Difference between revisions of "Credit cards with elite car rental status"

Latest revision as of 16:32, 9 September 2021

Easy Access to Valuable Travel Benefits, Car Rental Strategies

One of the benefits of Mastercard World Elite, Amex Platinum, and Visa Infinite credit cards is elite status with one or more car rental companies. And once you get elite status in one of the major programs, you can often match it to elite status with the others.

Being an elite member of a car rental loyalty program is nice, but not exceedingly valuable. You get a decent chance of a one-class rental car upgrade and a somewhat faster reward earning rate on your rentals. On the other hand, at many US airport locations, high-level elites can choose their car from an aisle that sometimes has particularly nice options.

Because it is easy to get elite car rental status through promotions or status matches, we would never recommend getting a credit card just to get elite rental car status. However, there is a reasonable chance that you already have, or will wind up getting, at least one of the cards that has this benefit. And you might as well take advantage of their elite car rental status benefits. And then match that status, if necessary, with other rental car companies.

Easy Hertz Five Star Status

New Hertz accounts will be automatically given Five Star elite status until the end of the year. You'll keep your status for 2022 if you make three qualifying rentals during the second half of 2021. Hertz webpage.

Visa Infinite	World Elite Mastercard	Amex Platinum
Webpage		Webpage
Executive status	Special rates	Executive status
Preferred Plus status	Preferred Plus status	Preferred Plus status
2-hour grace period with CDP 2150933	President's Circle status.	4-hour grace period with CDP 211762
	Platinum status
Special rates

Some notes:

The extra 2 or 4 hour grace periods from Hertz can be extremely valuable. Depending on how long you need your rental car, it could save you an entire day's rental. For example, if you pick up your rental at 1pm and need to be back to the airport the next day at 5pm, you only need to pay for one days rental, rather than two. This benefit is only available at locations in the United States.
Mastercard doesn't have a website that summarizes their status benefits. You'll need to go to different pages to learn about and sign up for each of the programs. Hertz. Avis Avis. Sixt.
Several of the cards you might be interested in are World Elite Mastercards. So, there is a good chance that you’ll eventually wind up getting at least one of these cards.

In addition, the Citi Double Cash Card doesn’t come standard as a World Elite card, but you can call in and convert it to the better World Elite version, for no extra charge.

The only Visa Infinite cards are the Sapphire Reserve Card, CNB Crystal Infinite Card, UBS Infinite Card, and the no longer available for new signups Ritz Carlton Credit Card.

Free rental days with Avis

With the Amex Platinum, you'll earn a free weekend car rental (good for two days), if you complete two qualifying car rentals during the first half or second half of the year. To qualify, your paid rentals need to be at least two days long, booked with AWD A756900, and paid for with your Platinum card. You can earn one certificate every six months.

Other paths to automatic Hertz status

United Club Credit Card	The premium United Club Credit Card gives you automatic Hertz President's club access (not just their lower Five Star status). Webpage.
United and Delta elite members	Delta Medallion and United Premier elite members automatically get elite status in the Hertz Gold Plus program. United Webpage. Delta Webpage.
Marriott Titanium and Ambassador elites	Titanium members receive Five Star status, Ambassador members receive President's Circle status, by registering online.

Car rental status matches

Once you get status with one car rental company, you can usually match it with the others.

	Will only match up to the Preferred Plus level. They don't have an official webpage, you'll need to contact them manually.
	Hertz will usually match Avis, National, and Enterprise elites. Hertz Status Match webpage.
	Not only will National match status with other car rental companies, they'll give you status if you have elite status with many different hotel and airline programs (such as Hilton or United). National Status Match webpage.
	Enterprise will usually match Avis and Hertz status. Enterprise Status Match webpage.

If you are looking for status from some other rental car company, you should email them. There is a good chance you'll get approved.

