Week-long Rental w/ Free Days Strategies
 

I'm pricing out a week-long rental. I have a handful of Emerald Club free days and 1-2-Free free days to use.

Below are the prices returned when trying to book:

• Not logged in, no company contract, no free days: $306
• Logged in, company contract pricing: $246
• Logged in, company contract pricing, applying 2 Emerald Club Free Days: $246
• Logged in, no company contract pricing, applying 2 Emerald Club Free Days: $306
• Logged in, company contract pricing, applying 3 1-2-Free Free Days: $326.
• Logged in, no company contract pricing, applying 3 1-2-Free days: $326.

Does the week-long rental already offer enough of a discount that free days don't help?

Can I choose the second option (company contract pricing) and call in after returning the vehicle and apply free days to save some money?

IME, you can maximize the value of the discount is if the rental days matches the numbers of coupon (3 for 1-2 free, 7 for Club free days). Alternative solution would be to tag these days after a weekly rental so you don't pay the daily rate beyond the weekly rate (Example - 9-day rental + 2 coupons = weekly rate). Most contracts will default to a weekly rate after 4 days since the daily rate exceeds the weekly rate - adding the free days will deduct a daily rate, but sometimes the weekly rate discount is still greater than what is being deducted.

I value 1-2-Free days at $80 because they can be used on one-ways, and regular EC free days at $120 because they can be used on one-ways and upgraded vehicles. It is generally not a good value to use any kind of free day on a weekly rental because it's already getting a reduced rate, unless you're booking a specialty car. I'd pay for this one out of pocket and preserve the free days for something with a better value, especially because rates are cheap due to the virus.

Is it inconvenient to return to the airport mid trip? If you can, you can see if you use up all five free days and end up with just two weekend days. The exact tactics depend on the day of the week when you start the rental.

Or do a one-way to an airport somewhere along your route?