Avis points are useless.
#1
Original Poster


Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SFO/ATL/MEL/BKK
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Globalist UA 1K MM, Delta Diamond
Posts: 2,702
Avis points are useless.
I love my National free days. Just an awesome program. Hertz is so so. But hey I got a Cadillac in Honolulu last week for 750 points. Seems with Avis you can’t get anything and if you find something it’s 2100 points. You have to spend almost $2000 for a free day after taxes and fees. Unfortunately I’ve amassed quite a few points with Avis. I even have a long term rental in California at the moment. Seems like there is zero use for points these days. Even my local spot where my corporate rate is $32 a day they want 2100 in points for a day!
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 17,183
Yes I've noticed similar - Avis points have a lot less value than other rental companies... often to the point of being worthless to try to use.
#4




Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA 1K/0.828MM, WN ALP, Hyatt Diamond, MR Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC,AA Gold
Posts: 5,666
Completely useless. Just tried applying points for the very first time. Wouldn't work at all on the app, had to go to the website.
7 day rental without points - 256.41
7 day rental with 2100 pts applied for ONE free day - 235.84
So my 2100 points, accumulated over many rentals is worth a total of $20.57.... I miss National and hate my company for forcing us to move away
It also seems that Avis calculates taxes based on the cost before applying the points. If I try a 1 day rental, I'm still looking at ~$21 in net cost. Earlier this year when I rented a BMW X3 with National for one day and redeemed a free day my net cost was $3.61. Makes the points even more....pointless
Edit:
I just realized that point amount only works up to an intermediate. If I try to get a full size, it jumps to 3500 pts for one day!
7 day rental without points - 256.41
7 day rental with 2100 pts applied for ONE free day - 235.84
So my 2100 points, accumulated over many rentals is worth a total of $20.57.... I miss National and hate my company for forcing us to move away
It also seems that Avis calculates taxes based on the cost before applying the points. If I try a 1 day rental, I'm still looking at ~$21 in net cost. Earlier this year when I rented a BMW X3 with National for one day and redeemed a free day my net cost was $3.61. Makes the points even more....pointless
Edit:
I just realized that point amount only works up to an intermediate. If I try to get a full size, it jumps to 3500 pts for one day!
Last edited by jasonvr; Nov 13, 2021 at 4:10 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 17,183
Funny since according to the Avis website, 'Level 1' awards should be 700pts/day. The redemption is based on rental cost but is the 'standard' rate meaning rack rate with no discounts... so they can easily manipulate the pricing to force everything into the high categories and make points basically worthless.
*Standard daily rate does not include any Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD), coupon codes, special rates or any other offer.
Level 1 700 Up to $50
Level 2 1400 $50.01 - $85
Level 3 2100 $85.01 - $125
Level 4 3500 $125.01 - $225
*Standard daily rate does not include any Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD), coupon codes, special rates or any other offer.
Level 1 700 Up to $50
Level 2 1400 $50.01 - $85
Level 3 2100 $85.01 - $125
Level 4 3500 $125.01 - $225
#6


Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,871
Opinions on "Rent twice (for 2-days min), Get a Free day"?
I have a vacation week, in the middle of which I could do without a car. So instead of a weekly, I'm considering 2-day rental at start + 2-day rental at end to earn a future Free day. How restricted would that future Free day be?
I have a vacation week, in the middle of which I could do without a car. So instead of a weekly, I'm considering 2-day rental at start + 2-day rental at end to earn a future Free day. How restricted would that future Free day be?
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 17,183
There are some unknown blackouts dates on it, however I was able to use a free day for a future rental on a full size car that would've cost me ~150, so got much more value out of this promo than points will ever do.
#8


Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,871
Thanks; but I suppose no way to use that Free day to book a One-Way, even in seasonally cheap direction?
#9




Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: Marriott Plat
Posts: 124
Came here to say, echo previous comments. Post COVID, cannot find any car at any location where the redemption is less than 2,100 points. Pre COVID (2018-19) is was fairly easy to find 700 point rentals. Would just like to find a fairly useful way to burn my ~5,000 Avis points.
#10
Join Date: Oct 2022
Posts: 1
The best way to utilize the next-to-worthless Avis points is to use them for 1 or 2 day rentals because they apply the credit to the least expensive day of your itinerary while charging the max 2100 miles. Short rentals make this impossible. Their formula reflects that Avis is the worst company to choose on a regular basis. I'm also not sure they owe the value based taxes or remit them to taxing authorities which they continue to collect for these free days. They are waiting for a taxing authority or state AG to stop them.
#11
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars




Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,070
The best way to utilize the next-to-worthless Avis points is to use them for 1 or 2 day rentals because they apply the credit to the least expensive day of your itinerary while charging the max 2100 miles. Short rentals make this impossible. Their formula reflects that Avis is the worst company to choose on a regular basis. I'm also not sure they owe the value based taxes or remit them to taxing authorities which they continue to collect for these free days. They are waiting for a taxing authority or state AG to stop them.
#12




Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: Marriott Plat
Posts: 124
The best way to utilize the next-to-worthless Avis points is to use them for 1 or 2 day rentals because they apply the credit to the least expensive day of your itinerary while charging the max 2100 miles. Short rentals make this impossible. Their formula reflects that Avis is the worst company to choose on a regular basis. I'm also not sure they owe the value based taxes or remit them to taxing authorities which they continue to collect for these free days. They are waiting for a taxing authority or state AG to stop them.
#13




Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Calgary, AB
Programs: AC SE100k, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 446
I wouldn't say the points are entirely useless. I used to travel extensively and rent a car each week prior to COVID for years. I leveraged the points to rent pick-up trucks at my local AVIS at home whenever we needed to move stuff, take things to the dump, garden center runs, etc. It used to cover the full day rental of a new Ford F150/250 for around 700 points. But those were neighbourhood rentals I guess.
#15


Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: California
Programs: American, SWA, United, IHG,Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 2,043
I have accumulated like 3000 avis points but it’s confusing. Same location. One day I can see and redeem points for free rental days, another day, same location, same rental days, same category, it does not allow me to use my points towards the rental.
Is there a limit of some sort per location? Or was it because the rack rate went up and I didn’t have enough points anymore? Going above the Level 4 3500 $125.01 - $225. Using a corporate AWD so it’s not always easy to tell the rack rate unless I’m using a computer
I just reserved a rental for December 2023 and was able to use 1400 points towards a intermediate SUV. I think that’s the best deal I’m going to get. Used 2 days towards a 3 day rental.
Is there a limit of some sort per location? Or was it because the rack rate went up and I didn’t have enough points anymore? Going above the Level 4 3500 $125.01 - $225. Using a corporate AWD so it’s not always easy to tell the rack rate unless I’m using a computer
I just reserved a rental for December 2023 and was able to use 1400 points towards a intermediate SUV. I think that’s the best deal I’m going to get. Used 2 days towards a 3 day rental.


