Oct 18, 2015, 12:17 pm
Last edit by: 4aks
July 2017 re-launch:
https://www.avis.com/car-rental/content/avisPref-Program.ac?pageName=avisPref-Points&MID=relaunch_07152017_av1uspoints_na_na
Links to new program info:
http://www.avis.com/car-rental/conte...visPref-Points
avis.com/car-rental/content/avisPref-Program.ac?pageName=avisPref-Points
https://www.avis.com/car-rental/html...ermsMiddle.pdf
avis.com/car-rental/html/global/en/terms/US/PrefMbrGlobalTermsMiddle.pdf
Calendar year 2015 rentals count towards status (12 rentals = preferred plus; 25 rentals = PC )
Rentals begun July 1st earn points
Redemption of points is unknown and dynamic
Data points:
July 2015 - 3 day Minivan rental, adding GPS ($9.99/day) requires 316 points. Adding Sirius (6.99/day) was 200 points
July 2015 - 4 day full size mid week - adding GPS ($9.99/day) requires 332 points
July 2015 - 1 day (full size?) in Seattle - 2400 points for one free day
Aug 2015 - weekend day at SAN, intermediate - 600 points (vs $18 base cost)
Sep 2015 - Weekday, Boston Back Bay, 1d6h rental - 4600 points (vs. $85 full size)
Oct 2015 - weekend day at SAN, intermediate - 600 points / jumped to 1330 points all month, many vehicle types
Nov 2015 - weekend day ORD - 950 points
Nov 2015 - Weekend day IAH - 1800 points (1 day)
Nov 2015 - weekend SAN - 950 pts, many vehicle types
Nov 2015 - weekend SAN - 1330 pts, many vehicle types (points devalued the closer to the rental period)
Dec 2015 - Weekend RSW - 1300/day for compact, 1800/day for full size and above. could get a convertible, which was $30 per day for the same 1800
Jan 2016 - Weekday IAD - 1800/day for SUV, 2500/day for compact, 3200/day for intermediate ($35-60/day base price before taxes/fees)
Sep 2016 - 11 day ILM. 600/day for intermediate. RDU was 1200/day and OAJ was 950/day for the same period!
Apr 2017 - Weekend L8I. $29+$6 or 950 pts/day for up to Full Size.
Apr 2017 - ORD $33+$24 in tax/fees or 950 points for Full, or $38+$25/1,330 pts for Premium.
May 2017 and beyond - One day from L8I. $31+$3 in tax/fees or 2400 pts/day for Full Size. Could upgrade to Luxury for 800 pts.
Devaluation email - July 2017 - new minimum of 700 points per rental day
https://www.avis.com/car-rental/content/avisPref-Program.ac?pageName=avisPref-Points&MID=relaunch_07152017_av1uspoints_na_na
Links to new program info:
http://www.avis.com/car-rental/conte...visPref-Points
avis.com/car-rental/content/avisPref-Program.ac?pageName=avisPref-Points
https://www.avis.com/car-rental/html...ermsMiddle.pdf
avis.com/car-rental/html/global/en/terms/US/PrefMbrGlobalTermsMiddle.pdf
Calendar year 2015 rentals count towards status (12 rentals = preferred plus; 25 rentals = PC )
Rentals begun July 1st earn points
Redemption of points is unknown and dynamic
Data points:
July 2015 - 3 day Minivan rental, adding GPS ($9.99/day) requires 316 points. Adding Sirius (6.99/day) was 200 points
July 2015 - 4 day full size mid week - adding GPS ($9.99/day) requires 332 points
July 2015 - 1 day (full size?) in Seattle - 2400 points for one free day
Aug 2015 - weekend day at SAN, intermediate - 600 points (vs $18 base cost)
Sep 2015 - Weekday, Boston Back Bay, 1d6h rental - 4600 points (vs. $85 full size)
Oct 2015 - weekend day at SAN, intermediate - 600 points / jumped to 1330 points all month, many vehicle types
Nov 2015 - weekend day ORD - 950 points
Nov 2015 - Weekend day IAH - 1800 points (1 day)
Nov 2015 - weekend SAN - 950 pts, many vehicle types
Nov 2015 - weekend SAN - 1330 pts, many vehicle types (points devalued the closer to the rental period)
Dec 2015 - Weekend RSW - 1300/day for compact, 1800/day for full size and above. could get a convertible, which was $30 per day for the same 1800
Jan 2016 - Weekday IAD - 1800/day for SUV, 2500/day for compact, 3200/day for intermediate ($35-60/day base price before taxes/fees)
Sep 2016 - 11 day ILM. 600/day for intermediate. RDU was 1200/day and OAJ was 950/day for the same period!
Apr 2017 - Weekend L8I. $29+$6 or 950 pts/day for up to Full Size.
Apr 2017 - ORD $33+$24 in tax/fees or 950 points for Full, or $38+$25/1,330 pts for Premium.
May 2017 and beyond - One day from L8I. $31+$3 in tax/fees or 2400 pts/day for Full Size. Could upgrade to Luxury for 800 pts.
Devaluation email - July 2017 - new minimum of 700 points per rental day
Avis Preferred Points valuation / experiences (2015)
Oct 18, 2015, 12:19 pm
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: SAN
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, American Air, National Car
Posts: 1,131
at my typical locations (SAN, DEN, RNO) - Avis is now requiring a lot higher amounts of points for redemption
1330 = $30 coupon at SAN during November 2015
DEN wants 3000+ pts for free day in December
1330 = $30 coupon at SAN during November 2015
DEN wants 3000+ pts for free day in December
Oct 18, 2015, 4:06 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: XNA, TUL
Programs: Avis First, AA plebian :(
Posts: 196
So far, I've seen 900 points a day for compact through full size, 650 for a subcompact, and 1330 for a Mustang hardtop. (Convertibles and other specialty are more)
It's not great, but it isn't far off from the free weekend coupons in terms of what I get let rental at the rate I pay and length of each rental. People who do multiple rentals a week are getting screwed, though.