Join Major Car Rental Loyalty Programs for Faster Car Pickup—They’re Free

Car Rental Loyalty Programs

Credit Cards That Provide “Primary” Rental Car Coverage

Send comments or suggestions to editor@travelstrategies.com or leave a comment below.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{DISPLAYTITLE:{{Title|rental elite status}} (2019)}}
+{{DISPLAYTITLE:{{Title|rental elite status}} (2021)}}
 {{seo|description=Get free upgrades and extra points with the elite car rental status you can receive from your American Express, World MasterCard, and Visa Infinite cards.}}
-{{Page|article|rental strategies|card strategies}}
+{{Page|article|benefits|rental strategies}}
 {{Image|HertzVisaInfinite.jpg|full}}
 <blockquote>
-One of the benefits of Mastercard World Elite, Amex Platinum and Visa Infinite credit cards is elite status with one or more car rental companies.
+One of the benefits of Mastercard World Elite, Amex Platinum, and Visa Infinite credit cards is elite status with one or more car rental companies. And once you get elite status in one of the major programs, you can often match it to elite status with the others.
 </blockquote>
-Being an elite member of a car rental loyalty program is nice, but not exceedingly valuable. You get a decent chance of a one-class rental car upgrade and somewhat faster reward earning rate on your rentals. As a result, we would never recommend getting a credit card, just to get elite rental car status. However, there is a reasonable chance that you already have, or will wind up getting, at least one of the cards that has this benefit. And you might as well take advantage of their elite car rental status benefit.
+Being an elite member of a car rental loyalty program is nice, but not exceedingly valuable. You get a decent chance of a one-class rental car upgrade and a somewhat faster reward earning rate on your rentals. On the other hand, at many US airport locations, high-level elites can choose their car from an aisle that sometimes has particularly nice options.
-{{Box}}
+Because it is easy to get elite car rental status through promotions or status matches, we would never recommend getting a credit card just to get elite rental car status. However, there is a reasonable chance that you already have, or will wind up getting, at least one of the cards that has this benefit. And you might as well take advantage of their elite car rental status benefits. And then match that status, if necessary, with other rental car companies.
-Just having the credit card is not enough. You’ll need to go online, or call the rental car company to request your elite status.
+{{Main|article}}
+{{Box|Easy Hertz Five Star Status}}
+'''New Hertz accounts will be automatically given Five Star elite status until the end of the year'''. You'll keep your status for 2022 if you make three qualifying rentals during the second half of 2021. [//ir.hertz.com/2021-07-01-Hertz-Launches-Exclusive-Loyalty-Offers-to-Make-Renting-More-Rewarding?utm_source=pocket_mylist Hertz webpage].
 {{/Box}}
-{{TOC}}
+===  What's available from each credit card ===
-*[[#World Elite Mastercards|World Elite Mastercards]]
-*[[#Visa Infinite cards|Visa Infinite cards]]
-*[[#American Express Platinum cards|American Express Platinum cards]]
-*[[#Other paths to automatic Hertz status|Other paths to automatic Hertz status]]
-{{/TOC}}
-{{Main|article}}
+{{Box}}
-=== World Elite Mastercards ===
+Just having the credit card is not enough. You’ll need to go online or call the rental car company to request your elite status.
+{{/Box}}
-Every World Elite Mastercard provides discounts with several car rental programs, and elite status with Avis and Sixt. Weirdly, the Avis benefits aren't included on the [//www.mastercard.us/en-us/consumers/offers-promotions/world-elite-travel-benefits.html#rental-cars World Elite Master Card Rental Car Benefits Webpage].
+Start with getting elite car rental status from your credit card.
 {{Table|Basic|5.25in}}
@@ Line 40: / Line 39: @@
 |{{Logo|National|144x72px}}
 |'''Executive''' status
-|
+|Special rates
 |'''Executive''' status
 |-
 |{{Logo|Avis|144x72px}}
 |'''Preferred Plus''' status
-|
+|'''Preferred Plus''' status
-|Special rates
+|'''Preferred Plus''' status
 |-
 |{{Logo|Hertz|144x72px}}
-|2 hour grace period with CDP 2150933
+|2-hour grace period with CDP 2150933
-|4 hour grace period with CDP 211762
+|'''President's Circle''' status.
-|
+|4-hour grace period with CDP 211762
 |-
