Thrifty Car Rental, alongside its sister company Dollar, operates under the Hertz umbrella, targeting the budget-conscious traveler. In recent years, Thrifty, and specifically its Thrifty Blue Chip Rewards loyalty program, has navigated a period of significant change, including a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2020 and subsequent emergence in early 2021. These shifts brought substantial modifications to the Blue Chip program, transforming it into a uniquely simple offering compared to many of its car rental loyalty program counterparts. If you’re considering joining, you might be asking: Is The Thrifty Car Membership Program Any Good? Let’s delve into the details to help you decide.
Understanding the Thrifty Blue Chip Rewards Program: No Points System
One of the most significant changes to the Thrifty Blue Chip program is the elimination of its points-based system. Historically, Thrifty did operate with a points structure, where members earned points for rentals and redeemed them for rewards. However, this is no longer the case. In a move towards simplification in late 2020, Thrifty abolished the points aspect of Blue Chip.
Previously, members accumulated 1 point for every dollar spent, with free rental days starting at 500 points. Today, the program operates on a much more direct model. Upon joining, members gain access to a fixed set of benefits. Interestingly, the frequency of your rentals—whether you rent once a year or multiple times—doesn’t alter these core benefits. Every Blue Chip member receives the same perks, making it refreshingly straightforward.
Key Benefits of Thrifty Blue Chip Membership
The Thrifty Blue Chip Rewards program stands out for its simplicity and ease of use. It’s a program stripped down to the essentials, lacking the complexities often found in other loyalty schemes. There are no elite tiers or status levels to chase. Instead, every Thrifty Blue Chip Rewards member is granted the following consistent benefits right from the start:
- Free Additional Driver: This is a valuable perk, especially for travelers who like to share driving duties. Adding an additional driver is usually associated with extra fees, but Blue Chip membership waives this cost.
- 15% Discount on Base Rates: Members enjoy a straightforward 15% discount applied to the base rental rate on every booking. This consistent discount can lead to significant savings over time.
- Quick Reservations: Blue Chip membership streamlines the reservation process, making booking faster and more efficient. This is ideal for those who value convenience and speed.
- E-Returns: The E-Returns service allows for a quicker return process. Members can simply drop off their keys and go, bypassing potentially long lines at the rental counter.
Credit: Thrifty
These benefits are designed to provide immediate and tangible value to members, focusing on savings and convenience rather than complex points accumulation and redemption.
Signing Up for Thrifty Blue Chip: A Simple Process
Becoming a Thrifty Blue Chip Rewards member is a quick and easy process. You can sign up directly through the Thrifty website. Simply navigate to the Thrifty site and click on the “Join” or “Blue Chip Rewards” link, typically found in the navigation menu.
The online enrollment form is straightforward, requiring you to input your personal details. As part of the sign-up, Thrifty will request information such as your driver’s license and credit card details. This pre-stored information is what enables the program’s benefits, such as expedited checkouts and quicker vehicle returns, contributing to the overall convenience of the Blue Chip experience.
Credit: Thrifty
Partner Loyalty Programs: Earn Miles and Points with Thrifty Rentals
While Thrifty Blue Chip itself doesn’t use a points system, it does offer the advantage of earning miles or points with a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs. During the sign-up process, you have the option to enter your membership numbers for up to six different partner programs. This allows you to automatically accrue rewards in your preferred programs whenever you rent with Thrifty.
Currently, Thrifty partners with a diverse range of programs, including:
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: Earn 50 miles per qualifying rental day.
- American Airlines AAdvantage®: Receive 50 miles per qualifying rental day.
- Avianca LifeMiles: Accumulate 50 miles per rental day.
- COPA ConnectMiles: Get 200 miles per qualifying rental day.
- Delta SkyMiles: Earn a generous 500 miles per qualifying rental.
- Emirates Skywards: Collect 500 miles per qualifying rental worldwide (excluding UAE rentals).
- Frontier Miles: Earn 50 miles per day for short rentals (1-4 days) or 500 miles per rental for longer rentals (5+ days).
- Gulf Air Falcon Miles: Receive 200 miles per qualifying rental day.
- IHG One Rewards: Accumulate 125 points per rental day.
- Kuwait Oasis Club: Earn 500 miles per rental day.
- Marriott Bonvoy: Collect 250 points per rental day.
- Spirit Airlines Free Spirit: Earn 50 points per day for short rentals (1-4 days) or 500 points per rental for longer rentals (5+ days).
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards: Earn 600 points per qualifying rental.
It’s important to note that certain discounted rates, such as industry discounts, tour rates, and complimentary rentals, may not be eligible for earning partner rewards. Always confirm the terms and conditions when booking.
Credit: Thrifty
After completing the sign-up form and setting your password, you’ll receive a confirmation email to verify your membership, officially making you a Thrifty Blue Chip Rewards member.
