1,500 Bonus United Miles or 3,000+ American Bonus Miles With Avis Rentals
Quick summary
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Avis and United are partnering on a promotion that can earn travelers up to 1,500 bonus United miles and a 35% discount on car rentals between now and September 30, 2012, in the US and Canada. Avis is also teaming up with American to offer 3,000 Advantage points on 1-2 days rentals or 5,000 on 3+ day rentals and a 35% discount as well. For American, the rental must begin by August 31, 2012.
For the United Offer, when renting at Avis.com, just enter promotional code MUAA096 to earn the bonus miles. You can also try using United's Worldwide Discount number K019376 into AWD box, but you can often find better deals using other AWDs, such as AAA. They make it seem like you need to use their AWD to get the miles, but that is not the case.
For the American Offer, when renting at Avis.com, just enter promotional code MUAA035 to earn the bonus miles. You can also try using American's Worldwide Discount number K817165 into AWD box. They make it seem like you need to use their AWD to get the miles, but that is not the case.
Be sure the promo code is entered to ensure you get the bonus.
The promo miles are in addition to the daily earning ratio and kick in after 3 days:
How the bonus miles add up with the combination of AWD and promo code.
As a Premier member, when you rent a car one day, you earn just 125 miles. Two days nets you 350 miles. 3 days gets you 375 miles and 1,500 bonus miles on top of that. Rentals longer than 3 days also get the 1,500 bonus miles. Plus, you earn an additional 150 bonus miles for booking online at united.com. So a 3-day rental booked at united.com would net you 2,025 bonus United miles. If you're not a Premier member, you'd earn just 75 miles with the AWD, so your total would be 1,875 miles.
Remember, you may save more money Pricelining a car or using one of the 10 tips I recently gave about to save on car rentals. However, if you are going to rent from Avis anyway, you might as well bank the valuable United miles. I value 1,500 United miles at around $30, so if you have a cheap rental, this could be a great way to maximize your spend. Of course, rental car spend counts as travel, so putting it on your Sapphire Preferred card nets 2.14 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent (and those can be transferred to United).
Here are the T&C:
1,500 bonus miles valid on a qualifying rental of three or more consecutive days at participating Avis airport locations in the U.S. and Canada. Bonus mile offer valid on all car groups, except on car group X. An advance reservation is required. Offer may not be used with any other coupon, promotion or offer except your AWD discount. The savings of up to 35% applies to the time and mileage charges only. Please mention AWD K019376 to receive your discount. Taxes, concession recovery fees, vehicle license recovery fee, customer facility charges ($10/contract in CA) and fuel charges are extra. Optional items such as LDW ($35.99/day or less) and other surcharges may apply and are extra. Please mention coupon number MUAA096 to receive bonus miles offer. MileagePlus number must be mentioned at the time of reservation or at the rental counter to receive award and bonus miles. Offer is subject to vehicle availability at the time of rental and may not be available on some rates at some times, including some online rates at Avis.com. Car rental return restrictions may apply. Offer subject to change without notice. Holiday and other blackout periods may apply. Renter must meet Avis age, driver and credit requirements. Minimum rental age may vary by location. An additional daily surcharge may apply for renters under 25 years old. Frequent flyer surcharge of up to $0.75 per day may apply. Rental must begin by September 30, 2012. Bonus miles are in addition to the 75 award miles per rental day. Premier members can earn an additional 50 bonus award miles per day. Please allow 6–8 weeks for miles to post to your account. The united.com booking bonus is valid for Avis reservations booked through united.com that result in a completed rental. United, its subsidiaries, affiliates and agents are not responsible for any products or services of other participating companies or partners.
Hat tip: TPG reader Mark.
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