AVIS --Whose Code is this?
 

Does anyone knows whose code is this? A328738

it took me 30 seconds to figure it out via Google search. Hint.. type in "a328738 AWD"

Welcome to FlyerTalk, Saver. Lots to see, lots to learn. Keep posting - we like having you here.

I won't be a jerk, and just answer your question,..

It appears to be an American Airlines AWD..

Will I need any ID or frequent flyer card to use this code? It can save me 80 bucks in the UK ona ten day rental.

Back off, num1bearsfan!
 

num1bearsfan, I see you're relatively new in the FT Forums. Be aware that ezmonee, a former employee of AVIS, has been one of the most helpful posters here ... providing answers and help to many folks ... often revealing inside information. He is a Mensch. But, he, like many of us "oldtimers", may seem a bit grouchy at times ... only because the same questions have been asked over and over again (or just because someone caught him in a bad mood). Newbies can always learn from the "oldbies" ... so ezmonee was simply pointing out that a google search (or, as I would suggest) a FT Forum search will often yield an answer within seconds.

Incidentally, certain AWDs should not be used by "civilians" ... for example, I would not use an AVIS Employee AWD which is the quickest way to get banned from using any AWDs with AVIS. I would suspect that use of an Airline Employee AWD (such as American Airlines) without an employee ID -- or a letter from one's American Airlines boss -- would be a no-no. On the other hand, non-airline and non-rental car industry AWDs often do not require ID (e.g., AOPA, Amateur Sports Assistance).

Disclaimer: num1bearsfan, the Title of this post was meant as humor. Please understand that oldtimers have been fielding the same questions from newbies over and over and over and .... so once in a while we sound grumpy.

I don't make it into the Avis forum too often, but this sounds like a legitimate question, as long as the poster has done an ounce of homework. Pound my head if I'm incorrect in that assessment. ;)

For example, AWD Z2511077: who is it? It's on an private e-mail list and it's the only one on the list that isn't already somewhere on the FT Avis Discount Codes thread, but I won't pollute that thread with it until I know more. I've googled and called Avis twice; was told, if I'm authorized, I'd know who it is already. Seems to do very well some places in the U.S., nothing at others and give-or-take overseas.

The broader (hopefully not too boring or redundant) questions: Is there a sure-fire way of knowing ahead of time which codes are safe for civilians? (I know the big no-no codes already and I regularly use a number of other codes knowing I won't be asked for anything extra.) Is it possible to make a booking and immediately ask if any special documentation/ID is needed and be sure of getting the correct answer? or are we always at someone's mercy at time of pick up?

If someone asks me in PM, I will give em any information they want to know, unless it is already available via my posts and I will tell them where to find it, but dont waste a thread.

When I started providing info to people in this forum, I got hundreds of "what is this number, what is that number" questions in my PM. I answered bunches of them, then got annoyed when those who asked didnt even contribute to the forum or even bother to look em up on their own. I mean, how many times can I answer a108300 questions?. I resorted to cutting and pasting. After a certain amount of time, I stopped answering those messages, choosing only to answer them in the appropriate forum thread. When I stopped answering people individually, they started posting and starting their own threads, too lazy to look in the appropriate thread that is 32 or so pages long. Cant blame em, but I sure as heck am not going to make it easy for them.

in regards to your AWD code, it appears to be, from what I can tell, a burn AWD. Use once, for a specific conference, and thats it. If the conference has multiple years, often they are included as well, but the sheer lack of any information in any search engine on this leads me to believe its either a very small business or a single use conference code. to me the most telling part of it is the end of the code. 77. Whenever a AWD code ends in 00, that means that is a big account and that is the main number. Seeing 77 means that either this is a particular department for a large company (one that has 77 different AWD's for billing purposes and accounting, each number indicates which Billing code it belongs to) or its an open AWD series. That just means that the 00 doesnt belong to anyone, so 01-99 is broken up and given to really small business accounts or to conferences or special events. For example, American Medical Association may have its own AWD for its staffers and for conference employees, but participants may be given a specific AWD for promotional reasons. If the AMA got 500 people to rent cars from a specific event, AMA may get free rentals for the event itself, or free coupons for future events. Also in exchange for promotional consideration, avis may, in exchange for a booth where they sign up dozens and dozens of new businesses, give a special AWD good for a specific weekend or specific week for businesses to bring their famlies on the next conference.

Also, some AWD's are simply triggers for discounts on other businesses. American airlines routinely uses AWD codes to flag customers who use their service to target them for bonus miles or promotional consideration. But, once again, the sheer lack of any info leads me to believe its a small acct or part of a conference that has since gone, or perhaps not even assigned.

Generally, there is no way to tell what is safe to use and what isnt. for the most part, most codes are okay for anyone. However, a select few codes are monitored. Abbot labs, Lockheed Martin, Avis Employee, Citi Employee, Microsoft exec, U.S. government rates, any code that allows underage drivers will likely draw some sort of proof that you are with the company in question.

Wow, ezmonee, let me just say thank you for an extremely informative answer. Lots of background there; very appreciated. ^

Wow, this is a great and highly abbreviated thread. Thanks for your insight, and I didn't even ask any questions.

Some sort of proof?
 

That's really interesting, I obviously would like to use the Lockeed Martin AWD for my next booking, but what kind of proof would generally be accepted? I could make something on my computer, like an e-mail letterhead with some random text in that, basically an e-mail that I had printed out to read on the flight or whatever that seems to be sent through the Lockheed Martin intranet or something of the like. Would that be accepted you think?