“A heads up on the Hertz deal next week if you were going to cover it. In past years, this was an amazing deal and I purchased it several times. But Hertz just implemented (last day or two unannounced) 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. A lot of people try for that one but should be warned . . .”
Massive Devaluation of Hertz Gold Plus Rewards 2019 With No Notice or Warning Whatsoever
That warning was posted by David — who is a reader of The Gate — in the Comments section of this article pertaining to the Daily Getaways deal for Best Western earlier today .
These unannounced changes are in addition to the changes in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards which came into effect in January of 2019 .
For your convenience in calculating value for yourself, here is a complete list of the rewards for which you can redeem your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards frequent renter loyalty program points if the destination of your car rental is in the United States — along with a comparison of the former reward redemptions:
Daily Rentals
Previous Standard Rewards
New Standard Rewards Percent Increase Previous AnyDay Rewards
New AnyDay Rewards Percent Increase
1 Free Rental Day 675 750 11.11 percent 1,350 1,500 11.11 percent
2 Free Rental Days 1,350 1,500 11.11 percent 2,700 3,000 11.11 percent
3 Free Rental Days 2,025 2,250 11.11 percent 4,050 4,500 11.11 percent
4 Free Rental Days 2,700 3,000 11.11 percent 5,400 6,000 11.11 percent
1 Free Rental Day – One-Way 1,325 1,500 13.21 percent 2,650 3,000 13.21 percent
2 Free Rental Days – One-Way 2,650 3,000 13.21 percent 5,300 6,000 13.21 percent
3 Free Rental Days – One-Way 3,975 4,500 13.21 percent 7,950 9,000 13.21 percent
4 Free Rental Days – One-Way 5,300 6,000 13.21 percent 10,600 12,000 13.21 percent
Specialty Vehicles 1 Free Rental Day 1,000 1,500 50 percent 2,000 3,000 50 percent
Specialty Vehicles 2 Free Rental Days 2,000 3,000 50 percent 4,000 6,000 50 percent
Specialty Vehicles 3 Free Rental Days 3,000 4,500 50 percent 6,000 9,000 50 percent
Specialty Vehicles 4 Free Rental Days 4,000 6,000 50 percent 8,000 12,000 50 percent
Weekly Rentals
Previous Standard Rewards
New Standard Rewards Percent Increase Previous AnyDay Rewards
New AnyDay Rewards Percent Increase
1 Free Weekly Rental 2,750 3,750 36.36 percent 5,500 7,500 36.36 percent
2 Free Weeks of 8-14 Days 5,500 7,500 36.36 percent 11,000 15,000 36.36 percent
1 Free Weekly Rental – One Way 5,500 7,500 36.36 percent 11,000 15,000 36.36 percent
Specialty Vehicles Free Weekly Rental 4,400 7,500 70.45 percent 8,800 15,000 70.45 percent
Specialty Vehicles 2 Free Weeks of 8-14 Days 8,800 15,000 70.45 percent 17,600 30,000 70.45 percent
1 Free Weekly Rental – Hertz Prestige Collection Vehicles 8,250 12,500 51.52 percent 16,500 25,000 51.52 percent
2 Free Weeks of 8-14 Days – Hertz Prestige Collection Vehicles 16,500 25,000 51.52 percent 33,000 50,000 51.52 percent
1 Free Weekly Rental – Hertz Adrenaline Collection Vehicles 8,250 11,000 33.33 percent 16,500 22,000 33.33 percent
2 Free Weeks of 8-14 Days – Hertz Adrenaline Vehicles 16,500 22,000 33.33 percent 33,000 44,000 33.33 percent
1 Free Weekly Rental – Hertz Green Traveler Collection Vehicles 4,950 Not Applicable Not Applicable 9,900 Not Applicable Not Applicable
2 Free Weeks of 8-14 Days – Hertz Green Traveler Collection Vehicles 9,900 Not Applicable Not Applicable 19,800 Not Applicable Not Applicable
Weekend Rentals — NO LONGER EXIST — Now Daily Rentals
Previous Standard Rewards
New Standard Rewards Percent Increase Previous AnyDay Rewards
New AnyDay Rewards Percent Increase