My big annoyance with the points scheme is the tax situation. Since the points are used as a form of payment rather than reducing the top line cost of the rental you get dinged for the full ride on tax, unlike with the previous free weekend coupons.
It's not that I mind giving the government their due; my problem is with Avis choosing to change the program to apply them in a way that generates a higher tax bill. If they treated $ off coupons the same way, I'd be fine with it.
It's not great, but it isn't far off from the free weekend coupons in terms of what I get let rental at the rate I pay and length of each rental. People who do multiple rentals a week are getting screwed, though.
My big annoyance with the points scheme is the tax situation. Since the points are used as a form of payment rather than reducing the top line cost of the rental you get dinged for the full ride on tax, unlike with the previous free weekend coupons.
It's not that I mind giving the government their due; my problem is with Avis choosing to change the program to apply them in a way that generates a higher tax bill. If they treated $ off coupons the same way, I'd be fine with it.
Nov 11, 2015, 9:51 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Dayton, OH/CVG
Programs: DA Diamond(1 MM), Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador/Charter Ambassador, Hyatt Glob, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 880
Avis Points
I apologize for this if its a silly question: i rent a car from Avis at lest once a week. I am a Preferred Plus member for whatever that means. I have about 8,600 points.
Question: is that a lot of points? What can that get me? Anyone have any clue if its so many points per rental to redeem etc? Im totally clueless. Im sure I could do a dummy booking using points to see how far they would get me but just wanted to see what people here thought.
Thanks.
Question: is that a lot of points? What can that get me? Anyone have any clue if its so many points per rental to redeem etc? Im totally clueless. Im sure I could do a dummy booking using points to see how far they would get me but just wanted to see what people here thought.
Thanks.
Nov 13, 2015, 9:47 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, SPG Plat100, Hyatt Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 129
Most rentals are 600-1800 per day. Specialty/Luxury/Large SUVs/Signature are significantly higher.
Best way to find out is to just do a dummy booking.
Their system is awful.
Best way to find out is to just do a dummy booking.
Their system is awful.
Nov 14, 2015, 4:27 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: WAS-ish
Programs: UA 1K-MM + UC, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,341
The points system is opaque. In general, one point seems to get you between 2 and 5 cents in value. For accessories, it generally seems to be around 3. For rentals, AFAICT, the points required are based on the car class and the location, not the rate that you're paying. So if your AWD gets you a good rate on a particular vehicle (or they're having a sale), you might get terrible value for your points... but for a vehicle where the rates are currently high, you might get up to 5 cents in value.
Maybe we should have a new thread devoted to figuring out the rules behind point rates...
Maybe we should have a new thread devoted to figuring out the rules behind point rates...
Nov 15, 2015, 9:45 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
The points system is opaque. In general, one point seems to get you between 2 and 5 cents in value. For accessories, it generally seems to be around 3. For rentals, AFAICT, the points required are based on the car class and the location, not the rate that you're paying. So if your AWD gets you a good rate on a particular vehicle (or they're having a sale), you might get terrible value for your points... but for a vehicle where the rates are currently high, you might get up to 5 cents in value.
Maybe we should have a new thread devoted to figuring out the rules behind point rates...
Maybe we should have a new thread devoted to figuring out the rules behind point rates...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/avis-...es-2015-a.html (which is now this thread)
Last edited by sdsearch; Nov 16, 2015 at 8:13 am Reason: marked link as circular since threads have now been merged
Feb 27, 2016, 4:35 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,965
Has anyone rented a car with points? I wonder how the % based taxes are charged. The website shows sales tax based on the rate you picked, it seems, even though the base rate is 0. I wonder if the location's system calculates it differently (i.e. 0 for % based taxes).
Also, I was looking at SFO on a weekend... one day, it said 1200 or 1800 points/day which I thought was not too bad but then a few days later, it said 3200 points/day. So, it somehow varies like crazy. Costco rate that weekend is about $29 per day.
Also, I was looking at SFO on a weekend... one day, it said 1200 or 1800 points/day which I thought was not too bad but then a few days later, it said 3200 points/day. So, it somehow varies like crazy. Costco rate that weekend is about $29 per day.
Last edited by username; Feb 27, 2016 at 4:59 pm
Apr 26, 2016, 3:08 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Madison, WI
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Spire, Delta GM, Avis P+
Posts: 63
No redemption chart, it's "demand based" which pretty much seems to mean made up on the spot.
I was looking at a vacation rental from SEA (Seattle airport), it was over 20,000 points for a week in a compact. Looked over in Vancouver Island (where we were going to take a ferry to from Seattle), it was only 6,000 for the same week!
I agree with others, just play around with days/locations and try on different days of the week or different times of days. If you keep playing with it you'll get vastly different rates (which makes the program much less useful to me)
I was looking at a vacation rental from SEA (Seattle airport), it was over 20,000 points for a week in a compact. Looked over in Vancouver Island (where we were going to take a ferry to from Seattle), it was only 6,000 for the same week!
I agree with others, just play around with days/locations and try on different days of the week or different times of days. If you keep playing with it you'll get vastly different rates (which makes the program much less useful to me)
May 17, 2016, 4:04 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: SAN
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, American Air, National Car
Posts: 1,131