Last edit by: FlyinHawaiian
Link to webpage explaining the changes: https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/misc/index.jsp?targetPage=loyalty_changes.jsp
2019 Changes to Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program
#1
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,038
2019 Changes to Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program
Just got an email; highlights are:
Changes in point earning and expiry:
Changes in point earning and expiry:
- Increasing point multipliers:
- Five StarŽ: From a 10% bonus to a 25% bonus
- President’s CircleŽ: From a 25% bonus to a 50% bonus
- Updating Five StarŽ qualification status from 7 rentals or $1,500 spend (excluding taxes and fees) to 12 rentals or $2,400 spend (excluding taxes and fees).
- Changing points expiration from 24 months of inactivity to 18 months of inactivity.
- Eliminating select activation bonuses including sign-up bonus and 15th rental bonus.
- Offering Hertz Fast Lane powered by CLEAR – a free service that gets you through the exit gate in 30 seconds or less. Currently available at our Atlanta airport location, we will roll out more than 40 new locations in 2019.
- Offering Five StarŽ for a Day for Gold members that reach 8 rentals and President’s CircleŽ for a Day for Five StarŽmembers that reach 16 rentals so you can experience next tier benefits.
- Offering you the chance to upgrade to any available car on the lot after your 30th and 40th rentals.
- Guaranteeing President Circle’s members their requested vehicle is available with at least 24-hour notice at our airport locations. Previously, we required at least 48-hour notice.
- Providing Hertz Valet, our airport terminal drive-back service, for President’s CircleŽ members after 15th, 20th and 40th rentals at select airport locations.
- Introducing Cash + Points: Use a combination of points and currency – instead of one or the other – to pay for rentals and vehicle upgrades.
- Offering new ways for you to earn and use points beyond rentals – including unique and exclusive access to Hertz+ experiences and Hertz Rewards – our auction platform.
- Offering you the chance to use your points to redeem for luxury vehicles in Hertz Dream Cars Collection. (Effective mid-January 2019)
- Lowering enrollment age from 21 to 18. (Effective mid-January 2019)
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Dec 28, 2018 at 4:56 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSN
Programs: Delta DM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,987
I just got the email. I'm intrigued about the valet service after 15th, 20th and 40th rentals for President's Circle. What if they are better served at the 22nd rental? Details seems sparse. Same for the CLEAR.
- Providing Hertz Valet, our airport terminal drive-back service, for Presidents CircleŽ members after 15th, 20th and 40th rentals at select airport locations.
#4
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,535
I also noticed that it seems that Gold members will no longer be able to transfer to Airline partners with the new changes
At least the current ToC don't seem to state that it's limited to Five Star and President's Circle only right now.
At least the current ToC don't seem to state that it's limited to Five Star and President's Circle only right now.
#5
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
Given that the exchange rates were almost comically bad (like a 90% reduction in value or more), that's hardly a loss.
#6
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,535
Given how hard it's been (at least for me) to actually be able to use the Hertz points for actual rental reward redemptions (sorry, that location doesn't participate, or it's a diff. season, can't book online, etc.), I found more value transferring to airline partners (not all of them mind you, as southwest was about a 50% reduction if I recall correctly)
But YMMV.
#7
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
Really? Depending on the airline/transfer partner, 600 hertz points = 500 miles on the airline.
Given how hard it's been (at least for me) to actually be able to use the Hertz points for actual rental reward redemptions (sorry, that location doesn't participate, or it's a diff. season, can't book online, etc.), I found more value transferring to airline partners (not all of them mind you, as southwest was about a 50% reduction if I recall correctly)
But YMMV.
Given how hard it's been (at least for me) to actually be able to use the Hertz points for actual rental reward redemptions (sorry, that location doesn't participate, or it's a diff. season, can't book online, etc.), I found more value transferring to airline partners (not all of them mind you, as southwest was about a 50% reduction if I recall correctly)
But YMMV.
#8
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
My hunch is that this is a way to deal with people who haven't rented in nearly 18 months (so aren't 5* or PC), realize their points are going to expire, and transfer them out instead, costing Hertz money.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Tampa Bay
Programs: AA ConciergeKey, Hertz PC , Marriott Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 73
Doesnt seem like too bad of a deal. I rent about 52 cars a year from Hertz (3 or 4 from Avis) and it seems like I used to earn a ton more points back in the day. Theyd have promotions that would have me rolling points in.
I do forget, do I start the year at PC (as I ended the year) or have to keep renting 20 cars before these benefits kick in next year.
I do forget, do I start the year at PC (as I ended the year) or have to keep renting 20 cars before these benefits kick in next year.
#10
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
Doesnt seem like too bad of a deal. I rent about 52 cars a year from Hertz (3 or 4 from Avis) and it seems like I used to earn a ton more points back in the day. Theyd have promotions that would have me rolling points in. I do forget, do I start the year at PC (as I ended the year) or have to keep renting 20 cars before these benefits kick in next year.
#12
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,704
#13
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Nashville
Posts: 1
I like the proposed changes but hope they do something about the 30th and 40th rentals. Work has me traveling and renting often times for 2 weeks at a time. I can't get that many rentals unless I'm swapping cars every couple days.