Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is happening now! Follow us as Greg, Nick, and Stephen compete to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines before November 23rd. Who will complete the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
Last month, we reported on a promotion launched between SAS and Hertz that was awarding 5K SAS miles per Hertz rental. It was short lived — not long after, the terms were changed to require at minimum a 3-day rental (in the US) in order to earn the bonus. However, there is a new targeted promotion out with United and Hertz that has been sent via email. It targets some members to earn more than 5,000 United Mileage Plus miles per rental. Read on for a reminder of the current promotion open to all (whereby you can earn up to 2,750 miles per rental) and the targeted promo awarding more than double that number for some members.
Current Hertz Promotion open to all United MileagePlus Members
The Offer
- Up to 2,750 United MileagePlus miles per rental of a mid-size or larger vehicle (base miles as shown below + 1,500 bonus for a mid-size or larger vehicle)
- Use CDP 62455 and PC# 305023
- Direct link to promotion
Key Details
- Must rent mid-size or larger for bonus miles
- Expires September 30, 2017
- Book through united.com
United has long had a decent promotion running with Hertz that has been renewed a number of times. Currently (and often in years past), members can receive up to 2,750 miles per rental — which has been good enough to be my go-to choice for 1-day rentals. I generally prefer to rent from National due to my Executive Status there (courtesy of my Business Platinum card). I really enjoy being able to pick from any of the cars in the executive aisle. However, for a short rental that costs me $20-$50, I usually opt for the Hertz promo because the return in miles is hard to ignore.
As shown above, the current offer that is open to all MileagePlus members is set to expire September 30th, 2017. If you book a mid-size or larger car with Hertz through United (using CDP 62455 and PC# 305023), you will earn 1,500 bonus miles in addition to those you normally earn based on your status (elite/cardholder/none of the above). See this chart to determine the normal earning rates before the 1,500 mile bonus:
As you can see, United flyers with Premium Platinum status and higher can earn 1,250 miles on every Hertz rental — added together with the 1,500 mile bonus for mid-size or larger cars through September 30th, that’s 2,750 miles per rental. Chase MileagePlus primary cardmembers earn a total of 2,250 miles through that promotion even if they have no elite status with United. That can be pretty good on a cheap 1-day rental if you find one.
Targeted Offer for 5K+ miles
The Offer
- Same promotion as above plus an extra 3,000 bonus miles on every car you rent
Key Terms
- Expires September 9, 2017 (a couple weeks before the first promo)
- Non-transferable (you must be targeted
- CDP and PC# are the same as above (CDP 62455, PC# 305023)
Some members have been targeted for offers granting quite a few more miles. As pictured above, I was targeted and can earn 750 award miles per rental (based on my status as a MileagePlus Explorer card holder), a 1,500 mile bonus every time I book a mid-size or larger vehicle through united.com and an additional 3,000 miles with every car I rent through September 9th, 2017. That’s 5,250 miles per rental if I choose a mid-size or larger vehicle.
According to our Reasonable Redemption Values, United MileagePlus miles are worth 1.4 cents each (though you can of course get more value out of the right redemption). That makes my offer worth about $73.50 per rental (more or less depending on your valuation of United miles). If you have a need for a 1-day (or maybe a cheap 2-day) rental, this can come out a near wash if not better. If you have elite status with United, your base earnings could be up to 500 miles more, for a total of 5,750 miles per rental. That’s excellent.
The terms clearly state that this offer is not transferable. You must be targeted to receive the offer, and the total number of miles you receive will vary depending on your elite status with United and/or card holder status. The subject line of the email I received said:
Summer special: Earn up to 5,250 miles per car rental and save up to 40%
Bottom Line
The usual promotion with Hertz is a pretty good deal. This targeted offer is great if you can get it. If you have upcoming rentals with Hertz, it’s worth checking to see if you had scrolled past this email. I don’t see any geographical limitations in the terms, but you should definitely check to make sure your intended location isn’t excluded for one reason or another. As always, don’t forget to shop around. The rates available through United aren’t always the best rates I can find, but on a one-day rental I often find the value of the miles to more than negate the savings found when booking elsewhere (and at more than 5,000 miles per rental, that is especially true). On longer rentals, that margin may disappear. If you find any particularly good rates, let us know in the comments.
Terms and Conditions from the email:
*Base rate includes time and mileage charges only. Taxes, tax reimbursement, age differential charges, fees, surcharges and optional service charges, such as refueling, are not included. Reservation must be for a mid-size or larger car and include CDP 62455, PC 305023 and be booked through united.com to qualify for 1,500 bonus miles. Extra 3,000-mile bonus per rental only available to recipients of this email. Rentals must be picked up by September 9, 2017, to earn the 3,000-mile bonus, and by September 30, 2017 to earn the 1,500-mile bonus. Rentals in Japan are not eligible for bonus miles. Use discount code (CDP) 62455 to save up to 40% on qualifying Hertz rentals. Discount will vary depending on location, length and date of rental; 40% discount will not apply in all cases. Age, driver, credit and qualifying rate restrictions for the renting location apply. Offer not valid and rate change or additional fees may apply in the event of reservation modification, early/late vehicle return or if not returning vehicle to renting location. Offer has no cash value, and may not be used with other discounts, promotions or special rates. Frequent Flyer Surcharge of $0.75 per day to miles earned when providing your MileagePlus number upon reservation or providing the number when you pick up. If the number of award miles earned by a member for any Hertz rental exceeds 500 miles, the 500 base award miles will post to the member’s account first, and any miles earned in excess of 500 miles will separately post within 5 business days. Subject to availability, blackout periods and additional restrictions. Award miles will be earned based upon member’s MileagePlus status or card membership at the time of rental car return, not at the time of booking or pickup.
