Car rental discount codes are freely available in Internet. It is possible to use them via major booking engines or via car hire companies' online reservation systems. However, there are some things, which is worth considering.
The simplest way to find discount codes is frequent flyer or hotels loyalty programs. They are published on its web sites where you can see the offers and make a choice. The discount for rentals will depend on partnership agreement between an airline or hotel and car rental company. However, only after you enroll for a particular program, you have legal permission to use discount codes. Some of the programs also require customers to show the flight ticket or hotel stay booking, but mainly just enrolment is needed.
Despite the above mentioned, I have some doubts about sense of car rental discount codes and benefit of a discount. With exception of some corporate programs, it seems to me that it is just the marketing method to get more customers.
The reason for that is value of the discount provided by frequent flyer and hotels loyalty programs. According to its advertisement, you can get from 20% up to 25% discount and receive miles or points for your program. By knowing the discount policies in the travel market, it seems too good to be truth. Moreover, my doubts intensify discounts provided by car rental companies to its loyalty program members - average not more than 5%. It means that loyal customer to rental company gets fewer benefits than loyal customer to other programs. So, who and how covers the difference?
Generally, commission paid by car rental companies to sales providers - airlines and hotels, is not more than 8%, so the difference remains around 12% to 17%, which is very huge. In that difference, I did not include the costs of miles or points, which customer will obtain when rent a car.
With regard to all above mentioned I have only one explanation. We all know that car hire companies are service providers not product sellers. Therefore, I have one question - does a customer receive the same service level when he uses car rental discount codes? When we rent a car via online booking engines, we can select rental class - economy, premium or some other, but we can't choose a particular car. It gives car rental companies plenty of options to provide you with any car within category. It means that customer who uses discount codes can get a car with more mileage, with some scratches or simply cheaper car.
As a traveler, you have some expectations for rented car - a latest model, clean, without scratches and short mileage. If you will use discount codes, you cannot be sure about what you will get. Therefore, it is better either to enroll for a car rental loyalty program and enjoy fewer discounts, but receive guaranteed cars, or use independent service provider.
Dear Reader,
My name is Ivo Holsts and I am an independent travel agent. My education background is company management and accountancy. However, nothing can be better than make a hobby as everyday job, so I turn to travel. If you would like to find out more about car rental, I invite you to my Chicago car rentals page.
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