SK2751

All the group codes used to be printed on the back of the plastic EB card and on the back of the co-branded credit cards. I no longer have the former, and the latter has no codes on it. Are all these offers gone?

oliver2002

Hertz still has a micro page: https://www.hertz.com/p/partners/sas-eurobonus

The CDPs used to be on the site, but are no longer there. I always used 855500

PRGuy

If you log into your Eurobonus account you will find the car rental agency discount codes when you scroll to the bottom of the profile page.

SK2751

Thanks! Super helpful. I was worried they dropped the ball on this. (Have not rented a car since the pandemic, but used to benefit a lot from this in the past)

nacho

Also, it is usually cheaper to book at avis.com using that awd, but you only get 500 points.

SK2751

Indeed! I always booked at avis and hertz directly. I don't do it for the points (I could not care less about the so called extra points). I do it for better rates and better cars, here the AWD helped.

nacho

Forget about Avis if you want any way to pick your car. Tried that post pandemic with both Hertz and Avis - Avis gave me the car that I booked except at IAH (I even booked an intermediate to be eligible to any upgrade) while there were thousands of cars in the lot (LAX, ATL and IAD) - the cars I got was with minimal equipment with the cheapest interior and bluetooth only for music. I rented once in a location near YYZ and it was an ordeal to get a car and turned out it was defect. Then I had to spend like 3 hours at YYZ because they had no cars (there were more than 10 X1 and Q3), and finally one showed up after a super long wait. 3h of my holiday wasted. At IAH I got a Mustang (booked intermediate) - I guess they knew they couldn't sell it otherwise but then there was no space for our stuff so we asked for another car. Ended up getting a Lincoln something that has a dent that is a golf ball size (not that I care).

I booked the cheapest category at Hertz and I was allowed to pick (SEA 2x).

jamesbrownontheroad

Here to add a few observations from LHR. Maybe I've been using the wrong CPD code, but weekend rentals from Hertz have come up cheaper for me when logged in on sas.se than Hertz.com. Possibly swayed by introductory rates on Polestar and Tesla EV rentals. But been happy with 2,000 points + a good price on a Polestar several times now.

Jainzar

There is now an offer with Hertz where you even get status points
https://www.flysas.com/en/book/carrental/?ptid=125.13

And the T&C for completeness

fassy

Well, ever since Hertz added that retarded clause to the contract that they ALWAYS charge an administrative fee (I think $250) for any damage claim, they went on the „do not rent there“ list. You can only get insurance to waive the excess but you will always have to pay the admin fee.

And in some countries like Germany, they inspect the cars with a laser
microscope for scratches or dents. And more often than not, find some „not pre-existing damage“ which you didn’t complain about during picking up the car in the pitch black garage….

in general car rental in Germany sucks like hell due to this practice (btw Sixt and Hertz are the worst).

never had issues with Hertz in the US though, but still prefer Avis and Europecar.

jamesbrownontheroad

Thanks for sharing. Just cancelled and rebooked an 8-day Tesla rental from MSP for more or less the same price with more points. Checked another short rental from LHR but it came out a lot more... so not worth rebooking. But worth checking and rebooking under the offer if you have rentals coming up.

nacho

You haven't rented in Japan I had to check under the car and the roof for scratches! I saw people warned people about that because some rental companies did look under and on the roof. Somehow Japanese car rental don't accept wear and tear. You even need to call the police and made a report even if you did a minor damage as otherwise you will be paying a lot more. Also, in Japan they charge 50000 JPY for Non Operational Charge even though the damage is so minor that they can easily fix it in an hour and rent the car to someone else.

I think the damage claim for Hertz is used when you have a CC claim which doesn't apply to whoever that bought or have their full insurance.

I found Avis pretty bad in car selection, both times in the US I couldn't pick another car but Hertz let me do so.

tr3k

All true, but they have a second "0-deductible" coverage that waives these "administrative charges" (that's on top of the first SuperCDW to waive the actual excess). So about $40-50 a day extra, and you owe nothing again (until they come up with another administrative^2 charge, of course)

CPH-Flyer

Who do you rent with in Japan? C. Heat U. Rental Car K.K.?

I always use Orix, and they are super easy to deal with. They usually make a very thorough inspection of the car when you get it, and it takes about 30 seconds for them to inspect the car on return. I never had any issues, nor actually ever dented the car. I'd probably say my most pleasant car rental experiences are in Japan.

nacho

I watched videos and forums about car rentals in Japan - once got "hit" by a scratch under the bumper and one got "hit" by a scratch mark on the roof (Asians are not that tall). Since I'm trying to prevent hiccups I inspect the car like a forensic doctor, I have no idea whether or where they check when I return the car so I'd better be safe than sorry.

The budget lady shuttle driver was the most crazy driver I have ever seen: she was literally off her wheels and flipping papers with both hands while driving! I can kind of understand if it's her own car but driving for someone that's just too much.

I used Worldnet car in Sapporo in 2019 and they did a very thorough inspection both upon pick up and return and Budget at NRT Jan 2020 (they inspected it very thoroughly even though I had a damage reported already and paid a total of 50000 Yen for NOC which I could claim it back).

Then last year I used Toyota (that was one of the most expensive car rental I have ever tried 23000 Yen for 48 hours) in Sapporo - I did the precautionary drill and told them to mark everything and when I returned it they didn't even check... Then in Naha I rented one and once again told them whatever I could see, they didn't check much when I returned either.

Orix is so expensive compared to others (they were even more expensive than Toyota). I need a rental during Christmas at NRT and the problem is that all car rentals are closed at 6pm and my flight arrives at 7:30pm...