I’ve been looking at booking a few different car rentals recently, and it got me thinking about the various programs you can credit rentals too – and, depending on the type of rental – which would offer the best points accrual.

After a while, I realised that I needed a comparison table to help summarise the options – so here goes. Pick the program and earn opportunity that’s best suited to your preferences. My personal pick has to be the Hertz options with Singapore Airlines, Etihad and Emirates – for smaller, cheaper rentals, a fixed 500 points is pretty hard to beat.

AvisBudgetHertzEuropcarThrifty
QantasDomestic: 3 points / $AU
International: 700 points per rental
Domestic: 3 points / $AU
International: 700 points per rental
NoneNoneNone
Virgin AustraliaNoneNoneDomestic: 3 points / $AU
International: 800 points per rental
Domestic: 3 points / $AU
International: 800 points per rental
Domestic: 3 points / $AU
International: 800 points per rental
Singapore Airlines500 miles per rental (non corporate rates)None500 miles per rental (non corporate rates, outside Asia)500 miles per rental (non corporate rates)None
Air New Zealand2.50 Airpoints dollars/day2.50 Airpoints dollars/day2.50 Airpoints dollars/day2.50 Airpoints dollars/day2.50 Airpoints dollars/day
British Airways Avios3 Avios / £, 500 mile minimum earn, 4 rentals/year = 750 bonus pointsNoneNoneNoneNone
Malaysia Airlines Enrich600 miles / rentalNone600 Enrich miles / qualifying leisure rate rental outside Asia
300 Enrich miles / qualifying leisure rate rental within Asia
(excluding Japan)
NoneNone
Cathay Pacific AsiaMiles500 miles per rental (non corporate rates)NoneNoneNoneNone
Emirates500 miles per rental (some exclusions)500 miles per rental (some exclusions)1000 miles per prestige rental, 500 miles otherwise (some exclusions)None500 miles per rental (some exclusions)
EtihadNone500 miles per rental (bonuses with Etihad status)1000 miles per prestige rental, 500 miles otherwise (some booking requirements)500 miles per rentalNone
American Airlines
50 miles/day50 miles/day50 miles/day50 miles/day50 miles/day
United Airlines / Continental75 miles/day50 miles/day75 miles/day50 miles/day (possibly, via National partnership)50 miles/day
US Airways2 miles / $US50 miles/day50 miles/day2 miles / US$ (possibly, via National partnership)50 miles/day
Starwood Preferred Guest50 points/dayNoneNoneNoneNone
Priority Club125 points/day125 points/day125 points/dayNoneNone
Accor LeClubNoneNoneNone250 points / rentalNone

Car rental points earning summary; or ‘which frequent flyer program should I credit my car rental to for the most points?’ was last modified: October 11th, 2017 by Keith