NEW: Get a status match between Avis and Hotels.com
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Avis and Hotels.com have launched a new partnership which may allow you to get a status match across the two programmes.
These are not, perhaps, the two most obvious companies to launch a status matching programme. That said, it is certainly worth taking advantage if you qualify.
There is also an interesting route to getting Hotels.com status with a Priority Pass airport lounge card.
What status levels are being matched?
Got Avis status?
If you have Avis Preferred Plus, you will receive Silver status in Hotels.com Rewards.
If you have Avis President’s Club status, you will receive Gold status in Hotels.com Rewards.
Before you rush off to check, American Express Platinum does not give you Avis Preferred Plus although once you have linked your Platinum card to your Avis Preferred account you receive discounted rates.
(The American Express Platinum deal with Hertz is more generous, getting you Hertz Five Star status. If you have Amex Platinum you can register for Hertz Five Star and all of the other status schemes via this well-hidden page of the Amex website.)
However, if you have a Priority Pass airport lounge card, even a free one via American Express, you DO qualify for free Avis Preferred Plus status.
This HfP article explains how to get Avis Preferred Plus status from a Priority Pass.
You need to enrol in Avis Preferred using the special code and then, once your Avis Preferred Plus membership is showing, you will be able to upgrade your Hotels.com account to Silver status.
If you have the HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard, or a similar World Elite Mastercard, you join Avis at President’s Club level and get a match to Hotels.com Rewards Gold status. Use this website to claim your top tier Avis status.
Got Hotels.com status?
If you have Gold status in Hotels.com Rewards, you will receive Avis Preferred Plus membership.
Are these status levels worth having?
Hotels.com:
We wrote this review of Hotels.com Rewards here and you can see the details on the Hotels.com website here.
Silver status usually requires 10 nights per year whilst Gold requires 30 nights.
The benefits are rather nebulous. However, many hotels on the Hotels.com platform have agreed to give additional benefits to status members. The only guaranteed benefit is a two-hour additional late check-out for Gold members when booking a hotel marked ‘VIP’ on the Hotels.com site.
Silver members may receive free breakfast, free wi-fi or other hand-picked benefits when choosing a hotel on the ‘VIP’ list. You also get access to the Hotels.com price match promise which guarantees to reduce your rate if you find a lower price anywhere up to the point of check-in. This is a lot more flexible than most rate guarantee schemes.
Anecdotally, I know that the Hotels.com call centre is also often willing to cancel non-refundable bookings made by Gold members as a favour.
The key benefit of Hotels.com Rewards is the ability to get a free night for every 10 nights you stay as our review explains.
Avis:
Details of Avis Preferred Plus can be found on its website here.
The ‘Plus’ level requires you to have done five rentals in the past year with a total value of €1,000+. Benefits are:
- priority car availability
- a free extra driver on every trip
- a complimentary vehicle upgrade whenever possible
There is nothing radical here, especially as you get a free additional driver automatically whenever you book an Avis car via the British Airways / Avis partner site here.
Avis Preferred, at the basic level, is worth joining. You get a €15 voucher after your second rental and a free weekend rental after your third booking.
Conclusion
There is nothing life changing here, but if you use both Hotels.com and Avis it makes sense to upgrade your status if you can.
The main benefit for HfP readers, oddly, may be the ability to get Hotels.com Silver status via their Priority Pass by using the Priority Pass to get Avis Preferred Plus status.
You need to use special links to upgrade your membership:
- visit https://www.avispreferred-hotels.com/ if you are an Avis Preferred Plus or President’s Circle member looking to get Hotels.com Rewards Silver or Gold status
- visit https://www.hotelscomrewards-avis.com/uk if you are a UK-based Hotels.com Rewards Gold member looking to get Avis Preferred Plus status
Hotel offers update – December 2021:
Want to earn more hotel points? Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.
Want to buy hotel points? There is currently a special offer running with IHG Rewards (80% bonus to 4th January 2022) and World of Hyatt (30% discount, equivalent to a 43% bonus, to 30th December 2021).
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