1 Free Weekend Rental Day 550 750 36.36 percent 1,100 1,500 36.36 percent
2 Free Weekend Rental Days 1,100 1,500 36.36 percent 2,200 3,000 36.36 percent
3 Free Weekend Rental Days 1,650 2,250 36.36 percent 3,300 4,500 36.36 percent
1 Free Weekend Rental (up to 4 Days) 2,200 4,400 percent 4,400 4,400 percent
1 Free Weekend Rental Day – One-Way 1,100 1,500 36.36 percent 2,250 3,000 36.36 percent
2 Free Weekend Rental Days – One-Way 2,200 3,000 36.36 percent 4,400 6,000 36.36 percent
1 Free Weekend Rental – One Way (Max. 4 Days) 4,400 8,800 percent 8,800 8,800 percent
Specialty Vehicles 1 Free Weekend Rental Day 825 1,500 81.82 percent 1,650 3,000 81.82 percent
Specialty Vehicles 2 Free Weekend Rental Days 1,650 3,000 81.82 percent 3,300 6,000 81.82 percent
Specialty Vehicles 3 Free Weekend Rental Days 2,475 4,500 81.82 percent 4,950 9,000 81.82 percent
Specialty Vehicles 4 Free Weekend Rental Days 3,300 6,000 81.82 percent 6,600 12,000 81.82 percent
1 Free Weekend Rental of any Hertz Prestige Collection Vehicle (2 days) 3,000 6,600 percent 6,600 6,600 percent
1 Free Weekend Rental of any Hertz Prestige Collection Vehicle (up to 4 days) 6,600 13,200 percent 13,200 13,200 percent
1 Free Weekend Rental of any Hertz Adrenaline Collection Vehicle (2 days) 3,000 6,600 percent 6,600 6,600 percent
1 Free Weekend Rental of any Hertz Adrenaline Vehicle (up to 4 days) 6,600 13,200 percent 13,200 13,200 percent
1 Free Weekend Rental of any Hertz Green Traveler Collection Vehicles (2 days) 1,650 Not Applicable Not Applicable 3,300 Not Applicable Not Applicable
1 Free Weekend Rental of any Hertz Green Traveler Collection Vehicles (up to 4 days) 3,300 Not Applicable Not Applicable 6,600 Not Applicable Not Applicable
One Way Rentals
Previous Standard Rewards
New Standard Rewards Percent Increase Previous AnyDay Rewards
New AnyDay Rewards Percent Increase
1 Free Rental Day – One-Way 1,325 1,500 13.21 percent 2,650 3,000 13.21 percent
2 Free Rental Days – One-Way 2,650 3,000 13.21 percent 5,300 6,000 13.21 percent
3 Free Rental Days – One-Way 3,975 4,500 13.21 percent 7,950 9,000 13.21 percent
4 Free Rental Days – One-Way 5,300 6,000 13.21 percent 10,600 12,000 13.21 percent
1 Free Weekend Rental Day – One-Way 1,100 1,500 36.36 percent 2,200 3,000 36.36 percent
2 Free Weekend Rental Days – One-Way 2,200 3,000 36.36 percent 4,400 6,000 36.36 percent
1 Free Weekend Rental – One Way (Max. 4 Days) 4,400 Not Applicable Not Applicable 8,800 Not Applicable Not Applicable
1 Free Weekly Rental – One Way 5,500 7,500 36.36 percent 11,000 15,000 36.36 percent
Specialty Cars
Previous Standard Rewards
New Standard Rewards Percent Increase Previous AnyDay Rewards
New AnyDay Rewards Percent Increase
Specialty Vehicles 1 Free Rental Day 1,000 1,500 50 percent 2,000 3,000 50 percent
Specialty Vehicles 2 Free Rental Days 2,000 3,000 50 percent 4,000 6,000 50 percent
Specialty Vehicles 3 Free Rental Days 3,000 4,500 50 percent 6,000 9,000 50 percent
Specialty Vehicles 4 Free Rental Days 4,000 6,000 50 percent 8,000 12,000 50 percent
Specialty Vehicles 1 Free Weekend Rental Day 825 1,500 81.82 percent 1,650 3,000 81.82 percent
Specialty Vehicles 2 Free Weekend Rental Days 1,650 3,000 81.82 percent 3,300 6,000 81.82 percent
Specialty Vehicles 3 Free Weekend Rental Days 2,475 4,500 81.82 percent 4,950 9,000 81.82 percent
Specialty Vehicles 4 Free Weekend Rental Days 3,300 6,000 81.82 percent 6,600 12,000 81.82 percent
Specialty Vehicles Free Weekly Rental 4,400 7,500 70.45 percent 8,800 15,000 70.45 percent
Specialty Vehicles 2 Free Weeks of 8-14 Days 8,800 15,000 70.45 percent 17,600 30,000 70.45 percent
Collection Cars
Previous Standard Rewards
New Standard Rewards Percent Increase Previous AnyDay Rewards