 |{{Logo|Sixt|144x72px}}
 |
-|
+|'''Platinum''' status
 |
 |-
@@ Line 64: / Line 63: @@
 {{/Table}}
-The United Club card provides automatic Hertz President's Circle status. Signup with [//hertzstatus.mileageplus.com/ this link].
+Some notes:
-{{List|logo}}
+<ul class="simplelist">
-{{LogoLabel|Sixt}}
+<li>The extra 2 or 4 hour grace periods from Hertz can be extremely valuable. Depending on how long you need your rental car, it could save you an entire day's rental. For example, if you pick up your rental at 1pm and need to be back to the airport the next day at 5pm, you only need to pay for one days rental, rather than two. This benefit is only available at locations in the United States.</li>
-'''Sixt "Platinum" status'''.  Entitles you to a 15% discount and free upgrade.
-{{LogoLabel|Avis}}
+<li>Mastercard doesn't have a website that summarizes their status benefits. You'll need to go to different pages to learn about and sign up for each of the programs.  [//www.mastercard.com/en-ke/consumers/find-card-products/world-elite/travel/hertz-benefit.html Hertz]. [//www.avis.com/en/bridge/partner/mastercard/preferred-plus Avis Avis]. [http://partner.sixt.de/mcelite/how-to-book-sixt/sixt-cards/?L=1 Sixt].</li>
-'''Avis Preferred Plus status'''. One-class upgrade with availability, and a 35% percent discount. The elite status benefit is not listed on the World Elite benefits page, but is still available through this [//www.avis.com/en/bridge/partner/mastercard/preferred-plus Avis webpage].
-{{LogoLabel|National}}
-No elite status, but a 25% percent discount. The Citibank website still lists Executive status as a card benefit, but the enrollment link just redirects back to Citibank.
-{{LogoLabel|Budget}}
+<li>Several of the cards you might be interested in are World Elite Mastercards. So, there is a good chance that you’ll eventually wind up getting at least one of these cards.</li>
-No elite status, but a 25% percent discount.
-{{/List|logo}}
-Several of the cards you might be interested in are World Elite Mastercards. So, there is a good chance that you’ll eventually wind up getting at least one of these cards.
 <ul class="checklist">
 <li>{{Card|CitiPrestige|only}} and {{Card|CitiPremier|only}}.</li>
-<li>{{Card|AA|only}} and {{Card|aaexecutive|only}}.</li>
+<li>{{Card|AA|only}}, {{Card|Aviator|only}}, and {{Card|aaexecutive|only}}.</li>
 <li>{{Card|hawaiian|only}}.</li>
 <li>{{Card|virgin|only}}.</li>
 <li>{{Card|airfrance|only}}.</li>
+<li>{{Card|hsbcpremierelite|only}}.
 <li>[//www.saksfifthavenue.com/SaksFirst/world_elite_mc.jsp Sak's Fifth Avenue Card]</li>
 <li>[//www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/partnerships/buypower-card/ Capital One Buy Power Card]</li>
@@ Line 93: / Line 83: @@
 </ul>
-In addition, the {{Card|Doublecash|only} doesn’t come standard as a World Elite card, but you can call in and convert it to the better World Elite version, for no extra charge.
+In addition, the {{Card|Doublecash|only}} doesn’t come standard as a World Elite card, but you can call in and convert it to the better World Elite version, for no extra charge.
-=== Visa Infinite cards ===
+<li>The only Visa Infinite cards are the {{Card|SapphireReserve|only}}, {{Card|CrystalInfinite|only}}, {{Card|UBSInfinite|only}}, and the no longer available for new signups {{Card|Ritz|only}}.</li>
+</ul>
-Visa Infinite cardholders get a set of car rental benefits.
+{{Box|Free rental days with Avis}}
+With the Amex Platinum, you'll earn a free weekend car rental (good for two days), if you complete two qualifying car rentals during the first half or second half of the year. To qualify, your paid rentals need to be at least two days long, booked with AWD A756900, and paid for with your Platinum card. You can earn one certificate every six months.
+{{/Box}}
-{{List|logo}}
+=== Other paths to automatic Hertz status ===
-{{LogoLabel|National}}
+{{List|label}}
-'''Emerald "Executive" status'''
-Choose from Emerald Aisle, getting full-size and above cars, for the mid-size rate
+{{Label|United Club Credit Card}}
+The premium {{Card|Unitedclub|only}} gives you automatic Hertz President's club access (not just their lower Five Star status). [//hertzstatus.mileageplus.com/ Webpage].
-Guaranteed upgrade to full-size or better, from mid-size car
+{{Label|United and Delta elite members}}
