Delta Air Lines and Hertz have announced an expansion of their partnership, giving SkyMiles members more opportunities to be rewarded when renting with Hertz. It’s always awesome to see partnerships between travel brands (airlines, hotels, rental car companies, etc.), as it’s an obvious fit. Let’s go over the two aspects of this expanded partnership.
In this post:
Earn up to 8x SkyMiles with Hertz rentals
As of January 30, 2023, Delta is introducing new and enhanced SkyMiles rewards with Hertz, based on the dollar amount spent on rental cars. SkyMiles members now earn the following number of miles for Hertz rentals:
- Diamond Medallion members earn 8x miles per dollar spent
- Platinum Medallion members earn 7x miles per dollar spent
- Gold Medallion members earn 6x miles per dollar spent
- Silver Medallion members earn 5x miles per dollar spent
- SkyMiles members earn 4x miles per dollar spent
As before, SkyMiles members continue to earn 4x miles per dollar spent with Dollar and Thrifty.
As always, you don’t earn miles on taxes, fees, other incidental charges, other booking charges, or any element of the booking that is paid or reduced by the redemption of voucher or discount codes. You have to provide your Delta SkyMiles number at the time that you make your reservation in order to earn SkyMiles.
Personally I value SkyMiles at 1.1 cents each, meaning that this partnership offers a 4.4-8.8% return on rental cars. That’s better than nothing, but also unlikely to move the needle when it comes to consumer behavior.
Delta Medallion members receive Hertz elite status
With this partnership, all Delta SkyMiles Medallion members can receive elite status with Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. Here’s how status maps over:
- Diamond and Platinum Medallion members receive Hertz President’s Circle status
- Gold and Silver Medallion members receive Hertz Five Star status
You can link your Delta SkyMiles and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards account at this link in order to take advantage of this status match opportunity. The terms suggest that it can take up to eight weeks for status to be reflected in your Gold Plus Rewards member account, though hopefully it happens much faster than that.
Status will be valid for as long as you remain an active Delta Medallion member. There’s no end date for this partnership, though it can be terminated with six months advance notice.
For context, this isn’t the only way to get Hertz President’s Circle status. This is also offered to those with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review) (Rates & Fees) and The Platinum Card® from American Express (review).
President’s Circle is Hertz’s top-tier status, so it’s pretty cool to get that just for having status with Delta (or for having a premium credit card). This status ordinarily requires 15 rentals per year or $3,000 in annual rental car spending, so this is most definitely an easier pathway to that tier.
What are the perks of Hertz President’s Circle status?
- Guaranteed car upgrades, a minimum of one-class, at participating locations
- Freedom to choose any vehicle in the President’s Circle section of the Hertz Ultimate Choice lot on the spot at no extra charge
- No additional driver fee for a spouse or domestic partner in the United States
- 50% bonus on Gold Plus Rewards points on all qualified rentals
- Expedited vehicle pick-up at over 1,000 locations worldwide
- No stopping at the counter at over 50 airports
- eReturn, whereby you don’t have to wait when returning your car
- Hertz Valet, whereby you can take advantage of a terminal drive-back service at participating locations up to four times per year
- A dedicated President’s Circle call center line
Below is a chart comparing the different Hertz elite status tiers.
Bottom line
Delta SkyMiles and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards have expanded their partnership. SkyMiles members can now earn 4-8x miles on Hertz rentals, and can also receive rental car status, all the way up to Hertz President’s Circle status. These kinds of partnerships are always great for frequent flyers.
Do you plan on taking advantage of this Delta & Hertz partnership?
Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.
Does Hertz president circle members also get Delta diamond status?
nope, it's a one-way perk
Now that would be nice :) Get Pres Circle from Cap One Venture X and match to Delta Platinum :)
People are taking all the tabloid news about getting arrest way way to far.
Yes it happens. But just like when a plane crash, it gets much more publicity than car crashes. But it doesn't make flying less safer than driving.