New AnyDay Rewards Percent Increase
1 Free Weekend Rental of any Hertz Prestige Collection Vehicle (2 days) 3,300 6,600 percent 6,600 6,600 percent
1 Free Weekend Rental of any Hertz Prestige Collection Vehicle (up to 4 days) 6,600 13,200 percent 13,200 13,200 percent
1 Free Weekly Rental – Hertz Prestige Collection Vehicles 8,250 12,500 51.52 percent 16,500 25,000 51.52 percent
2 Free Weeks of 8-14 Days – Hertz Prestige Collection Vehicles 16,500 25,000 51.52 percent 33,000 50,000 51.52 percent
1 Free Weekend Rental of any Hertz Adrenaline Collection Vehicle (2 days) 3,300 6,600 percent 6,600 6,600 percent
1 Free Weekend Rental of any Hertz Adrenaline Vehicle (up to 4 days) 6,600 13,200 percent 13,200 13,200 percent
1 Free Weekly Rental – Hertz Adrenaline Collection Vehicles 8,250 16,500 percent 16,500 16,500 percent
2 Free Weeks of 8-14 Days – Hertz Adrenaline Vehicles 16,500 33,000 percent 33,000 33,000 percent
1 Free Weekend Rental of any Hertz Green Traveler Collection Vehicles (2 days) 1,650 Not Applicable Not Applicable 3,300 Not Applicable Not Applicable
1 Free Weekend Rental of any Hertz Green Traveler Collection Vehicles (up to 4 days) 3,300 Not Applicable Not Applicable 6,600 Not Applicable Not Applicable
1 Free Weekly Rental – Hertz Green Traveler Collection Vehicles 4,950 Not Applicable Not Applicable 9,900 Not Applicable Not Applicable
2 Free Weeks of 8-14 Days – Hertz Green Traveler Collection Vehicles 9,900 Not Applicable Not Applicable 19,800 Not Applicable Not Applicable
New to Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
The following awards were not initially listed on the suddenly former redemption charts — although using points for discounts was introduced on Friday, November 30, 2018 :
Dream Cars
Hertz Dream Collection 1 Free Standard Day (Tier 1)
10,000
Hertz Dream Collection 2 Free Standard Days (Tier 1)
20,000
Hertz Dream Collection 3 Free Standard Days (Tier 1)
30,000
Hertz Dream Collection 4 Free Standard Days (Tier 1)
40,000
Hertz Dream Collection 1 Free Standard Day (Tier 2)
12,000
Hertz Dream Collection 2 Free Standard Days (Tier 2)
24,000
Hertz Dream Collection 3 Free Standard Days (Tier 2)
36,000
Hertz Dream Collection 4 Free Standard Days (Tier 2)
48,000
Hertz Dream Collection 1 Free Week (Tier 1)
46,000
Hertz Dream Collection 2 Free Weeks (Tier 1)
92,000
Hertz Dream Collection 1 Free Week (Tier 2)
56,000
Hertz Dream Collection 2 Free Weeks (Tier 2)
112,000
Summary
Weekend awards have apparently been suddenly wiped off of the charts — surmising that all former weekend awards are now available at standard weekday redemption rates.
Although technically not illegal, implementing these changes to significantly devalue the Gold Plus Rewards program overall without an advance warning — or any notice at all, for that matter — is downright sneaky and unethical of Hertz in what I consider one of the worst devaluations of a frequent travel loyalty program in recent memory.
Thank you for the warning, David . I appreciate it.
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.
As requested by Pang — who is a reader of The Gate — listed below are the former awards in countries other than the United States:
Australia
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
New Zealand
Puerto Rico
Spain
United States Virgin Islands
United Kingdom
Please note that I receive compensation for affiliate links posted at The Gate effective as of Sunday, January 1, 2017. You are not required to use these affiliate links; but if you do use them, your support of The Gate is greatly appreciated — and using affiliate links will not cost you any extra time or money.