More details on this partnership and the mileage offer structure can be found at united.com/hertz.
Miles accrued, awards, and benefits issued are subject to change and are subject to the rules of the United MileagePlus® program, including without limitation the Premier® program (the “MileagePlus Program”), which are expressly incorporated herein. Please allow 6-8 weeks after completed qualifying activity for miles to post to your account. United® may change the MileagePlus Program including, but not limited to, rules, regulations, travel awards and special offers or terminate the MileagePlus Program at any time and without notice. United and its subsidiaries, affiliates and agents are not responsible for any products or services of other participating companies and partners. Taxes and fees related to award travel are the responsibility of the member. Bonus award miles, award miles and any other miles earned through non-flight activity do not count toward qualification for Premier status unless expressly stated otherwise. The accumulation of mileage or Premier status or any other status does not entitle members to any vested rights with respect to the MileagePlus Program. All calculations made in connection with the MileagePlus Program, including without limitation with respect to the accumulation of mileage and the satisfaction of the qualification requirements for Premier status, will be made by United Airlines® and MileagePlus in their discretion and such calculations will be considered final. Information in this communication that relates to the MileagePlus Program does not purport to be complete or comprehensive and may not include all of the information that a member may believe is important, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all of the information on the united.com website and the MileagePlus Program rules. United and MileagePlus are registered service marks. For complete details about the MileagePlus Program, go to united.com.
Want to learn more about miles and points? Subscribe to email updates or check out our podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
Do you know if you are still entitled to the bonus 675 hertz points for every 15 rentals if you are using this promotion?
I booked over 138 cars in the promotion period and banked 800k miles. I would rent 5-9 cars a day. I would rent one, pick it up, make another reservation for 2 hrs later and then do car runs all day. I have been credited for every rental so far. I spent a total of $4200.00 for the 800k miles so it was totally worth it. Just cashed in 115k miles to go to London in business and basically cost me $600.00 round trip. It was also just extended to me until Jan 31st 2018, so the people at Hertz will see me a lot more again for the next couple of months. Also when you rent over 20 times you are Presidents Circle with Hertz and get upgraded to Mercedes, Infinity, Cadillac’s etc. always check rates daily also as they change just like airline fares. I find the cars in San Diego on the weekends are anywhere from $12-20 per rental. It is an amazing promotion and I plan to milk it for every mile..David
I ended up with about 800K miles for probably a bit under $4000. I am estimating because I just can’t bring myself to creating a big spreadsheet. But, I’ve received all of my miles. My rentals cost about $28 all-in…some a bit more, some a bit less. I live about 10 minutes from SFO so it was easy to pick-up/drop off. Virtually all of my rentals were one per day. When rates were insanely low on the weekends, I would do to two rentals. But, this happened about a half dozen times. It was a heck of a ride, pardon the pun. The good thing is that I actually had use for the car. I just moved to the area and only have one car. So, I was able to give the second car to my partner so it was a great help.
just extended
[…] promotion is less generous than the recent targeted Hertz promotion for more than 5K United miles per rental without the three-day requirement. I was able to take […]
[…] More than 5K United miles per rental with Hertz [Targeted] Targeted promo ends 9/9/17, open promo ends 9/30/17) […]
Yeah, agree with Sat. In the past, the bonus was limited to the first two rentals. This time around, I cannot find any limitation.
[…] Earn up to 5,000 MileagePlus points with Hertz rentals […]
When I went to book through the link, the 40% off CDP 62455, PC 305023 rate was almost double the price I saw when I logged in anonymously booking through Hertz directly. I wonder what I am doing wrong.
The 5k offer needs to be booked through United website. The United website allows only pickup from airport locations and not from any local Hertz location. In the past United allowed 5250 miles only for the first two rentals, the email I received from Hertz for the targeted offer does not contain any restriction like first two rentals. In theory you can rent any number of times and receive 5250 miles for each rental. I used this offer last year and able to earn 5250 miles for 3 day rental.
I was thinking of making several reservations for the same day as well. I would just hand the keys right back. No need to do the walk around
Sucks it is airports only. Best I can see is this is a way to mfg miles at 0.7 cents per point at best. Anyone see it differently?
Is it possible to do a “mileage run” for this? Can you rent a car, drive it around the block, return it, and still get the points? And if so is it OK to park your real car in Hertz’s lot for the 30 minutes it takes to do all this?
So the minimum rental period is 1 day. I have actually tried doing exactly what you described and Hertz/United won’t credit your account. What I have tried is making individual daily reservations which does work. I live close to ORD which helps.
Booking through the link won’t let you choose the local locations unfortunately. The airport is 45 minutes versus 5 minutes for local location. I could book quite a few one day rentals if not for that.