You can earn up to 2,400 Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards frequent flier loyalty program points when renting a car at participating locations of participating rental car companies through Tuesday, January 31, 2017.

Earn Up to Quadruple Rapid Rewards Points When Renting Cars

Members of the Rapid Rewards frequent flier loyalty program typically earn 600 points for qualifying car rentals — regardless of the duration or the total cost of the rental — but this offer can as much as quadruple your earnings, depending on from which company you rent your vehicle.

Note that on all rentals from all rental car companies for this promotion:

• You must please provide your Rapid Rewards membership account number at the time of booking or at the time you pick up your rental vehicle
• Availability is limited as this offer is subject to availability
• Holiday and blackout dates may apply
• This offer may change without notice
• This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion or offer
• An additional daily surcharge may apply for renters younger than 25 years of age
• Please allow six to eight weeks after the rental period has concluded for the Rapid Rewards points to appear in your account
• All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply

Here is a list of the rental car companies which are participating in this offer — along with the amounts of Rapid Rewards points which you can earn per car rental.

Alamo

Earn up to 2,400 Rapid Rewards points at participating locations in the United States — depending on the duration of your car rental:

• 600 Rapid Rewards points for car rentals lasting one day
• 1,200 Rapid Rewards points for car rentals lasting two or three days
• 1,800 Rapid Rewards points for car rentals lasting four to six days
• 2,400 Rapid Rewards points for car rentals seven days or longer

Provide Corporate ID 7016141 at the time of booking to receive your Rapid Rewards points. You must book your reservation at least 24 hours in advance of the time the rental period begins.

• With Alamo, a flight is not required in order to receive points except in the case where the Member has multiple rentals on consecutive days in the same market. If more than one rental occurs in the same day or consecutive days, a flight must be taken within 24 hours of each rental.
• Taxes, government charges of up to 23%, recoupment fees up to $2 U.S. per day or $3 U.S. per rental day, airport fees of up to $6 U.S. per day or $19 U.S. per rental, refueling, additional driver fee, one-way rental charge, and optional items [i.e. CDW Waiver Savers® up to $30 U.S. per day] are extra.
• Remember to check your insurance policy and/or credit card for rental vehicle coverage.
• Alamo collects a Frequent Traveler Service Charge of $1.50 per day, up to $7.50 per rental. This Service Charge is collected by Alamo in order to offset a portion of the administrative and program costs arising from our participation in the frequent traveler partner programs.
• Any amount of points earned over 600 per rental are considered bonus points; bonus points do not count towards A-List, A-List Preferred, or Companion Pass qualification.

Other terms and conditions apply.

Avis

Earn up to 2,400 Rapid Rewards points at participating airport locations in the United States — depending on the duration of your car rental — and you can save up to 35 percent on the cost of all car rentals:

• 600 Rapid Rewards points for car rentals lasting one to two days
• 1,200 Rapid Rewards points for car rentals lasting three to six days
• 2,400 Rapid Rewards points for car rentals seven days or longer

This offer is valid on daily, weekend, and weekly rates on all Avis car groups. Please provide Coupon Code MUAA042 to receive bonus points. An advance reservation is required. Taxes, concession recovery fees, vehicle license recovery fee, customer facility charges ($10/contract in CA) and fuel charges are extra. Optional items such as LDW ($29.99/day or less except in Louisiana $49.99/day) and other surcharges may apply and are extra. The savings of up to 35% applies to Avis leisure weekly and weekend rates and is applicable only to the time and mileage charges of the rental. Please mention AWD number K024700 to save up to 35% on your rental. Car rental return restrictions may apply. Frequent Flyer surcharge of up to U.S. $1.00 per day may apply.

Other terms and conditions apply.

Dollar Rent A Car

Earn 1,200 Rapid Rewards points — save 10% on all mid-size, full-size, and SUV car rentals — at participating locations for all qualifying car rentals.

To save 10% and receive 1,200 Rapid Rewards points, Member must book a qualifying mid-size, full-size, or SUV car rental and provide Promotion Code 100389 at time of reservation. Modifying your reservation may result in a change in your rate and/or invalidate this offer. Rate subject to increase or fees may apply in the event of early/late vehicle return. Vehicle must be returned to renting location to avoid change in rate or drop charge. Offer has no cash value and may not be used with Pre-Pay Rates, Tour Rates, Insurance Replacement Rates, or Hourly Rentals and cannot be combined with any other certificate, voucher, offer, or promotion. Age, driver, credit, and qualifying rate restrictions for the renting location apply. Taxes, tax reimbursement, age differential charges, fees, surcharges, and optional service charges, such as refueling, are not included. Discounts apply to time and mileage charges only. Frequent Flyer Surcharge of $1.50 per day, up to a maximum of $8.00 per rental, may apply. Discounts in local currency upon redemption.

