Author Topic: AA Rental Car Awards (Read 4711 times)

mguy · « **on:** January 12, 2012, 02:31:48 PM »

Do folks here use AA for rental cars?

Just checked out AA's rental car awards for the first time and there seem to be decent values. Just booked a minivan in Miami in peak season (regular rates are outrageous now at $500-$600 without taxes/fees for most companies). Booked through AA using a Gold account for 15,500 miles. It showed up as 21,300 without using a Gold account.

Taxes/fees are not included and AA doesn't quote you what that would be. But they say it's the same you would get charged if booked directly with the rental company (so you can just look it up on their site).

aussiebochur · « **Reply #1 on:** January 12, 2012, 03:05:41 PM »

How many days?

mguy · « **Reply #2 on:** January 12, 2012, 03:24:14 PM »

6 days

aussiebochur · « **Reply #3 on:** January 12, 2012, 04:31:34 PM »

Quote from: mguy on January 12, 2012, 03:24:14 PM

6 days

Not a bad redemption at all at 3.2 cpm.

karen · « **Reply #4 on:** January 12, 2012, 05:00:39 PM »

Used it once. Worked as described.

Quote from: mguy on January 12, 2012, 02:31:48 PM

Do folks here use AA for rental cars?

Just checked out AA's rental car awards for the first time and there seem to be decent values. Just booked a minivan in Miami in peak season (regular rates are outrageous now at $500-$600 without taxes/fees for most companies). Booked through AA using a Gold account for 15,500 miles. It showed up as 21,300 without using a Gold account.

Taxes/fees are not included and AA doesn't quote you what that would be. But they say it's the same you would get charged if booked directly with the rental company (so you can just look it up on their site).

A3 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2012, 07:49:41 AM »

Just booked a prem car with Avis out of EWR, 1 week for 18,000 miles... What were your experiences with taxes and fees? On Avis it shows that would be around $135. Is that what I should expect?

PlatinumGuy · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2012, 08:39:09 AM »

Elites also can't rent one-ways?

moko · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2012, 09:18:26 AM »

u could try to gamble. i've made a reg. res. from jfk and then changed the pick up to bklyn and returned at jfk

PlatinumGuy · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2012, 09:23:32 AM »

Quote from: moko on March 30, 2012, 09:18:26 AM

u could try to gamble. i've made a reg. res. from jfk and then changed the pick up to bklyn and returned at jfk

That probably only worked because it's the same city. I need YYZ-NYC which is blocked in the Avis system.

Also, there no way around the 21 min age, right?

sky121 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2012, 09:30:54 AM »

What about Insurance? You have to pay for insurance as well when renting from an AA redemption.

PlatinumGuy · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2012, 09:33:13 AM »

Quote from: sky121 on March 30, 2012, 09:30:54 AM

What about Insurance? You have to pay for insurance as well when renting from an AA redemption.

unless you paid for the AA miles using a cc

A3 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2012, 09:38:48 AM »

What are the terms and
Conditions with Amex premium protection? I will pay the taxes and fees with my Amex card. I'm sure they will charge me $25 bec they see a car rental. Then how will they be able to deny anything if they charged me?
So an extra $25 by using Amex instead UA Chase card

Saver2000 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2012, 10:09:04 AM »

Quote from: A3 on March 30, 2012, 09:38:48 AM

What are the terms and
Conditions with Amex premium protection? I will pay the taxes and fees with my Amex card. I'm sure they will charge me $25 bec they see a car rental. Then how will they be able to deny anything if they charged me?
So an extra $25 by using Amex instead UA Chase card

Check the T&c, in most cases you need to bill the entire rental to the cc in order for it to be covered.

Why don't you just a different cc?

Saver2000 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2012, 10:16:30 AM »

Quote from: PlatinumGuy on March 30, 2012, 09:23:32 AM

That probably only worked because it's the same city. I need YYZ-NYC which is blocked in the Avis system.

Also, there no way around the 21 min age, right?

I'm not at a pc now so I can't check, but did you try YYZ-BUF, BUF-NYC?

If that doesn't work, if you have a way to get to BUF (2 Hour drive from YYZ) you will have many more options.

PlatinumGuy · « **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2012, 10:24:47 AM »

Quote from: Saver2000 on March 30, 2012, 10:16:30 AM

I'm not at a pc now so I can't check, but did you try YYZ-BUF, BUF-NYC?

If that doesn't work, if you have a way to get to BUF (2 Hour drive from YYZ) you will have many more options.

Lol, I know that. Not for me personally and friend doesn't want to do that. Its just a general problem because flying up is much cheaper than flying down its constantly coming up for me, so I'd like a way to get rid of that.

The real question is if BUF location would agree by phone to continue same reservation to NYC.

A3 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 30, 2012, 10:24:55 AM »

Quote from: Saver2000 on March 30, 2012, 10:09:04 AM

Check the T&c, in most cases you need to bill the entire rental to the cc in order for it to be covered.

Why don't you just a different cc?

How about UA Presidents plus card. I don't have the terms in front of me.
Do you need to make the whole purchase on the card?

moko · « **Reply #16 on:** March 30, 2012, 11:04:24 AM »

Quote from: Saver2000 on March 30, 2012, 10:09:04 AM

Check the T&c, in ~~most~~ some cases you need to bill the entire rental to the cc in order for it to be covered.

Why don't you just a different cc?

many of my cards specify that i can use free day vouchers- some specify that i need to pay for one rental day on the card others have said that as long as i pay the fees on the card they cover (ircc the old ink cash card - then one that uses the old chase rewards) and yes i have it all in writing

Walk On the Ocean · « **Reply #17 on:** March 30, 2012, 12:03:29 PM »

FWIU
You need to put SOME of the cost of the rental on the AMEX CC to qualify for their premium protection, but not all. Taxes/Fees do not qualify. (This is what I was told from a CSR)
Can anyone confirm this?

moko · « **Reply #18 on:** March 30, 2012, 12:05:13 PM »

ask for it in writing and then u should be all set

sky121 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 30, 2012, 01:53:07 PM »

The insurance is the only reason I haven't used AA for rental cars yet.
IF someone can figure out a good way around this...let me know.

Or maybe it's worth paying for insurance out of pocket.