The Points Guy - 37 Rental Cars in 2 Days: 185,000 Miles Earned

[Quaffer]

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere on AFF (a quick search suggests it hasn't).

I thought AFFers would appreciate this posting on The Points Guy, in which a Swedish frequent flyer picked up 37 rental cars in two days to earn 185,000 SAS Eurobonus miles: 37 Rental Cars in 2 Days: 185,000 Miles Earned

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

No different from a status run I guess. Either way a very good effort and the person seemed to enjoy himself as well

 

[Dr Ralph]

Impressive effort.

 

[Boca68]

Ehm? Yeah, there's a status run and then there is A Status Run!!!

In the Swedish town where I live, I found that the cheapest Avis rental car was $70 — but it seemed like more fun to go somewhere else and turn this project into a vacation. I expanded the scope of my research and looked up the prices at all of the 2,820 Avis offices in the 109 countries/regions in Europe, Africa and the Middle East where this promotion was valid. (Thankfully, this is an automated process on the Avis website, and you can leave it running for a few days while it does its work.)

A few days? Surely even with 2820 Avis offices, the calculations couldn't take that long? Unless your running an old Amstrad x286 with a whopping 512k ram and 40MB hard drive. (only mention that because it was my first desktop)

Upon returning my 37th rental car, a cheerful Avis rep simply waved me off with a smile, saying, “See you next promotion!”

Somehow now think Avis will insert a clause or two to prevent this. especially as he's posted his cheeky adventure on the net.

But, good luck to him. Not something I'd do. Especially as I think his maths were a little askew as well. But, I could see where he was going with it.

 

[drross]

wow! must have spent a lot of time researching it

 

[Hvr]

And well done to the Avis staff for their pragmatic approach. Allowing him to keep one car and just sign contracts at both ends was a win/win as well as a great talking point for them.

 

[get me outta here]

I am not familiar w' SAS, and am wondering what TOTAL: 191,072 would get him. Yes, agree Hvr, well done Avis.

 

[Austman]

I am not familiar w' SAS, and am wondering what TOTAL: 191,072 would get him. Yes, agree Hvr, well done Avis.

Two return trips in Y between Scandinavia and Asia.

Not bad!

But I once did more than 5 times better with SAS for less spend. The fly-5-get-5 promotion!

 

[JohnK]

Sounds like a lot of planning and stress for such a small reward. Although he does value miles a little higher.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I'm assuming no one has seen any type of similar opportunities in Australia?

 

[smit0847]

I'm assuming no one has seen any type of similar opportunities in Australia?

Everything is so expensive in australia that the costs would be too high

 

[Boca68]

I'm assuming no one has seen any type of similar opportunities in Australia?

No. And I doubt you will. Companies watch these type of "status runs" I'm sure they will include a clause or two to prevent anything similair.

 

[burmans]

No. And I doubt you will. Companies watch these type of "status runs" I'm sure they will include a clause or two to prevent anything similair.

You've got a higher level of confidence in the competence of those that write T&C's than I have! Anyone who has subscribed to AFF or FT for a while would be able to provide plenty of examples where companies should have learnt lessons about the wording of T&C's (sometime from the experience of others) and haven't.

And then there is the prevalence on T&C's where what is written is not what IT has coded!

I'd go so far as to say the incidence of T&C's where companies have learnt from the past are the rarity.

 

[Boca68]

You've got a higher level of confidence in the competence of those that write T&C's than I have! Anyone who has subscribed to AFF or FT for a while would be able to provide plenty of examples where companies should have learnt lessons about the wording of T&C's (sometime from the experience of others) and haven't.

And then there is the prevalence on T&C's where what is written is not what IT has coded!

I'd go so far as to say the incidence of T&C's where companies have learnt from the past are the rarity.

I think we have to agree to disagree here.

Yes, I've seen many occasions where companies have messed up the T&C's and got burnt. Sometimes to the point where they pull the offer without notice.

But, I've rarely seen them falling for the same trick twice. I'm sure it has happened, but more the exception, rather than the rule.

Avis, in this case honoured the promotion, but I doubt they would allow the same to be done again.

 

[11sjw]

You've got a higher level of confidence in the competence of those that write T&C's than I have! Anyone who has subscribed to AFF or FT for a while would be able to provide plenty of examples where companies should have learnt lessons about the wording of T&C's (sometime from the experience of others) and haven't.

And then there is the prevalence on T&C's where what is written is not what IT has coded!

I'd go so far as to say the incidence of T&C's where companies have learnt from the past are the rarity.

On a much lesser scale than this BP once ran a promo of buy their premium fuel and receive a coffee for $1 (normal price circa $4). At the time I was fortunate enough to have a company car so would pull up and use my fuel card to drop $5 worth of fuel into my car and pay $1 for my coffee out of my wallet. The kicker was that the baristas would also stamp my loyalty card (buy 4 get the 5th free). I ended up with about 2 dozen "free" coffees. Have never seen that promotion again though!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I'm assuming no one has seen any type of similar opportunities in Australia?

No. And I doubt you will. Companies watch these type of "status runs" I'm sure they will include a clause or two to prevent anything similair.

I would term it a Points Run rather than a Status Run as the goal was/is to earn points rather than status. Quite different to my way of thinking.


I have done various Points Runs in Oz, but they are a lot harder to find these days and in particular "the whales".
If the value stacks up for my time and any expense then I go for it. I have had a number bigger than this. Several way bigger. Unfortunately they are mainly small and/or capped these days, though every bit adds up.

I am keeping my eyes open though as when one occurs one needs to act. Sooner or later a "green" marketer will run a promo who is blind to what can be engineered with HO checking it properly