Avis EU & UK car hire discount strategy

[albatross710]

Since changes jobs a few years ago I haven't had the need to hire cars, that is until an upcoming Euro trip.

I have a Avis Wizard account which originally started with a Singapore Airlines discount code. After a few years the SQ code stopped providing any discount. Then I picked up a Union Shopper code and that provides some discount on Au & NZ rates but I don't see much impact on the european hires.

I am Gold : VA QF ALL & Hilton.

Is there an obvious linkage that I can make that will provide a decent discount for Avis rentals?

Alby

 

[SYD]

Do you happen to have a VISA Signature card? I have an AWD for that and possibly just regular VISA and MC. Not sure if they still work.

 

[albatross710]

Do you happen to have a VISA Signature card? I have an AWD for that and possibly just regular VISA and MC. Not sure if they still work.

negative to the Visa signature card. I do have a no thrills Visa card, ME Bank.

 

[albatross710]

Update to this adventure.

Avis is not Avis when you start travelling to Europe. The Australian Avis Preferred has variable interpretation depending upon the franchise. My quick experiences:

AVIS UK
For our one way hire the agency had recognised our Preferred and had our car and details all ready at the Preferred counter. Car was nice, a small manual as booked.

Issue 1: We could not get the payment card changed from our original booking card which was an Au credit card whereas I wanted to use my Wise debit card in GBP. Interestingly Avis contract says they charge an extra 4% for billing to AUD. I have no idea if that carried through. Got caught up in holidays.

Issue 2: Upon return to our destination city everything was good with the car and the agent asked me to signoff. Hmm, I thought I'd check through the detail of the billing just in case:

GBP 150 had been added for the one way rental.
GBP11 / day for second driver (Mrs Albatross) who didn't even drive.

This all cause a bit of consternation and keyboard tapping when I brought inconveniently brought their attention to the actual rental contract showing both of these as 0.

A discount was applied but no explanation or penalty as to why they tried it on.

Issue 3: Malta, that beautiful Mediterranean Island of the 1990s. Seems the Avis office is still there. Prebooked car wasn't available. Upgrade offered to an auto. That was appreciated. This office would not budge on requiring additional daily charge for the 2nd driver, so I just went with one driver. Then they wanted EUR200 for a fuel deposit, rental in advance plus EUR1,500 deposit as I didn't take their daily insurance offer.

As I was using a debit card this meant it held EUR2,000 for the 5 days rental + 4 days for the authorization to be released. In the end it was a EUR160 rental. This could have been avoided with better communication but I didn't have much luck with that.

In spite of the above, a good holiday was enjoyed.