A couple of weeks ago, I received a set of coupons from AS (Alaska Airlines) with the codes and their AWD on there. One of the coupons (the free weekend day) can be of infinite use, but not with the AS AWD - the non-AWD rate for the major rental I have coming up is actually significantly lower than the AS AWD.

(For that matter, the Avis lowest rate for 7 days in DTW is significantly lower than any AWD I tried.)

My question - is there anything that says that I can't use the coupon without using their AWD? Or am I required to use the corresponding AWD with the coupon?

Mike

No need to use the coupon # with the corresponding AWD # at Avis. Theoretically is always possible that an over-zealous employee will replace the AWD # with that on the coupon upon your pick-up, however, this has never happened to me.

Hertz on the other hand, does not even let you make a reservation without discount & coupon numbers corresponding. Too bad for them, as they have lost many years of business.

Actually, sometimes if you use the coupon without changing the awd code, it may raise your rate. The coupons are occasionally rate dependent. For example, AAA always has coupons, provided you use their rate. Make sure your rate doesnt increase (ask the agent to add the coupon to the reservation screen and it will show the "guaranteed rate" with the coupon).

Also, two days ago, the system was updated. With every update, loopholes like that are taken out. As of today...

If your age is under 25, it will pop up and tell you "must charge 25.00 underage fee" and "im sorry, this debit card (disposable) is not allowed."

We used to be able to change rates at any time by just changing the rate code for someone, but now when we change the rate code, it gives you the WALK up rate for that rate code instead of the reservation, and often cheaper, code you booked, even when changing it from a E class car to a C class car because you dont need the bigger car. I still can make those changes, I just do it on different places.