Executive Club Partners • June 2014
Smart cars: holiday rentals explained
Ali Wadsworth
International partnerships manager at Avis
Thinking of hitting the road after you touch down? Ali Wadsworth, international partnerships manager at Avis, shares her insider tips and explains the extra perks for Executive Club Members
Why should I book my car hire through Avis?
As well as our competitive rates and choice of cars worldwide, there are two other reasons why Executive Club Members can benefit with Avis. The first is that you can collect and redeem Avios on Avis rentals. You will get a minimum of 500 Avios for one- to two-day rentals and a minimum 700 Avios for three-plus day rentals, and you can use your Avios to pay for Avis car hire. The second is that all Executive Club Members can add an additional driver on any rental for free, which usually costs around £11 per day (depending on location). That gives quite a saving on longer trips.
Are there any other perks for me as an Executive Club Member?
Whether you are a Member or not, British Airways Holidays guarantees a saving if you book a flight and car fly-drive holiday as a package. There are some great deals going into the US, South Africa and mainland Europe. For Executive Club Members there is also a little-known Avios holiday bonus, so not only do you earn Avios on the flight and car hire, you also get a bonus two Avios per £1 spent on the total holiday package price. On top of that, if you pay for it with your British Airways co-brand credit card – the British Airways American Express card for example – you will get Avios for the transaction as well. And that’s in addition to the initial flight and car package saving, and the fact that you’ll get a free additional driver.
How far ahead should I book? Should I be thinking about it in advance or are there last-minute deals to be had?
It depends on where you are travelling to, but generally, my advice is book as early as you can. In the same way that the price of a British Airways seat goes up as the availability goes down, when there are fewer cars available, the price will inevitably be higher. So if you’re travelling to a popular destination during a peak holiday period, book your car as soon as you possibly can. If you prefer not to plan too far ahead, there are some great last-minute deals to be found on ba.com.
The daily rental rates are cheaper at the weekend in business hubs such as Frankfurt
What about weekend rentals? Is that a cheaper option?
A weekend rental would have to include a Saturday night stay and, generally speaking, the daily rate can be a bit cheaper compared with mid-week daily rates. It depends on the time of year and the location that you are renting. In a typical business destination such as Frankfurt, for example, you will usually find that a weekend rental daily rate is better than during the week.
Can I save by pre-paying?
You have to pre-pay when you book through ba.com. There is a link for customers if they want a ‘pay local’ option, but those rates are usually more expensive because they give greater flexibility. If you are looking for the best possible rate, it is always worth knowing what your confirmed requirements are in advance and booking pre-pay.
For more exclusive offers and information on British Airways’ partnership with Avis, visit ba.com