In your company, are you responsible for booking venues, facilities, restaurants and organizing transportation for meetings and events?
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Despite all of these included, extra and potential charges and fees, the informed car renter can find good deals as long as they are knowledgeable and they play by the contract language and stipulations.
rental car loyalty programs
Although rental car loyalty programs pale when compared to the robust airline and hotel programs, when renting cars is a common part of your travels for life and work, the programs have attractive value. Rental car loyalty programs focus on faster service, better car choice, discounts, free rentals and even a way to rack up airline miles. No one program has everything, but some truly are worth your while. Take a look at some of the most common rental car loyalty programs in the nation and what they offer.
National Car Rental: National Car Rental’s Emerald Club® offers very desirable rewards for frequent travelers. First off, after only seven rentals, members get a free day and they can accrue frequent-flyer miles and hotel points. Members also get elite perks, such as exclusive discounts, upgrades and no second-driver fees. One major timesaver is the program’s expedited rentals with counter bypass at more than 50 locations and Drop & Go service with e-receipts for quicker returns. In addition, when renting a midsize car, members can access the Emerald Club Aisle, a designated area where they can choose any available vehicle. Plus, members can sign up for EmeraldAlerts for arrival and return alerts and expiration reminders sent right to their mobile device.
Hertz: The Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program offers excellent perks, including exclusive discounts, no second-driver fees for spouses, expedited drop-offs with eReturn and special e-mail offers. Members also do not need to wait at counters or complete paperwork; they just show their license and pick up their keys at the designated Gold counter at more than 1,000 locations worldwide. At more than 40 of the world’s busiest airports, members don’t even need to stop at the counter when they see their name and reservation on the notice board. With Hertz Gold Choice®, members choose any car on the spot; and Mobile Gold Alerts sends vehicle updates and allows members to upgrade from their mobile devices. Members earn one point for every qualifying dollar spent at any Hertz location on rental charges and other optional services, insurance coverage, additional mileage charges and more. Points can be redeemed anytime on www.hertz.com for all kinds of rewards and upgrades. Once enrolled in the program, members also can access Hertz 24/7, an hourly car rental service available anytime with fuel and insurance included.
Avis Rent A Car: With Avis Preferred Service, members make faster reservations and rentals, get access to cars with the lowest mileage and receive all kinds of special offers. Furthermore, members skip the lines and paperwork and go straight to their car at more than 3,000 locations worldwide. Once enrolled, members receive an Avis Wizard Number that lets them access their profile information; view, modify or cancel reservations; and review and print any past receipts. The Avis Preferred Select & Go at participating airports lets members select the vehicle from the lot that’s right for them and their needs. For Preferred Service members (with 12 or more paid rentals or 35 days or more in a calendar year) automatically are upgraded to an invitation-only program called Avis First, which delivers a whole new level of high-end services and access to some of the finest vehicles in the industry. Exclusive benefits in this program include weekend rental rewards, no blackout restrictions, free class upgrades, a dedicated 800 number for service questions and a members-only website with easy access to special offers, their personal profile and online support.
Alamo: The free Alamo Insiders program features expedited rentals and renters’ choice like many other programs, but it also offers a 10-percent member discount on advertised rates and tons of great deals beyond that discount. Although the program doesn’t offer free rentals or elite perks, it is a solid choice for infrequent renters whose focus is more on price than perks.
Budget: Budget has two loyalty programs. The most basic—Rent More, Save More—lets users save up to 20 percent off car rentals by tracking their eligible rental activity and automatically offering discounts on future rentals during the program period. Budget also has RapidRez, a members program that provides faster online reservations and less time at the counter. The system saves personal data and rental preferences, such as GPS or coverages, and applies it to the reservation, thus enabling one-click booking. The basic RapidRez can be amplified by adding the free Fastbreak service. With this, members avoid long lines and know their paperwork is waiting at one of more than 800 worldwide locations, some of which offer Fastbreak Choice, which lets members bypass the counter completely by accessing an easy check-in monitor then heading right to the car.
Dollar: With Dollar EXPRESS, members enjoy shorter lines, faster service and a chance to earn free days with renter rewards. Paying no fees, no dues and no contracts, members earn one credit for every rental day. Dollar automatically tracks member rentals and sends them a “free day” certificate after every 16 credits earned, which can be redeemed on compact, midsize, standard or full-size cars. Dollar EXPRESS is the fastest way to rent with quicker reservations, rentals and returns without needing to provide personal profile information and preferences every time. Furthermore, members have a designated line and counter area for preferential service. Upon return, a Dollar agent greets members in the parking lot and quickly presents the receipt for expedient returns. Dollar also has a full-service, value-oriented corporate program called Dollar 4Business with which business travelers and companies of all sizes can save money and reap special benefits.
rental car loyalty programs
Although rental car loyalty programs pale when compared to the robust airline and hotel programs, when renting cars is a common part of your travels for life and work, the programs have attractive value. Rental car loyalty programs focus on faster service, better car choice, discounts, free rentals and even a way to rack up airline miles. No one program has everything, but some truly are worth your while. Take a look at some of the most common rental car loyalty programs in the nation and what they offer.