+Delta Medallion and United Premier elite members automatically get elite status in the Hertz Gold Plus program. [//hertzstatus.mileageplus.com/ United Webpage]. [//www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/medallion-program/elite-benefits-partners Delta Webpage].
-Free rental day after every 6 rentals, rather than 7
+{{Label|Marriott Titanium and Ambassador elites}}
+Titanium members receive Five Star status, Ambassador members receive President's Circle status, by registering [//mrhertzstatus.com/MemberStat online].
-{{LogoLabel|Avis}}
+{{/List|label}}
-You don't get elite status, but you do get a 30% discount, using AWD S107100.
-{{LogoLabel|Silvercar}}
-You don't get elite status, but you do get a 30% discount, using code vinfinite.
-{{/List|logo}}
-The only Visa Infinite cards are the {{Card|SapphireReserve|only}}, {{Card|CrystalInfinite|only}}, {{Card|UBSInfinite|only}}, and the no longer available for new signups {{Card|Ritz|only}}.
-=== American Express Platinum cards ===
-{{Card|PlatinumCard|Guide}}
+=== Car rental status matches ===
-Every version of the American Express Platinum card comes with
+Once you get status with one car rental company, you can usually match it with the others.
 {{List|logo}}
-{{LogoLabel|National}}
-'''Emerald "Executive" status'''
-Choose from Emerald Aisle, getting full-size and above cars, for the mid-size rate
-Guaranteed upgrade to full-size or better, from mid-size car
-Free rental day after every 6 rentals, rather than 7
-(To add status to your account, you can call in or go to the [//www.nationalcar.com/en_US/car-rental/loyalty/corporate-Enrollment/amex.html National sign up page].)
 {{LogoLabel|Avis}}
+Will only match up to the Preferred Plus level. They don't have an official webpage, you'll need to contact them manually.
-No elite status, but you'll earn a free weekend car rental (good for two days), if you complete two qualifying car rentals during the first half or second half of the year. To qualify, your paid rentals need to be at least two days long, booked with AWD A756900, and paid for with your Platinum card. You can earn one certificate every six months.
+{{LogoLabel|Hertz}}
+Hertz will usually match Avis, National, and Enterprise elites. [//pub.emails.hertz.com/Hertz_Status_Match Hertz Status Match webpage].
-You'll also get a copy of the Wall Street Journal in your car at a bunch of major US Airports.
+{{LogoLabel|National}}
+Not only will National match status with other car rental companies, they'll give you status if you have elite status with many different hotel and airline programs (such as Hilton or United). [//status.emeraldclub.com National Status Match webpage].
-{{LogoLabel|Hertz}}
-No elite status, but, you can use a special rate code (211762) to get a discounted rate, that comes with a four hour no-charge grace period for returning your car (which can sometimes shave an entire day’s rental charges off your bill).
+{{LogoLabel|Enterprise}}
+Enterprise will usually match Avis and Hertz status.  [//statusmatch.enterpriseplus.com Enterprise Status Match webpage].
 {{/List|logo}}
-=== Other paths to automatic Hertz status ===
+If you are looking for status from some other rental car company, you should email them. There is a good chance you'll get approved.
-{{List|label}}
-{{Label|United Club Credit Card}}
-The premium {{Card|Unitedclub|only}} gives you automatic Hertz President's club access (not just their lower Five Star status).
-{{Label|United and Delta elite members}}
-Delta Medallion and United Premier elite members automatically get elite status in the Hertz Gold Plus program. That benefit is also available for people with the high-annual-fee United Club card.
-{{Label|Marriott Titanium and Ambassador elites}}
-Titanium members receive Five Star status, Ambassador members receive President's Circle status, by registering [//mrhertzstatus.com/MemberStat online]. Previously, they needed to link their Marriott and United accounts to get United Silver status, and then use their United status to get elite status from Hertz.
-{{/List|label}}
 {{/Main|article}}
 {{NextPages}}
-{{Next|Rentals 101}}
+{{Next|join rental programs}}
 {{Next|rental loyalty programs}}
 {{Next|primary insurance}}
 {{/NextPages}}
 {{/Page|article}}

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Difference between revisions of "Credit cards with elite car rental status"

Latest revision as of 16:32, 9 September 2021

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What's available from each credit card

Other paths to automatic Hertz status

Car rental status matches