I’ve been a member of National Car Rental’s Emerald Club for over 25 years (Ugh, Really? 25 years?) (Note from Sharon – when did I marry such an old man? LOLOL!). For all that time and countless rentals, I’ve never earned a single rental credit with National. Instead, I’ve chosen to earn frequent flyer miles. Why? I don’t rent cars often enough, and earning a free rental day would take forever.
How National’s Rental Credit System Works
National gives 1 rental credit per rental, but you can earn extra credits if you rent for more than a week. Here’s a breakdown since this info isn’t prominently displayed on their site. (It took some digging—I guess they’re not eager to advertise it!):
- 1–7 days: 1 rental credit
- 8+ days: Total rental days divided by 4
- 8 days: 2 credits
- 12 days: 3 credits
To redeem for a free rental day, you need 5–7 credits, depending on your Emerald Club status. Credits do not expire, and when you earn a free day, it’s valid until December 31st of the following year. This system is better suited for frequent, short-term business rentals than leisure travelers who might only rent for a week.
That’s the same face I make when I find out I’m only getting 1 stinkin’ rental credit for a 7-day rental.
Frequent Flyer Miles: A Viable Alternative
If National’s rental credits aren’t for you, there’s good news: they partner with several domestic and international airlines and even offer Signature TailWins points for private pilots. Below are some popular airline programs and what they offer. Keep in mind, National charges a fee for earning miles, which can impact the value:
- Alaska Airlines: 50 miles/day ($0.75 fee per rental day)
- American Airlines: 1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on time and mileage charges ($0.0725 fee per rental day)
- Delta Air Lines: 2 SkyMiles® per $1 spent on time and mileage charges ($0.63 fee per rental day)
- Frontier Airlines: 50 miles/day or 500 miles for rentals of 5+ days ($0.75 fee per rental day, max $7.50)
- Southwest Airlines: 600 points per rental ($1.50 fee per rental day, max $7.50)
For a 7-day rental, you’ll earn the most with Delta, Frontier, or Southwest. However, the fees add up: $7.50 for Southwest, $5.25 for Frontier, and $4.41 for Delta SkyMiles.
The complete list of National’s partners is available on their website.
Final Thoughts
Should you earn rental credits or frequent flyer miles for your National rentals? The answer depends on your situation. Key factors include:
- How long are your rentals?
- How often do you rent?
- Do you value airline miles over free rental days?
I choose Delta SkyMiles because they align best with my travel goals, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for everyone. As always, Your Mileage May Vary.
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2 comments
Often, the highest yield is having hotel stays earn hotel points and car rentals earning car rental company points. The exception was with Hertz, when they were too pig headed to extend the points due to the pandemic even though they did for some people. Fortunately, I only lost 1 free rental day.
Have been Emerald Club, one tier or another, since the early 2000s. Earning the rental days has been exponentially more important than airline miles. Something you don’t often consider is surge pricing on rentals at peak season, though this isn’t affected by the free days you earn. I find car and hotel points to be better to accumulate as they can end up being more expensive than the flight.