National Car Rental: National Car Rental’s Emerald Club® offers very desirable rewards for frequent travelers. First off, after only seven rentals, members get a free day and they can accrue frequent-flyer miles and hotel points. Members also get elite perks, such as exclusive discounts, upgrades and no second-driver fees. One major timesaver is the program’s expedited rentals with counter bypass at more than 50 locations and Drop & Go service with e-receipts for quicker returns. In addition, when renting a midsize car, members can access the Emerald Club Aisle, a designated area where they can choose any available vehicle. Plus, members can sign up for EmeraldAlerts for arrival and return alerts and expiration reminders sent right to their mobile device.
Hertz: The Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program offers excellent perks, including exclusive discounts, no second-driver fees for spouses, expedited drop-offs with eReturn and special e-mail offers. Members also do not need to wait at counters or complete paperwork; they just show their license and pick up their keys at the designated Gold counter at more than 1,000 locations worldwide. At more than 40 of the world’s busiest airports, members don’t even need to stop at the counter when they see their name and reservation on the notice board. With Hertz Gold Choice®, members choose any car on the spot; and Mobile Gold Alerts sends vehicle updates and allows members to upgrade from their mobile devices. Members earn one point for every qualifying dollar spent at any Hertz location on rental charges and other optional services, insurance coverage, additional mileage charges and more. Points can be redeemed anytime on www.hertz.com for all kinds of rewards and upgrades. Once enrolled in the program, members also can access Hertz 24/7, an hourly car rental service available anytime with fuel and insurance included.
Avis Rent A Car: With Avis Preferred Service, members make faster reservations and rentals, get access to cars with the lowest mileage and receive all kinds of special offers. Furthermore, members skip the lines and paperwork and go straight to their car at more than 3,000 locations worldwide. Once enrolled, members receive an Avis Wizard Number that lets them access their profile information; view, modify or cancel reservations; and review and print any past receipts. The Avis Preferred Select & Go at participating airports lets members select the vehicle from the lot that’s right for them and their needs. For Preferred Service members (with 12 or more paid rentals or 35 days or more in a calendar year) automatically are upgraded to an invitation-only program called Avis First, which delivers a whole new level of high-end services and access to some of the finest vehicles in the industry. Exclusive benefits in this program include weekend rental rewards, no blackout restrictions, free class upgrades, a dedicated 800 number for service questions and a members-only website with easy access to special offers, their personal profile and online support.
Alamo: The free Alamo Insiders program features expedited rentals and renters’ choice like many other programs, but it also offers a 10-percent member discount on advertised rates and tons of great deals beyond that discount. Although the program doesn’t offer free rentals or elite perks, it is a solid choice for infrequent renters whose focus is more on price than perks.
Budget: Budget has two loyalty programs. The most basic—Rent More, Save More—lets users save up to 20 percent off car rentals by tracking their eligible rental activity and automatically offering discounts on future rentals during the program period. Budget also has RapidRez, a members program that provides faster online reservations and less time at the counter. The system saves personal data and rental preferences, such as GPS or coverages, and applies it to the reservation, thus enabling one-click booking. The basic RapidRez can be amplified by adding the free Fastbreak service. With this, members avoid long lines and know their paperwork is waiting at one of more than 800 worldwide locations, some of which offer Fastbreak Choice, which lets members bypass the counter completely by accessing an easy check-in monitor then heading right to the car.
Dollar: With Dollar EXPRESS, members enjoy shorter lines, faster service and a chance to earn free days with renter rewards. Paying no fees, no dues and no contracts, members earn one credit for every rental day. Dollar automatically tracks member rentals and sends them a “free day” certificate after every 16 credits earned, which can be redeemed on compact, midsize, standard or full-size cars. Dollar EXPRESS is the fastest way to rent with quicker reservations, rentals and returns without needing to provide personal profile information and preferences every time. Furthermore, members have a designated line and counter area for preferential service. Upon return, a Dollar agent greets members in the parking lot and quickly presents the receipt for expedient returns. Dollar also has a full-service, value-oriented corporate program called Dollar 4Business with which business travelers and companies of all sizes can save money and reap special benefits.
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