Other terms and conditions apply.

Hertz

Earn up to 2,400 Rapid Rewards points at participating locations in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico — depending on the duration of your car rental — and you can save up to 35 percent on the cost of all car rentals:

• 600 Rapid Rewards points for car rentals lasting one to two days
• 1,200 Rapid Rewards points for car rentals lasting three to six days
• 2,400 Rapid Rewards points for car rentals seven days or longer

Advance reservation, Rapid Rewards account number, CDP “205418”, and Promotion Code “159062” for rentals of one day or longer are required. Promotion Code must be provided at time of reservation or offer is void. One day minimum keep is required. The CDP savings of up to 35% applies to time and mileage charges only. Discount will vary depending on location, length and date of rental; 35% discount will not apply in all cases. Taxes, tax reimbursement, age differential charges, fees, surcharges and optional services charges, such as refueling, are not included. This offer may not be used with Pre-Pay Rates, Tour Rates, Insurance Replacement Rates, or Hourly Rentals. Discounts apply to time and mileage charges only. Discounts in local currency upon redemption. Modifying your reservation may result in a change in your rate and/or invalidate this offer. Rate subject to increase or fees may apply in the event of early/late vehicle return. Vehicle must be returned to renting location to avoid change in rate or drop charge. Frequent Flyer Surcharge of $1.00 per day, up to a maximum of $4.00 per rental, may apply. Points will not be awarded on travel industry rates, wholesale tour packages, insurance/dealer replacement, and any other promotional rates or group travel.

Other terms and conditions apply.

National Car Rental

At the time this article was posted, the last offer of up to 2,400 Rapid Rewards points at participating locations for qualifying car rentals lasting three days or longer expired on Saturday, April 30, 2016 and has yet to be updated. Whether or not a new offer is in effect is unknown at this time.

Check here in case an updated promotion has been posted.

Payless Car Rental

Earn 1,200 Rapid Rewards points at participating airport locations in the United States and Canada for all qualifying car rentals.

• Include Promotion Code SWP060 at time of booking to take advantage of this offer.
• Savings of ‘10% off’ applies to Payless leisure daily, weekly, weekend, and monthly rates and is applicable only to the time and mileage charges of the rental.
• Offer applies to all car groups.
• Taxes, airport imposed fees, government surcharges, collision damage waiver, additional or underage surcharges, refueling, and other optional miscellaneous items are not included.
• Offer is available for residents of the United States only.
• Free mileage allowance but geographical/local restrictions may apply.
• Not valid for one-way rentals. Vehicle must be returned to renting location.
• Frequent Flyer surcharge of $1.50 per day, up to $7.50 per rental may apply.

Other terms and conditions apply.

Thrifty Car Rental

Earn 1,200 Rapid Rewards points  — save 10% on all mid-size, full-size, and SUV car rentals — at participating locations for all qualifying car rentals.

The promotion code must be provided at time of reservation or offer is void. Advance reservations required. Modifying your reservation may result in a change in your rate and/or invalidate this offer. Rate subject to increase or fees may apply in the event of early/late vehicle return. Vehicle must be returned to renting location to avoid change in rate or drop charge. Offer has no cash value and may not be used with Pre-Pay Rates, Tour Rates, Insurance Replacement Rates, or Hourly Rentals and cannot be combined with any other certificate, voucher, offer, or promotion. Age, driver, credit, and qualifying rate restrictions for the renting location apply. Taxes, tax reimbursement, age differential charges, fees, surcharges, and optional service charges, such as refueling, are not included. Discounts apply to time and mileage charges only. Frequent Flyer Surcharge of $1.50 per day, up to a maximum of $8.00 per rental, may apply.

Other terms and conditions apply.

Summary

If you are a member of the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards frequent flier loyalty program, this is a potential opportunity to earn extra points by renting vehicles — but be prepared to pay a surcharge for frequent fliers of up to $1.50 per day for a maximum of $8.00 per car rental, depending on the rental car company.

If you are a member of the frequent renter loyalty programs of the rental car companies, you might be better off earning through them to avoid the surcharge and to earn free or discounted rentals on vehicles instead.

Photograph ©2007 by Brian Cohen.