Have you rented a car with rapid rewards points?

[superrach]

If you have rented with points before, is there any cost involved? Any fees like when you book a flight? Also, would you recommend using points for a rental car? As you can tell, I just got my Southwest card a couple of months ago.

Looking at a week rental from Alamo for 18,000 points renting at Tampa airport returning to Orlando airport.

Thanks!!!

 

[keishashadow]

yes, last I looked Alamo's FF surcharge for WN was $1.50 a day/$7.50 maximum

it varies for each rental agency, need to check the respective sites.

correction: I was referring to booking on SWA site for 'cash' to earn points, sorry.

I agree it's not the most effective usage of points unless you are short on cash or won't be using your points on hand before they expire.

 

[Disneyfanatic108]

Just used my points for a rental with alamo. Oct 1-11. cost 47,300 points all pre-paid. Taxes were included so I am expecting $0.00 out of pocket. I did purchase trip insurance through our auto insurance which will cover loss time do to accident if we had one. cost $32 for a year. Collision on our auto policy will cover everything else.

 

[buckeev]

Unless I'm totally missing something, the Rapid Rewards Car Rentals rates are CRAZY high...My $500 rental is over 70,000 points...(I can get a much bigger bang-for-my-points by using the points for flights)

 

[Disneyfanatic108]

I will agree you do get a bigger bang for your points when used for flights. We used points for our flights, and had some left so we used them for a car to keep cost down.

 

[superrach]

Thanks for the responses! I definitely wouldn't do it if there was additional cost you'd have to pay the rental company upon arrival. But from what I'm hearing it sounds like there isn't any or not much anyways. And I do agree that flights are a way better usage of points. We just have alot so I'm considering using them.