Hertz (& other) rentals - where do you credit points & why?

[AdMEL]

I currently credit my Hertz (& Europcar, Thrifty) rentals to Velocity. Most points amounts end up being only a few hundred (when they credit!).

There has been some mention on here of crediting to Virgin Atlantic (VS) Flying club and a recent free upgrade to Silver, so I thought I'd check it out and also revisit the updated Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, especially in light of the constant devaluing of Velocity points over the last 12 months.

VS appears to earn a max. of 1,100 Flying Club points per rental, if using the public rate or VS rate & booking via #1 Club Gold (600 points if using a corporate rate). There does not appear to be a tier bonus like VA.

SYD-HKG appears to be 15,000 points in economy, 30,000 in PE & 40,000 in J + $200-240 taxes.

Return airfares for random dates (1-8 Aug) are $920 in Y, $1740 in PE & $5,800 in J. That values points at 1.7c ($500) in Y, 2.2c ($1,300) in PE & 6.7c ($5,400) in J.

At an average of say $40 a day for a rental, return in Y would take 27 days minimum ($1,080), PE 54 days ($2,160) & J 72 days ($2,880).

markis10, this is significantly more than the 10 rentals giving a one way in J, that you referred to in another thread! Am I missing something?

By contrast, Velocity would earn only 135 points per day as Silver (4.5 points per $, excluding taxes), 3,645 points for Y spend, 7,290 for PE spend & 9,720 for J spend.

With Hertz Gold Plus Rewards the same spend would earn 2 free days ($80) for the Y spend, 4 free days ($160) for the PE spend & almost 6 free days ($320) for the J spend. Not great value compared with VS.

Given the points structure, long rentals (especially while overseas, which only earns 700 Velocity points, regardless of spend and length) would be best credited to Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, by my calculation.

 

[k3nnis]

I think AVIS also has a 1000 VS points per rental. I don't see much talk of AVIS here compared to Hertz, is there a reason?

 

[markis10]

markis10, this is significantly more than the 10 rentals giving a one way in J, that you referred to in another thread! Am I missing something?

By contrast, Velocity would earn only 135 points per day as Silver (4.5 points per $, excluding taxes), 3,645 points for Y spend, 7,290 for PE spend & 9,720 for J spend.

With Hertz Gold Plus Rewards the same spend would earn 2 free days ($80) for the Y spend, 4 free days ($160) for the PE spend & almost 6 free days ($320) for the J spend. Not great value compared with VS.

Given the points structure, long rentals (especially while overseas, which only earns 700 Velocity points, regardless of spend and length) would be best credited to Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, by my calculation.

Hertz have had a couple of promos earlier this year that give bonus points, one for 2000 and one for a bit more:

Virgin Atlantic 2013 Miles January Bonus - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks markis. I'm deciding whether to go for Hertz or AVIS when I rent in Sept/Oct, and will probably credit it to VS instead of QF

 

[markis10]

Thanks markis. I'm deciding whether to go for Hertz or AVIS when I rent in Sept/Oct, and will probably credit it to VS instead of QF

It all comes down to how long the rental will be, for a number of years I have been confusing Hertz and Avis in Darwin during the wet season because I was getting a new car every day, at $21 a rental for up to 5000 points, its been a good ride, even if its a hassle to top up etc.

 

[k3nnis]

It will be for 4 to 5 days rental

 

[JohnK]

I only hire cars from Avia and Hertz depending on who is cheapest.

I value a return upper class SYD-HKG at a maximum of $2,000 and taking out taxes and fuel surcharges I value 1,000 VS points at ~$25.

Most of the car rentals turn out to be Avis but the past couple of times in BNE Hertz has been competitive. My last Hertz rental earned 3,013 VS miles :shock: but I do not remember signing up for promotion back in January. Oh, and I split all 2 day rentals and take the car back each day. I have not needed to hire a car for 3+ days but depending on where I was at the time I may take the car back each day and swap to another.

And with limited Hilton stays the VS balance keeps moving along. Almost have enough miles for a one-way upper class award SYD-HKG and these have been earned the past 6 months.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks johnk for sharing. I was thinking to return the car 3 times for a 5 day rental lol. That would net me 3000 VS miles?? But the wife would kill me for the inconvenience lol

 

[AdMEL]

Thanks johnk for sharing. I was thinking to return the car 3 times for a 5 day rental lol. That would net me 3000 VS miles?? But the wife would kill me for the inconvenience lol

From my understanding, if you use #1 Club Gold, it should be 3,300 points (extra 100 points per rental).

