When planning a trip, savvy travelers often look for ways to maximize their rewards. If you’re a Delta SkyMiles member and frequently rent cars from Avis, you might be wondering how these two can work together. The good news is that Avis car rentals support the Delta SkyMiles program, allowing you to earn miles on your eligible rentals. This guide will break down the terms and conditions to help you understand how to make the most of this partnership.
Earning SkyMiles with Avis: The Basics
Delta SkyMiles members can earn miles by renting cars from Avis through the dedicated portal at delta.com/cars. For every qualifying US dollar (or its equivalent in foreign currency) spent on the base car rental rate, you’ll earn two (2) SkyMiles. It’s a straightforward way to accumulate miles while taking care of your transportation needs. However, it’s important to understand what constitutes a “qualifying rental” to ensure you’re eligible to earn miles.
Qualifying Rentals Explained
Not all Avis rentals are created equal when it comes to earning SkyMiles. To qualify for mileage accrual, your rental must meet specific criteria:
- Booking Location: Rentals must be booked through delta.com/cars to be eligible for SkyMiles.
- Participating Locations: Rentals must be at participating Avis locations. (It’s generally safe to assume that rentals booked via delta.com/cars will be at participating locations, but it’s always good to confirm during booking).
- Rental Duration: Rentals must be for one or more days.
- Eligible Rates: Crucially, to earn miles, you need to book at eligible rates. Rates that do not qualify for SkyMiles include:
- Travel industry rates or discounts
- Wholesale tour package rates or discounts
- Insurance/dealer replacement rates
- Corporate and government rates
- Group travel discounts
- Rentals in conjunction with frequent flyer car awards
- Other corporate agreements applicable to Avis.
Essentially, specially negotiated or discounted rates are usually excluded from mileage earning. Standard retail rates booked through delta.com/cars are generally what you need to aim for.
What Dollars Qualify for SkyMiles?
Understanding what portion of your rental spend actually earns you miles is also key. Qualifying Dollars are calculated based on:
- Base Car Rental Rate: This is the primary factor. The base rate is the cost of the rental itself, before any taxes and fees are added.
- Charges at Booking: The qualifying dollars are determined by the base rate charged at the time you make your booking.
Importantly, the following are NOT included in Qualifying Dollars and will not earn you miles:
- Taxes
- Fees (airport surcharges, vehicle licensing fees, etc.)
- Incidental charges (optional add-ons like GPS, child seats)
- Booking charges beyond the base rate
- Any portion of the booking paid for using redemption vouchers or discount codes.
So, focus on the base rental rate when estimating the SkyMiles you’ll earn.
Key Steps to Ensure You Earn SkyMiles
To ensure you successfully earn SkyMiles on your Avis rental, follow these essential steps:
- Book via delta.com/cars: This is the primary requirement. Book directly through the Delta Air Lines car rental portal.
- Provide SkyMiles Number at Booking: Make sure to enter your SkyMiles number during the booking process. There should be a designated field to input your frequent flyer number.
- Name Matching is Crucial: The name on the credit card used for the reservation must precisely match the name on your SkyMiles account. Discrepancies can prevent mileage credit.
- One SkyMiles Number Per Booking: Only one SkyMiles account can be credited per rental booking. You cannot split miles between multiple accounts for a single rental.
What if Your SkyMiles Don’t Appear?
It typically takes time for SkyMiles to be credited to your account. Allow up to 8 weeks after completing your eligible Avis rental for the miles to appear in your SkyMiles account.
If, after 8 weeks, you still haven’t seen the miles, you can request mileage credit. Delta provides a process for this:
- Contact Delta Customer Service: Go to the Delta customer service contact page.
- Select “Request Refund or Miles”: Navigate to the options related to refunds or miles.
- Choose “Mileage Credit”: Indicate that your request is about mileage credit.
- Select “Partners Requests”: Specify that this is a partner-related mileage request (Avis in this case).
You can submit requests for mileage credit up to 6 months from the last day of your rental reservation. It’s advisable to keep your rental agreement and booking confirmation handy when making a request.
Important Reminders and Exclusions
Keep these additional points in mind:
- Retroactive Miles: If you were not a SkyMiles member at the time of booking, you cannot retroactively claim miles even if you become a member later. Ensure you are enrolled in SkyMiles before booking.
- Bonus Miles, Not Medallion Qualification: Miles earned through Avis rentals are considered bonus miles. They do not count towards Medallion Status qualification or Million Miler Status within the SkyMiles program, unless specifically stated in a limited-time promotional offer.
- Non-Qualifying Rates (Reiterated): Remember that special contracted corporate, promotional, employee, net tour, travel agent, group, wholesale, package rates, crew rates, insurance/dealer replacement rentals, and other non-revenue rentals are not eligible for SkyMiles awards.
- Consecutive Rentals: If you have multiple rentals with Avis on consecutive days from the same location, even if you return and re-rent cars, these might be counted as a single qualifying rental.
Conclusion: Maximize Your Miles with Avis and SkyMiles
For Delta SkyMiles members, renting cars through Avis via delta.com/cars presents a valuable opportunity to earn miles on everyday travel expenses. By understanding the qualifying criteria, eligible rates, and the process for earning and claiming miles, you can effectively leverage this partnership to boost your SkyMiles balance. Always book through delta.com/cars, provide your SkyMiles number, and be mindful of the rate types to ensure you’re on the road to earning more SkyMiles with Avis.
