each person needs at least 10-15 minutes just to rent a freaking car.

Avis all the way for me.

Seems like the dates have changed
 

Just took a look at the website for updates, and it seems that certs will now be issued through 12/31/15.

Also states any certs issued after 7/14 will be good through 2/28/15, yet mine are showing as expiring 1/15. :rolleyes:


Hopefully Avis will get 1/2 as good as Hertz is! (Since I MUST use them, not a choice I can make!! :td: )

https://www.ccrgservices.com/web/Avi...Rental_Rewards still says 1/15/2015.

It seems https://www.avis.com/car-rental/cont...Q-US_en-047207 now says 2/28/2015. I guess some people complained and they pushed back the date? Or, the new program is not ready? Hopefully they will go back and change the dates for those earned in Aug, Sep and Oct.

Where did you see the 12/31/2015 date?

Now, one site still says 1/15/2015 but another one (https://www.avis.com/car-rental/cont...Q-US_en-047207) says:
What a stupid way of doing business and jerking the frequent customers around? I guess this probably also implies the new program is somewhat delayed?