 

[markis10]

Thanks johnk for sharing. I was thinking to return the car 3 times for a 5 day rental lol. That would net me 3000 VS miles?? But the wife would kill me for the inconvenience lol

3300 actually if your a gold member, where you get a 100 point bonus, bit of a no brainer since its free to sign up.

 

[AdMEL]

I only hire cars from Avia and Hertz depending on who is cheapest.

I value a return upper class SYD-HKG at a maximum of $2,000 and taking out taxes and fuel surcharges I value 1,000 VS points at ~$25.

Most of the car rentals turn out to be Avis but the past couple of times in BNE Hertz has been competitive. My last Hertz rental earned 3,013 VS miles :shock: but I do not remember signing up for promotion back in January. Oh, and I split all 2 day rentals and take the car back each day. I have not needed to hire a car for 3+ days but depending on where I was at the time I may take the car back each day and swap to another.

And with limited Hilton stays the VS balance keeps moving along. Almost have enough miles for a one-way upper class award SYD-HKG and these have been earned the past 6 months.

Thanks for sharing JohnK. When you return the car, do you keep the same car even though you get a new contract?

 

[k3nnis]

So I will get more vs miles with hertz compared to Avis?? Actually what I'm curious about is whether the staff member at hertz or Avis question why I'm returning the car and then getting another car right away lol? For 3 days straight!!

 

[markis10]

So I will get more vs miles with hertz compared to Avis?? Actually what I'm curious about is whether the staff member at hertz or Avis question why I'm returning the car and then getting another car right away lol? For 3 days straight!!

Hertz pays more than Avis and yes you might get the odd question, they soon understand, especially as status is on a per rental basis with Hertz not to mention points etc.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks. I have the hertz #1 from the Amex plat charge. Is that hertz gold?

 

[JohnK]

3300 actually if your a gold member, where you get a 100 point bonus, bit of a no brainer since its free to sign up.

I do not use my Gold number when booking as it prices the rentals astronomically. Must remember to tell them to add the Gold number when I am collecting the car.

Thanks for sharing JohnK. When you return the car, do you keep the same car even though you get a new contract?

There have been times where they have given me the same car. From memory Gladstone or Hervey Bay were funny ones as they noticed I was renting again the next day and told me to keep the car and they will fix the paperwork when I got back. Sure enough I kept the car for 2 days and when I returned she put through 2 rental agreements as if I had returned and rehired the car.

So I will get more vs miles with hertz compared to Avis?? Actually what I'm curious about is whether the staff member at hertz or Avis question why I'm returning the car and then getting another car right away lol? For 3 days straight!!

What are they going to say. If they ask me I simply tell them I have multiple clients and I do not want them to know I am in town for more than 1 day. Other excuse is splitting the rentals for tax purposes. Find your own excuse and there is not much they can do. Tell them the truth if you really want.

Of course it is much easier if Avis and Hertz are priced similarly then you can swap between the 2 easily.

 

[k3nnis]

Sorry had a question, if I did a same day rental, I.e pick up morning and return evening on the same day do I qualify for vs points? That's a good point swapping between Avis and hertz.

 

[markis10]

Sorry had a question, if I did a same day rental, I.e pick up morning and return evening on the same day do I qualify for vs points?

rent for an hour and you qualify.

 

[markis10]

I do not use my Gold number when booking as it prices the rentals astronomically. Must remember to tell them to add the Gold number when I am collecting the car.

Depends on what CDP you use, that's not locked into your gold number, the VA guest rate is often one of the better ones, VS is so so but when your picking up over 5000 points a rental for a few $$$ extra, Cest la vie.

 

[JohnK]

Depends on what CDP you use, that's not locked into your gold number, the VA guest rate is often one of the better ones, VS is so so but when your picking up over 5000 points a rental for a few $$$ extra, Cest la vie.

How are you getting over 5,000 VS miles per rental? Some glitch posting the January 2013 promotion twice?

 

[markis10]

How are you getting over 5,000 VS miles per rental? Some glitch posting the January 2013 promotion twice?

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