Out with Avis First and in With the New! And Enjoy 250 Points When you Opt-in and Rent!
March 2016
Avis First faded into the sunset and a new loyalty program rose in its place in the summer of 2015. But before we get into that, who likes to wait in line at the rental car counter? We sure don’t! So, if you haven't already, enroll in Avis Preferred! It’s free to join and membership allows you to skip the counter at most locations, in addition to other great conveniences!
The Avis Preferred loyalty program rewards points based on the amount you spend on your rentals with Avis and is open to individuals who are at least 25 years old and reside in the US, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands or Canada.
As of July 1, 2015, all Avis First members were automatically converted to Avis Preferred Plus Elite status. For those who were not Avis First, you can opt-in now to receive 250 Avis Preferred Points when you rent once within the three months following opt-in.
The new Avis Preferred loyalty program has three levels:
Members simply need to enroll to enjoy Avis Preferred
Earn 1 Avis point for each dollar spent on the base rate of the rental and 2 points on accessory add-ons
Requires 12-qualified Avis car rentals or $5,000 spent annually with Avis
Earn 1.25 Avis points for each dollar spent on the base rate of the rental and 2.5 points on accessory add-ons
Enjoy complimentary upgrades whenever available
Gain access to a special Avis Preferred Plus number for reservations and customer service support
Within Avis Preferred Plus there is a second Elite tier:
Requires 25 or more qualified Avis car rentals or $7,000 spent annually with Avis
Earn 1.5 Avis points for each dollar spent on the base rate of the rental and 3 points on accessory add-ons
Enjoy complimentary upgrades whenever available
Gain access to a special Avis Preferred Plus number for reservations and customer service support
It's now difficult to determine the value of each earned Avis Preferred point because the redemption of points is dynamic, and the quantity of points required for benefits varies based upon such elements as duration of the rental, date, car class, time of year and location.
Avis Preferred points can be redeemed for:
Free car rentals without blackout dates (which covers the base rate and mileage but not insurance products, taxes, fees and surcharges)
Car-class upgrades
Accessory add-ons (e.g. car seats, extended roadside assistance, GPS, satellite radio, ski racks, etc.)
Extended Roadside Assistance
You will be required to choose either Avis points or a hotel or airline bonus offer with one of Avis’s partners when available.
All Avis Preferred points are valid for 60 months from when they were earned. But an account will be considered inactive and all points forfeited if during a 12-month period a member hasn’t either rented from Avis or earned or redeemed Avis Preferred points.
The Wrap-Up:
Avis introduced a revenue-based loyalty program on July 1, 2015. The program has three levels - Avis Preferred and two Elite status levels of Avis Preferred Plus.
If you previously held Avis First Elite status, you were automatically enrolled in the new Avis Preferred Plus Elite status program on July 1, 2015. Everyone else has a chance to opt-in to the new program and earn 250 Avis Preferred points after renting once in the three months following opt-in.
Share this with anyone you know who rents from Avis and come on in for complimentary trvlvip alerts so you’ll never miss an important Avis Perk, Tip or update!
This post may contain links to products we have the potential to receive a small advertising compensation for. For more information, see our Advertising Policy.