A drama queen tabloid, even stating a small fact, is still a drama queen.
All the Hertz stolen car are clickbaits.
I find it amusing to request a paper receipt now whenever I do a Hertz drop off, and let the person know I'd rather not do any jail time.
They have, to date, found that an amusing request.
Which one of the linked shiny bits of plastic (click Click CLICK) covers bail bonds?
Seriously tho, this is a GREAT offer. Diamond members spending $20k at Hurts earn enough for a one way trip to Europe. On a odd-numbered Tuesday. In a month that ends "g"
I'll consider Hertz once they've gone 1,500 consecutive days without arresting a customer.
Followed steps and Delta throws this error: "Oops! We're sorry, but you do not meet the eligibility criteria listed below and may not register for this promotion. Please refer to the Program Terms & Conditions below."
Not exactly an enhancement for short term rentals when they used to offer 1,250 miles to Delta elites per rental. Based on typical rates now you need to rent 5 days to break even with the old offer.
I think this is one of those "enhancements" that is actually a devaluation. Before as a Diamond medallion I earned 1250 base miles per rental, plus 300 miles per day. For example, looking up a rental I made in March 2021, as a Diamond Medallion I earned 1250 base miles plus 900 bonus miles (2150 total). The base rental fee for the March 2021 reservation was $115 (plus $54 in taxes and fees). If I...
I think this is one of those "enhancements" that is actually a devaluation. Before as a Diamond medallion I earned 1250 base miles per rental, plus 300 miles per day. For example, looking up a rental I made in March 2021, as a Diamond Medallion I earned 1250 base miles plus 900 bonus miles (2150 total). The base rental fee for the March 2021 reservation was $115 (plus $54 in taxes and fees). If I am now only earning 8x on the base rental fee (without taxes and fees), I would have earned 920 miles on the rental, so less than half of before.
I've taken advantage of this a number of times as a Diamond and as a Platinum on business trips. It's an easy way to earn DL miles which I would rather have than Hertz points. One quirk is that you can book on the Hertz site (make sure your DL number is in the system and you're electing for DL miles and not Hertz points in your profile), typically at a lower (sometimes a lot...
I've taken advantage of this a number of times as a Diamond and as a Platinum on business trips. It's an easy way to earn DL miles which I would rather have than Hertz points. One quirk is that you can book on the Hertz site (make sure your DL number is in the system and you're electing for DL miles and not Hertz points in your profile), typically at a lower (sometimes a lot lower) cost than on the Delta page at the end of your flight booking. The miles post very quickly.
Can't use corporate rates with this, or visa/aaa/costco.. DOA
No thank you, I choose life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness
Earn SkyMiles, Elite Status in your local jail
The ability to "opt in" and connect your Delta Skymiles to Hertz has been down for months now. You can add your Hertz Gold Number under your Car Loyalty Programs in your Delta profile, but this does nothing.
Does it also come with the experience of getting arrested? No thank you on anything Hertz.
Are these SkyMiles in lieu of earning Hertz points (usually you have to choose either airline miles or Hertz points on a rental)? Or is it a double-dipping opportunity? If it's just in lieu of Hertz points, as has always been the case with earning airline miles on car rentals, I'm not sure it's especially exciting, as Hertz points can sometimes offer a decent return.
That's the most important detail this article is completely missing.
I believe it is in lieu of Hertz points. Might make sense for DL Diamond but I have no status with DL and would rather have 1.5 Hertz point than 4 DL miles. Hertz points can render 5-10 c/pt, maybe a bit less now after the last deval.
Also I recall Hertz had "frequent flier surcharge", wonder if it applies here.
evidently yes as long as you add your hertz # with reservation. Not exactly written anywhere so I called and they checked a reservation for me made through Delta. That being said I am making less Delta miles but gives me some hertz so probably a net loss for most as the new marketing of how to devalue points continues but at least it gives you the double dip like the old days.