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Rental programs rolling over
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March 24, 1998: 1:00 p.m. ET
Count your car rental benefits before frequency clubs trim their perks
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NEW YORK (Biztravel.com) - For many business travelers, the details of their car rental company's frequency program are about as relevant to their travel plans as what in-flight movie they might get to see on the plane. As long as the bonus points keep coming in, there really isn't much to consider.
However, a few rumblings in the car rental industry could gravely affect frequent flyer programs in general. First, both Hertz and Avis have said they are considering terminating their status as partners of several major frequent flyer programs. Second, last year's 7.5 percent federal tax on bonus frequent flyer miles could signal the end of bonus car rental miles for good.
To prepare for these changes, road warriors should learn the facts about their frequent rental programs now.
Alamo Rent-a-Car True Blue
Alamo does not charge a membership fee for their frequent renter program, but members must rent from Alamo at least once every 18 months to keep their points from expiring.
Members earn one point for every dollar spent on ordinary rentals, including money spent on insurance, taxes, and gasoline for the first two days. Overseas renters get a flat 25 points per day. Members get double points on all U.S. rentals of three or more days.
Alamo's points can be redeemed for free driving days, with awards ranging from a free one-day rental of a mid-sized car for 1,500 points to a week-long rental of a luxury car for 12,000 points.
The company offers its elite members the Alamo Quicksilver service for a $50 annual membership fee although there are numerous promotions available that waive this fee for the first year.
The Quicksilver service includes access to Alamo's interactive rental kiosk facilities, allowing customers to bypass waiting lines at counters.
Other benefits of elite membership start when a members earns 1,000 points, and include access to the Silver Service counter, a lower limit on personal responsibility on rental damage, a fuel service option and cellular phone rental at select locations. In addition, there are no additional charges for additional drivers, underage users or airport access fees.
Quicksilver members who earn 6,000 or more points during one calendar year are automatically qualified to earn a 25 percent bonus on all their rentals.
Alamo frequent renters can also earn points with partner airlines and hotels each time they rent. Unfortunately, Alamo is not partnered with American Express Membership Rewards or Diner's Club International, and it has few international partners.
Avis Preferred Rental
Avis charges a $50 annual membership fee for its Preferred Renter program, but this fee might be waived if potential members join through one of Avis' partners.
Like most other car rental programs, Avis offers its frequent renters the option of bypassing airport rental counters with an express rental service.
First, Preferred Renter members must create a Master Rental Agreement, a comprehensive profile that includes information about car rental preferences, frequent flyer program information and so forth. Avis keeps this on file so that every time a member rents a car, the information is readily accessible.
Avis typically offers a separate rental counter area or rental kiosk for its Preferred Renter members. For those Avis rental facilities that require shuttle service, members are driven right to their car where their keys and rental record are waiting -- all they do is show their driver's license.
Avis also offers a Preferred Renter Select elite level for members who rent 10 times in a six-month period or 20 times in 12-month period. Elite-level members receive a complimentary upgrade to the next available car class at the time of rental, depending on availability, and after 15 rentals receive a certificate for a free one-day car rental.
Avis is currently partnered with many hotel programs as well as the standard airlines. One Avis rental earns 100 Best Western points, 250 Hilton or Holiday Inn points, 300 Hyatt points or 500 ITT Sheraton points.
Unfortunately, Avis does not partner with American Express or Diner's Club and will begin paring down its airline partnerships in 1998.
Budget AwardsPlus
Budget offers a very simple frequent renter program that rewards its members with numerous free upgrades and free car rental days. Membership to the program itself is free, but the award-redemption process is so awkward that it may cost you unwanted time and effort.
After signing up for the AwardsPlus program, members are issued AwardsPlus membership cards. Members collect stickers on their membership cards every time they rent at participating Budget locations. As a bonus, every time members collect their second sticker, they automatically become eligible for a one-class rental upgrade.
After collecting four stickers, members must mail their card back to Budget for award processing. Budget mails out a certificate good for a one-day car rental for every membership card received.
Members can redeem these one-day certificates for basic non-peak car rentals, or four can be turned in at once for a free weekly car rental. Two certificates earn either a free one-day rental of a luxury or premium vehicle or basic rental during the peak rental seasons.
As for partner airline credit, Budget generally offers the industry standard of 500 miles for each car or truck rental. AwardsPlus does offer a wide variety of international partners and even offers 625 miles per rental for Aeromexico Club Premier members.
Hertz #1 Club Gold
Hertz does not offer a frequent renter program in the most literal sense, but instead Club Gold members gain access to Hertz' express car rental facilities and can earn points for airline and hotel partners. Members occasionally earn a few perks - an upgrade to a higher car class if vehicles are available, for example - but there is no official policy regarding such benefits.
A Club Gold member who has completed the membership profile with Hertz will be able to bypass all rental lines and immediately pick up their car keys. A shuttle bus might even take the customer directly to the car and even make free pick-ups to and from home.
Unfortunately, Hertz has recently signaled that it is considering curtailing its participation in its numerous partner airline frequent flyer programs. Despite the savings such a move will yield, eliminating that facet of the program could deal spell the end of Hertz' frequency program, which would offer little benefit without the frequent flyer points.
National Emerald Club
Like every other car rental program, National's Emerald Club program offers its members the chance to by-pass the rental counter and go straight to the car. The "Emerald Club Aisle Service" utilizes a "smart key teller" that operates like an ATM. Members simply slide their Emerald Club card through the machine and drive off.
All Emerald Club members receive a 15 percent discount on mid-sized and full-sized car rentals. Members also receive a quarterly newsletter with exclusive offers from National and National's travel partners as well as an annual packet of travel coupons.
Although National has officially done away with the Emerald Club's elite, the company does occasionally negotiate elite-level privileges and discounts with firms that do high-volume rental business. Even then, this quasi-elite-level membership is offered only to the most senior executives of those companies.
National's partner airlines include Northwest, Delta, United, US Airways and Continental. Members receive 500 miles per rental on all partners except Continental, which gives 700 miles. 
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