We received a comment this morning regarding the upcoming Hertz packages available through Daily Getaways that was a bit alarming:
“This is jumping the gun a bit but we need a blogger to look at the Hertz deal next week. Hertz just implemented one of the biggest devaluations I’ve ever seen (awards costs increased 50-67% across the board). The deal for next week is now completely inaccurate and misleading in its description (not their fault – Hertz did this completely underhandedly). As example, the 16,500 rewards now costs 25,000. The 13,200 reward doesn’t even exist as weekend rewards were eliminated.”
Looking into things, I found a Flyertalk thread discussing this very subject. Heading over to the Hertz website, I confirmed what folks were seeing.
It’s true: Hertz just devalued their program substantially
While devaluations are inevitable, implementing without any notice to members is absolutely unacceptable. I just hit 2,200 Hertz points and was looking at booking two one-way weekend rentals for upcoming trips. When I went to check the rates to the Bay Area, I was presented with a new price:
These used to cost 1,100 points one-way, so the new pricing represents an increase of 36%, which is hard to swallow. This now means I cannot make the two bookings I wanted with my heard earned points. The Hertz award chart has been totally changed.
Spending 1,500 points for a one-way rental that would cost $250 is still acceptable. I’m getting excellent value. What is not acceptable is yanking the carpet out from under my plans by not providing any notice. For anyone who has saved Hertz points for an upcoming vacation, a 36% increase could be crushing.
Adding injury to insult
[EDIT: Daily Getaways reached out to Hertz, and the car rental company agreed to increase the number of points being sold while keeping prices the same, so that the stated awards are still correct].
While a no-notice devaluation is a terrible thing for members, it is completely unacceptable for Hertz to be selling packages that no longer deliver what is advertised. The one-week rental package of 5,500 points (former AnyDay pricing), selling for $280, should deliver just that. Now the standard reward costs 3,750 points (up from 2,750) and the AnyDay price is 7,500 points. Another 36% devaluation.
The standard daily rental price has increased from 675 points to 750 points, and the discounted weekend rental option has disappeared completely. The one-week Hertz Prestige Collection Anytime award is changing from 16,500 points to 25,000 points (51% price increase). How I would hate to buy that package during Daily Getaways to find that I can’t book what I thought I could.
Conclusion
Hertz has long been my favorite car rental company, so this devaluation really…hurts. I’ve sort of been expecting that things would change, but to make no notice changes to the program ahead of selling a number of packages advertising specific redemption values to folks is underhanded and completely unacceptable.
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WOW
That sucks!!!!
I have 4,400 points which used to be a 4 day weekend in adrenaline – what does 2 – 4 days cost now?
Your 4,400 points is will get you just 2 days (no weekend rates) at standard rates.
Thanks for covering. Hertz also has been my go-to rental company. An action like this in the way they did it has probably lost me as a customer. I paid a little extra often to Hertz than I could have gotten with some other companies but now it’s pretty much lowest price (which usually isn’t Hertz) wins because their loyalty program is no longer worth the cost and by doing this without an announcement before OR after shows disregard for customers.
Agreed. This was a punch to the gut. I’ve loved their points program, and have chosen them whenever possible, even when they cost slightly more. I save all my points for one-way rentals to/from the SF Bay Area, as I live in a very rural area. $2 rentals are amazing that would otherwise cost $200.
Not sure I’ll continue…will need to find other options.
hertz has sucked for a while, def lagging behind others like National.
I rent for 3-4 days and it sucks to get only 1 credit, but at least I know a free day is a free day. (plus during the 1-2-free promo I racked up a TON of free rental days).
Hertz’ IT UX is trash, their loyalty points are so often “not available’ despite cars being available, and their cars often have tens of thousands of miles and employees are not as friendly as National (friendliness and willingness to help out is KEY for me!)
Emerald Aisle > Hertz PC area in terms of cars, and national prestige in aisle > hertz premium upgrades in PC area.
I regularly see infiniti’s, mustang’s, small SUV’s, etc in the PC upgrade area, and at national I see 7 series, mercedes GLS, jaguar, maserati, etc.
experience with both at JFK/LGA/MIA/SFO/LAX/PHL/EWR and more.
only reason I still go with Hertz is because my company primarily offers only hertz or Avis, and avis is worse still.
If National offered one-way to/from my area and had a meaningful presence where I live, this would work. But the reality is that my choice is between Hertz and Enterprise.