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As I regularly travel to US, I have been renting directly via Avis and using the Amex Plat President’s Club. I recently saw that BA rents with Avis and includes CDW, provides Avios, second driver etc and is competitively priced; cheaper if you use Avios for part payment. You also have the option to add your Presidents Club membership so in theory could get the benefits there too.
Has anyone booked Avis via BA? Is there anything with regards to insurance etc that I would need to take into account by taking this route, as opposed to booking directly with Avis?
Loads of people have booked via Avis and as far as I can tell it’s as good as the same.
If you put in your Avis number then you can still go straight to car etc.
As for Second driver free if you’re travelling with your spouse then Avis don’t charge for this anyway so I would just go with price.
I typically use the avis/ba site as it’s cheaper, but please read the info I posted here https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/avis-wierdness/
Sometimes that site gives no cars available or ridiculous prices where other avenues and codes on the avis site work but give different prices.
Once thing I have noticed is I don’t get any Avios, despite my BAEC info being in my profile etc, if I book directly with Avis using my Amex Plat Status, and have been turned down in post claiming too.
Whist I do get Avios if I go via BA directly (rubbish cancellation policy as via BAH) or the BA/Avis website, plus I still get my Pres Club privileges. However, there are sometimes rate differences depending which route you take to book, so I tend to balance that in the cost benefit analysis comparison.
And I notice today, unless I indicate no BAEC status, BA/Avis website is showing no availability for a rental I have later this year, but at least the price is consistent currently.
I have mostly used the BA/Avis deal for US car hire and the Avios and free additional driver previously gave it an edge. However, on a long term rental I’ve just booked, I’ve used Autoslash for A SIXT rental which in £700 cheaper for 7 weeks. Some insurance is included but Aemex Plat insurance should take up the slack. Pay on pick up, free cancellation. Only downside, I can’t use Avis Presidents Club to go straight to car.
I usually find booking direct with Avis with the President’s Club discount is up to 20% cheaper than booking via BA. That’s with the top status that you get with HSBC WE, which is higher than Amex. You still get the free additional driver too with that status, but you often really have to remind the staff at the desk on pickup that this is a benefit (or get customer service to refund afterwards!).
Sometimes still earn avios too if you put a BAEC number in the booking, but the science of which deals they honour together is always a bit of a mystery.
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