Car Hire via Qatar PC or BAC or what?

[Saltrams]

Either I’m doing something wrong or I’m seeing older HfP info that has been superceded. Does anyone have the current knowledge please?
I need to book 2 or 3 car hires for future travel plans, nothing immediate.
I have the Avis & Hertz perks via Amex platinum.
I’m BA Silver (not for much longer) and OneWorld equivalent precious gem (can never remember the names) and the equivalent in Flying Blue but only burgundy Qatar Privilege.
Ideally, I would like to get the Amex benefits/upgrades/additional driver etc. and earn a few Avios into the bargain! Yes, I want it all!!
Anyway, the options seem to be;
go direct to Avis (or Hertz), log-in to my Amex-enhanced account and book a car with the opportunity to add my FF number with an airline. Avios for this method are unspecified but I’ll get the enhancements. Or,
go via Avios.com shopping portal to the Avios/BAC partnership for 5 Avios per £ but pay more upfront, maybe not get the upgrade/grace period perks. Or, and here is where I can’t see the way to achieve it
go via Qatar Privilege portal to book with Avis (for example), maybe get my Avis Amex perks and (according to HfP article wisdom) get a flat 500 Avios per booking. But I don’t see that option, only an earning rate of whatever Avios per US$ spent.
Questions therefore are:
Is the 500 flat rate old info and I shouldn’t pursue it further? And
What do other people do to best advantage? (To their best advantage, which might not be mine but I like to see opinions and strategies in all forms!)
TIA, as ever.

[Rob]

Getting miles for car rentals is generally like getting blood from a stone. You also usually need to use the respective airlines discount code which can cost more than other rates.

Other issues such as free additional driver may be more important to you, or price, or depot opening hours, depot convenience etc.

For eg, we did a Sixt rental in Germany last week. Why? They open at 9am on a Sunday and Hertz / Avis don’t, so we used them. Got a decent rate with free 2nd driver via the current Accor promo. Good overall deal even if the Accor points don’t hit.

I would work backwards.

Check each major company to get a rough view on pricing

Define your non-negotiables (free 2nd driver, suitable opening hours, on site vs off site at an airport, extra 4 hrs grace period with Hertz via Amex Plat etc)

Dig around for discount codes for that chain and plug in codes to see what works best

Assume you won’t get the miles (eg Sixt doesn’t openly say that pre-paid rates don’t qualify for miles)

[Saltrams]

Thanks @Rob (I feel a bit special getting an official HfP reply 😊)
Lots of things to consider there and I never considered the possibility of real discount codes.
I’m assuming the 500 Qatar Avios is defunct, as you didn’t mention it. Never mind, I’m getting bucket-loads from hotel bookings so I’ll settle for other benefits. Didn’t know about the Accor promo but then, there’s such a lot I don’t know 😆