Managing Your Thrifty Blue Chip Account with AwardWallet
Even though Thrifty Blue Chip doesn’t involve points, you can still effectively manage your membership by adding your account to AwardWallet. By securely storing your login credentials within AwardWallet, you gain convenient one-click access to your Thrifty account directly from your AwardWallet dashboard. This simplifies account management and keeps your travel memberships organized in one place.
Thrifty Blue Chip Rewards: Frequently Asked Questions
To further clarify the Thrifty Blue Chip program, let’s address some common questions:
Do Thrifty Blue Chip Rewards Expire?
Expiration of rewards is not a concern with the Thrifty Blue Chip program because it no longer operates on a points system. If you encounter older online resources mentioning an expiration policy, these are outdated and refer to the program’s structure before the 2020 changes when points were abolished. Currently, the core benefits of the Blue Chip membership (discount, free driver, etc.) do not expire as long as your membership is active.
Who Owns Thrifty Car Rental?
Thrifty Car Rental is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hertz Global Holdings. This explains why Thrifty rental desks are often located in close proximity to Hertz desks at airport rental car centers. Hertz acquired Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, the parent company of both Dollar and Thrifty, in 2012 and has continued to operate the two brands separately since the acquisition.
Leverage Credit Card Insurance for Thrifty Rentals to Save Money
Rental car insurance can significantly inflate the total cost of your rental, often adding between $10 to $50 per day to your expenses. A smart strategy to avoid these extra costs is to utilize a credit card that offers car rental insurance as a benefit when booking your Thrifty rental.
By using such a credit card, you can often receive primary auto rental insurance coverage. This means that in case of damage or theft to the rental car, your credit card’s insurance will be the first line of defense, potentially saving you from filing a claim with your personal auto insurance.
It’s crucial to understand that credit card rental insurance typically covers damage to the vehicle itself but often excludes liability insurance. Therefore, while your credit card might cover theft or fire damage to the Thrifty rental, it might not cover damages to other vehicles or property or injuries to other parties if you are at fault in an accident. In such situations, you would need to ensure you have adequate liability coverage through other means.
Several personal credit cards offer primary car rental insurance, including:
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium travel card packed with valuable benefits, including primary car rental insurance.
Similarly, various business credit cards provide primary rental car insurance when renting for business purposes, such as the:
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Learn More
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a top choice for small business owners, offering a strong rewards program and primary car rental insurance.
It’s worth noting that American Express generally does not provide primary car rental insurance as a standard benefit on its cards. However, American Express does offer the option to purchase separate primary car rental coverage for a daily flat fee, which can still be more economical than purchasing insurance directly from the rental company.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Car Rental Insurance
Pros and Cons of Thrifty Blue Chip
To give a balanced perspective, let’s summarize the pros and cons of the Thrifty Blue Chip program:
Pros:
- Simplicity: The program is incredibly easy to understand and use, with no complicated points system or status tiers.
- Immediate Discount: The 15% base rate discount offers instant savings on every rental.
- Free Additional Driver: A valuable perk for travelers sharing driving.
- Quick and Easy Sign-Up: Joining is fast and straightforward online.
- Partner Rewards: Ability to earn miles or points with a wide range of airline and hotel programs.
- Streamlined Rentals: Quick reservations and e-returns enhance the rental experience.
Cons:
- Lack of Points/Rewards Currency: Some users may miss the traditional points system and the aspirational aspect of accumulating points for free rentals.
- Basic Benefits: Compared to more complex loyalty programs, the benefits are relatively basic and may not appeal to frequent renters seeking elite status perks.
- No Status Tiers: The absence of status levels means there are no opportunities to earn increasingly valuable benefits through frequent rentals.
Our Take: Is Thrifty Blue Chip Any Good?
So, is the Thrifty car membership program any good? For travelers seeking a straightforward, no-frills car rental loyalty program that offers consistent discounts and convenient perks, the Thrifty Blue Chip Rewards program is definitely worth considering. Its strength lies in its simplicity and immediate value.
If you value ease of use and appreciate a guaranteed discount and free additional driver, without the need to track points or understand complex tier structures, then Thrifty Blue Chip is a solid choice. It’s particularly well-suited for budget-conscious travelers who rent cars occasionally and prioritize saving money and time.
However, if you are a very frequent renter who seeks elite status benefits, bonus points earning, and more aspirational rewards, you might find the Thrifty Blue Chip program too basic. In that case, exploring loyalty programs from other car rental companies with tiered status and points systems might be more rewarding.
Ultimately, the “goodness” of the Thrifty Blue Chip program depends on your individual travel needs and preferences. It excels as a simple, discount-focused program, making it a worthwhile option for many travelers.
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