Frequent Flyer Surcharge
Feb 26, 2011, 1:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO / HKG
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 187
Frequent Flyer Surcharge
I would like to earn Marriott Rewards points for my upcoming rental. Does Hertz charge surcharge and tax for that? I believe they do that for airlines miles program.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Feb 26, 2011, 5:24 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
Feb 26, 2011, 7:51 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: HKG
Programs: Marriott Ambassador (Titanium Lifetime), BA Gold, Ex-Hertz 5* PC, Ex-HH Diamond, Ex-BD*G
Posts: 3,062
Actually the surcharge is only for airline programs (and US based programs at that), they don't charge if for Marriott points - or at least I've never paid it.
Feb 28, 2011, 8:11 am
#4
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,037
In checking the receipt for my last rental (Saturday), I can validate that there was no surcharge for crediting to Marriott.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Feb 28, 2011 at 11:01 am
Feb 28, 2011, 10:17 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
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May 5, 2011, 7:46 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: AVP
Programs: gold, titanium, platinum and diamond, but still no giraffe.
Posts: 330
they charge a surcharge when they pay a tax on the miles. currently, only airline miles/programs have the tax.
never paid a surcharge for marriott points.
also, you don't pay a tax or fee when you transer #1 points to miles (like at the end of the year so they don't just expire). it's not a 1:1 transfer. but you can get more #1 points than you would miles sometimes so that even with the exchange rate loss, you can come out ahead. i haven't done the math in a few years but i'm sure one of you reading this will spend the few minutes to do it. when you do, post back for us....
never paid a surcharge for marriott points.
also, you don't pay a tax or fee when you transer #1 points to miles (like at the end of the year so they don't just expire). it's not a 1:1 transfer. but you can get more #1 points than you would miles sometimes so that even with the exchange rate loss, you can come out ahead. i haven't done the math in a few years but i'm sure one of you reading this will spend the few minutes to do it. when you do, post back for us....
May 5, 2011, 9:22 pm
#9
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I think that one gets relatively poor value by crediting car rentals to hotel programs, Amtrak, or most domestic airlines unless there is a significant bonus points/miles offer. I regularly credit both Hertz and Avis rentals to Virgin Atlantic, and invariably earn 1,000 miles per rental, even for one-day rentals. No surcharge, either.
Virgin Atlantic miles can be redeemed for travel on a number of airlines, including CO, HA, and US.
I think that one gets relatively poor value by crediting car rentals to hotel programs, Amtrak, or most domestic airlines unless there is a significant bonus points/miles offer. I regularly credit both Hertz and Avis rentals to Virgin Atlantic, and invariably earn 1,000 miles per rental, even for one-day rentals. No surcharge, either.
Virgin Atlantic miles can be redeemed for travel on a number of airlines, including CO, HA, and US.
May 9, 2011, 9:37 am
#11
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Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
It does not appear that Hertz is participating in HHonors anymore: http://hhonors1.hilton.com/en_US/hh/.../carrentals.do and https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/partn...on=globNav_8_1
May 13, 2011, 10:58 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 100
https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/partn...on=globNav_8_1 gives the details on what programs surcharges are charged for.
The way I read it, they charge only 6 cents per day for AA, DL and United. That would make crediting to these programs attractive for short rentals:
The way I read it, they charge only 6 cents per day for AA, DL and United. That would make crediting to these programs attractive for short rentals:
when the renter chooses to receive miles in the American Airlines AAdvantage, Delta Air Lines SkyMiles or United Airlines Mileage Plus programs the Frequent Flyer Surcharge will be calculated based on the Federal Excise Tax expense incurred by Hertz when it purchases miles from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Under the Tax Relief Act of 1997, all companies that purchase Frequent Flyer miles from airlines must pay a 7.5% Excise Tax on the cost of those miles (on average, 6 cents per day).
May 14, 2011, 7:24 pm
#13
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Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/partn...on=globNav_8_1 gives the details on what programs surcharges are charged for.
The way I read it, they charge only 6 cents per day for AA, DL and United. That would make crediting to these programs attractive for short rentals:
The way I read it, they charge only 6 cents per day for AA, DL and United. That would make crediting to these programs attractive for short rentals:
So here is my summary of the programs I care about:
. #1 Awards: earn 0.83 miles-equivalent each dollar spent, no tax
. MC (Marriott): 500 points/rental, no surcharge
. AA: 1 mile per base rate dollar spent, 7.5% surcharge on 1.5c?/mile in US/CA
. UA: 50 miles/day up to 4 days, 500 miles flat for longer, 7.5% on 1.5x/mile surcharge in US/CA
. DL: 100 miles/day, 7.5% on 1.5x/mile surcharge in US/CA
. CO/AS/US: 50 miles/day up to 4 days, 500 miles flat for longer, $0.75/day up to $5.25 surcharge in US/CA
. LH: 500 miles/rental, no surcharge
So I'm getting MC points for rentals of 5 or less days, DL miles for those >6 days. I'm obviously NOT paying Hertz more for what the miles are worth (the $0.75/day fee)