I'm looking into booking some travel on my Gold points. It's been a totally confusing process thus far.

The Hertz site was down and not letting me even try reservations yesterday. I'm not sure how much that would cost a company, but really?

It seems that the process is that you click use my points. It then brings you to the regular reservation page. Huh? After calling the Hertz desk they noted that this applies a code that might or might not apply to your class of booking. Some vehicles will show available. you go to purchase them and you may or may not get a discount. Some blackouts may apply, but nobody has published anything about the blackouts anywhere that I can find.

Sound confusing? I'm lost. This is the worst booking system I've ever used. ...? Is Hertz trying to alienate people or something?

Anyone else noticed this?

It's pretty straightforward, really.
Choose the reward option you want (e.g. Prestige car for two weekend days), click on on that button/option, the website transfers you to booking and includes the PC code. You make your booking. The reservation shows the value of your e-coupon (i.e. points redeemed) giving your the $ value and shows the taxes and fees and off you go. I'm confused as to why you seem to find it difficult?

The system does not actually work some of the time, and often it will just tell you the code is not valid without any explanation. First you have to try at the low points level, then they high points level. If there is a black out date, you have no idea what it is without calling.

The system is very obtuse.

When you select an award level from the "use my points" screen, it takes you back to regular reservations but includes the PC code for that particular award.

If you book the applicable class and the applicable days (i.e., you're not trying to book an SUV on a regular award, or a Wednesday-Friday rental on a weekend award) and it still says the code is invalid, you've probably hit a blackout date. I'm not aware of any other way to determine blackout dates.

Another confusing area is that when you book it'll still show you having to pay considerable taxes and fees. But when you actually return the car, the taxes and fees are considerably less. So far I've only used points for Manhattan rentals and they've charged me exactly $0 when I went to return the car, even though both reservations had like $40-50 in taxes. You may still have to pay some fees at locations that have airport service fees or other regulatory fees that aren't calculated as a percentage of the cost.

I've had no problems using points to book in the U.S., but am having problems using points for Europe.

No matter what I try (standard or anyday) fnothing works. I just get "Promotion Coupon you've selected is not available for this rental either because that location isn't participating or some requirement for the offer hasn't been met."

I just tried for both Paris CDG, and Madrid MAD. First I tried 3200 standard rewards for one week green rental. I tried about 14 different weeks between April and Sep 2012, and then even into 2013 just to try. No matter what, I get that the PC could not be applied. When trying the 6400 Anyday rewards though I get the same message. When trying the 1800 Anyday reward for one free compact or intermediate on many different dates at either airport, I get the same message.

It isn't the easiest thing to book, but they do list their blackout dates on the site. I was going to link to the page, but hertz.com is down right now so I can't find it...

They are available in Paris, at least in June and September. (e.g. June 23rd at CDG) But the pricing, which is supposed to only be for taxes and fees, is quite high - e.g. �70 for prepaid, �120 for pay at the counter.

It's the same in the UK, the price for a week can vary between �40 and �120 depending on the class and payment method, with everything else remaining the same.

The system works as you described. But it doesn't tell you anywhere what it is doing. I think many people will find that difficult. I have. You have to guess that it is working properly, and figure out its quirks by trial-and-error. This is not uncommon in today's computer world, but there are many system designs which are much better.

Point taken. Is it the most transparent system? No. Is it the most intuitive? Again. No.