New: use Qantas frequent flyer points for Avis, Budget car hire

Qantas Frequent Flyer members can now redeem their points on car hire with Avis and Budget in Australia and New Zealand.

Better yet, frequent flyers can also earn points on rentals booked using points – calculated at three Qantas Points per dollar on what you’d have otherwise paid in time and kilometre charges.

For example, the Qantas website serves up the following cash rates on overnight rentals from Sydney Airport:

Click the new ‘View in Points’ button above and that $77.74 Budget rental can be had for 12,000 Qantas Points, while the $81.77 Avis car can be reserved for a slightly-higher 12,750 Qantas Points.

The total cash prices above also include extra charges such as registration recovery, tax and a ‘concession recovery fee’: these are covered when redeeming your points, but don’t themselves earn points – giving you roughly 138 Qantas Points on that same Budget rental and 147 Qantas Points with Avis.

“For those with a smaller balance, this gives you another way to access a points-reward sooner,” said Qantas Loyalty CEO Lesley Grant.

“Those with large balances can potentially cover most of their big holiday expenses using points – flights, accommodation, travel insurance and now car hire too.”

While both Avis and Budget are also partners of Qantas’ own Aquire scheme for businesses, a Qantas spokesperson confirmed to Australian Business Traveller that Aquire Points won't also be earned on car hire bookings paid for with Qantas frequent flyer points.

That includes bookings made after converting Aquire Points into Qantas Points, although Aquire members will continue to earn Aquire Points on Avis and Budget hire cars when paying by cash or credit card.

Also read:

• Virgin Australia Velocity Gold: Europcar, Hertz car hire perks
• Qantas Aquire: earning frequent flyer points for your business
• Earn Qantas, Velocity frequent flyer points on hotel stays
• The Europcar Privilege loyalty program for Aussie business travellers
• Virgin Australia Velocity Platinum: get Europcar, Hertz VIP status

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Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.