How to use the AvisFirst free weekend coupon?
Sep 4, 2007, 7:37 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 29,346
I have done that with the previous generation Avis free weekend coupons. The reservation agent had a hard time until we switched to a full 48 hour rental. Then I turned the car in a day early with no problems. I'd assume this will work the same way.
Sep 16, 2007, 9:44 pm
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 11,024
I just used my first AvisFirst Free Weekend (3 day rental, 1 paid). Here is what I learned:
1 - when they tried to apply the coupon, it said max use reached. It turned out the system gets confused if you use make/cancel/make new reservations with the same code sometimes.
2 - the people on the front line somehow do not seem to know much about the coupon. I guess to us, it is a big deal. To them, it is just another coupon.
3 - It is electronic according to the Special Handling people - no need to print it. However, he said that it does not hurt to take it with you in case of disputes. The frontline people do not have a list of your coupons.
4 - Since it is officially a coupon, it is not combinable with anything - even the $25 customer service coupons.
5 - Find the best rates you can find using whatever AWD# and the free days are taken out from these rates.
6 - % based taxes are calculated after the deductions (i.e. % of $0 = 0). (Not sure about per day fixed taxes.)
1 - when they tried to apply the coupon, it said max use reached. It turned out the system gets confused if you use make/cancel/make new reservations with the same code sometimes.
2 - the people on the front line somehow do not seem to know much about the coupon. I guess to us, it is a big deal. To them, it is just another coupon.
3 - It is electronic according to the Special Handling people - no need to print it. However, he said that it does not hurt to take it with you in case of disputes. The frontline people do not have a list of your coupons.
4 - Since it is officially a coupon, it is not combinable with anything - even the $25 customer service coupons.
5 - Find the best rates you can find using whatever AWD# and the free days are taken out from these rates.
6 - % based taxes are calculated after the deductions (i.e. % of $0 = 0). (Not sure about per day fixed taxes.)
Last edited by username; Sep 17, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Sep 17, 2007, 2:22 pm
#48
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: SUV
Programs: UA *G MM
Posts: 7,027
I returned a car today and was positively surprised to find that I was only charged the fixed fees. In Boston this is $10.60, including the $10 convention center fee 
(aka Mumbles Menino's petty cash pahty fund).
I thought they were going to apply the % tax and fees to the quoted rate and then deduct the base rate of the 2 days. I swear that the first time I booked this it went straight from the link and quoted with the free days deducted. But this time the link failed and I did it manually, including the coupon number.
(aka Mumbles Menino's petty cash pahty fund). I thought they were going to apply the % tax and fees to the quoted rate and then deduct the base rate of the 2 days. I swear that the first time I booked this it went straight from the link and quoted with the free days deducted. But this time the link failed and I did it manually, including the coupon number.
Sep 17, 2007, 7:57 pm
#49
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Hawaii
Programs: Delta Platinum, Marriott Silver, Hilton Silver, Avis First
Posts: 394
I had this happen to me with a res I tried to make today. The first guy I talked to pretty much told me tough luck. He tried to get me off the phone so many times. Finally, the third person I talked to helped me out and was able to apply the coupon to a reservation.
Sep 18, 2007, 5:24 pm
#50
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SEA - DL DM/2MM, *A Gold, SPG Lifetime Plat, some other car and hotel stuff
Posts: 5,649
I returned a car today and was positively surprised to find that I was only charged the fixed fees. In Boston this is $10.60, including the $10 convention center fee (aka Mumbles Menino's petty cash pahty fund).
I thought they were going to apply the % tax and fees to the quoted rate and then deduct the base rate of the 2 days. I swear that the first time I booked this it went straight from the link and quoted with the free days deducted. But this time the link failed and I did it manually, including the coupon number.
(aka Mumbles Menino's petty cash pahty fund). I thought they were going to apply the % tax and fees to the quoted rate and then deduct the base rate of the 2 days. I swear that the first time I booked this it went straight from the link and quoted with the free days deducted. But this time the link failed and I did it manually, including the coupon number.
Sep 18, 2007, 5:46 pm
#51
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Hawaii
Programs: Delta Platinum, Marriott Silver, Hilton Silver, Avis First
Posts: 394
To answer my own question: I had this happen to me. They cannot fix it right there. You have to go inside and they can apply the coupon to your rental.
Sep 19, 2007, 2:33 pm
#52
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: SUV
Programs: UA *G MM
Posts: 7,027
One problem that I had when I first attempted to book in Boston in August related to renting in Cambridge and returning at the airport, as I often do. The bonehead agent told me "no one-way rental". But this is not a one-way rental when you return at different locations within a city. Is my interpretation correct?
Do other locations with no fixed fees lead to $0.00 charges?
Sep 26, 2007, 1:20 pm
#55
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: San Mateo, CA
Programs: AA - LFT GLD 1MM, UA - 2P, SPG - LFT Plat, Hyatt - Plat, HH - Gold, Avis - CHM
Posts: 413
the avis in austin looked at me funny the first time i whipped out the email coupon confirmation. she begrudgingly took it. the second time i rented, she waved me off and wouldnt take the confirmation.
Sep 26, 2007, 1:46 pm
#56
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Hawaii
Programs: Delta Platinum, Marriott Silver, Hilton Silver, Avis First
Posts: 394
Tell them to stick it in their ear next time. I don't even bring the e-mail confirmation. I just bring the code with me and have them input it into the system. I would also provide some feedback on avis.com about the person who wouldn't take it.
Sep 27, 2007, 11:05 am
#57
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAS, SAT, IAH
Programs: Flying Nut
Posts: 6,365
Three day rental and return in different city
I actual used my first two day rental on a car the weekend before the 4th of July in Austin. I rented the car for four days but after getting to San Antonio, I found I didnt need the car so I returned it to the SAT airport and just had it out for two days. ended up paying just the taxes, something like 10 to 20 dollars.
Didnt have the hassle of the wave off, in fact the preferred person got me a different car.
Didnt have the hassle of the wave off, in fact the preferred person got me a different car.
Sep 27, 2007, 2:47 pm
#58
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Hawaii
Programs: Delta Platinum, Marriott Silver, Hilton Silver, Avis First
Posts: 394
I actual used my first two day rental on a car the weekend before the 4th of July in Austin. I rented the car for four days but after getting to San Antonio, I found I didnt need the car so I returned it to the SAT airport and just had it out for two days. ended up paying just the taxes, something like 10 to 20 dollars.
Didnt have the hassle of the wave off, in fact the preferred person got me a different car.
Didnt have the hassle of the wave off, in fact the preferred person got me a different car.
Oct 1, 2007, 1:41 pm
#59
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Hawaii
Programs: Delta Platinum, Marriott Silver, Hilton Silver, Avis First
Posts: 394
I rented in BOS this weekend and supposedly there was a "blackout" on Avis Frist coupon usage in effect there. I didn't have any problems getting the person checking my car in to apply the coupon. They were a little confused why I didn't have a hard copy of the coupon but once I semi-nicely explained it to them they punched it in and applied it to the rental. ~$100 saved.
Oct 1, 2007, 5:55 pm
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 29,346
I rented in BOS this weekend and supposedly there was a "blackout" on Avis Frist coupon usage in effect there. I didn't have any problems getting the person checking my car in to apply the coupon. They were a little confused why I didn't have a hard copy of the coupon but once I semi-nicely explained it to them they punched it in and applied it to the rental. ~$100 saved.