Air Canada Aeroplan revealed two new updates to their partnership with Avis Budget group. The first is a change to how points are earned for eligible rentals with Avis, Budget and Payless Car Rental. The second sees an Avis status match being added for Aeroplan core co-brand credit cardholders.
Earning Aeroplan Points will now be based on spend
For as long as Aeroplan has had a partnership with the Avis Budget group the earn rates for renting a card has always been a flat rate. Up until today’s announcement from Aeroplan those rates were 500 points for rentals at airport locations and 250 points for off-airport locations.
Now, basic Aeroplan members will earn 1 point per Canadian dollar (CAD/C$) spent on the base time and mileage for Avis, Budget and Payless vehicle rentals. Aeroplan Elite Status Members will now earn 2 points per dollar spent on the base time and mileage for their Avis, Budget and Payless vehicle rentals.
Depending on the rental this is can been viewed as either a good or bad change to the program. It’s the same thing that has happened when many airlines moved to awarding miles or points based on the price of the airline ticket and not the distance.
Good for longer and/or more expensive rentals
For those who have longer and/or more expensive rentals this is good as you will most likely earn more Aeroplan points now than the previous flat rate. I quickly checked a week long full size car rental from Toronto Pearson in September and the base rate was $561 which means a basic Aeroplan member will earn 561 points instead of the previous 500.
Not so good for shorter and/or less expensive rentals
On the other hand those who have shorter and/or less expensive rentals it’s not so as they will now earn less, especially on airport rentals. The earnings can be significantly less for those who make a lot of one day rentals. I checked an intermediate car for one day from Toronto Pearson in September and the base rate was $94. In this case you go from earning 500 points to only 94 points with the new earning structure for a basic member.
Aeroplan core co-brand cardholders can match to Avis Preferred Plus Status
Up until now the Aeroplan Avis partnership provided a status match for Aeroplan Elite members and Ultra Premium cardholders. That has now been expanded to include core premium cards including the American Express Aeroplan Card, CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card and several others.
Starting on July 21, 2023 at 10am ET, holders of these premium core cards can request a status match to Avis Preferred Plus. Avis Preferred Plus offers complimentary one-car-class upgrade whenever available, a special Avis Preferred Plus® number for reservations and customer service support, and the ability to go straight to your car at most locations.
Wrapping it up
The Air Canada Aeroplan partnership with the Avis Budget group will see the points earned by members move from a flat points amount to a spend based model. For some renters this will mean they will be able to earn more Aeroplan points than before while others, those who have shorter or less expensive rentals will earn less Aeroplan points than they have been accustomed to. The partnership also see the addition of Avis Preferred Plus elite status being extended to holders of core Aeroplan co-brand credit cards.
Click here to learn more about earning Aeroplan points on car rentals.
Title image via Avis