Yes, you can use American Airlines AAdvantage miles to book Hertz car rentals. This is done through the AAdvantage Car Rental portal on the American Airlines website, where your miles are converted to a discount on the rental cost. However, it's often not the most valuable way to use your miles. Typically, you'll get a redemption value of around 1.0 to 1.5 cents per mile, which is lower than what you can achieve by redeeming for flights. For the best deal, it's wise to compare the cost of using miles against simply paying cash, especially when Hertz has a promotion.
The process is straightforward. You log into your AAdvantage account, navigate to the 'Cars' section, and enter your rental details. The system will then show you options to pay with a combination of miles and cash or entirely with miles. It's crucial to book through this specific portal; you cannot directly tell Hertz at the counter that you want to use your AAdvantage miles.
To illustrate the value, here’s a comparison of what a typical mileage redemption might look like for a one-day rental of a midsize car:
| Rental Scenario | Cash Price | Miles Required | Approximate Value per Mile |
|---|
| Standard Daily Rate | $65.00 | 6,500 miles | 1.0 cent |
| Weekend Special Rate | $45.00 | 3,500 miles | 1.3 cents |
| Weekly Rental | $350.00 | 28,000 miles | 1.25 cents |
Before you commit, always check for any current promotions. American Airlines and Hertz frequently offer bonus miles for cash rentals or discounted mileage redemption rates. If you have a large balance of miles and need a car for a short trip, it can be a convenient option. But for most travelers, saving miles for award flights, where they can be worth 2 cents or more each, is a smarter long-term strategy.
