Getting the Most Out of Your Money With Rental Car and Airline Tickets Bundles

Often, you can save money on your travel by bundling your flight and rental car together. This can be an intelligent way to get the most out of your money, especially when planning a long trip.

Whether a business traveler or vacationer, these bundled deals can save you time and hassle. They also can help you snag some great perks.

Cost

Airlines, hotels, travel companies, and online sites often offer deals like a Priceline promo code on airfare and a rental car when you book both together. You might also earn miles or points on both parts of your vacation itinerary by using your preferred airline or credit card.

Whether you use American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, or another frequent flyer program to redeem your airline miles for a flight and car rental or your flexible credit card rewards to book a vacation package that includes both, it pays to shop around to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

You should also consider booking a rental car at a location other than your airport, especially if you’re flying into a large city that has public transportation options or ride-share services available. That’s because cars rented at airport locations tend to be much more expensive than those rented outside the airport, according to NerdWallet.

For example, it was recently found that weekly rentals at downtown locations were, on average, $126 less expensive than those at airports. That’s more than a 20% savings!

Similarly, rental rates tend to be cheaper when booked last minute. Specifically, NerdWallet studied 7-day rentals from multiple destinations and car rental brands and found that on average, those booked 91 days in advance were about 40% more expensive than those booked seven days in advance.

Convenience

One of the more challenging aspects of travel is getting around in a foreign city without pre-arranged transportation. The advent of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft has changed the game for many travelers and made it much easier to say bye-bye to public transport. The best way to ensure you get a fair shake is to shop for the best deals possible, particularly for long-haul destinations. This will give you a leg up on the competition and ensure you’re paying less than top dollar for a snooze-worthy hotel stay or a rushed airport pickup.

Flexibility

There are many ways to get the most out of your money with a rental car and airline ticket bundles. These options are great for travelers who plan to explore a new destination. They allow you to take advantage of flexible pricing, especially when travel plans are subject to change due to developing events.

Availability is one of the most significant factors to consider when deciding whether or not to purchase a rental car or airline ticket. Prices for these products fluctuate based on the day of the week, time of year (prices soar around holidays), type of vehicle, and company demand.

Regarding a rental car, booking your vehicle as soon as possible is often best. Finding a car at a reasonable price can be challenging, particularly in popular destinations like Hawaii and Florida.

In addition, booking a flexible flight can give you peace of mind that your travel itinerary is safe. Most airlines and search engines allow you to add flexible dates or flights to your regular tickets, which is an easy way to ensure that you can change your travel plans if necessary.

If you’re a business traveler, signing up for a flexible flight program is a wise choice. These programs offer flexibility through a network of airline partners and travel management platforms like TravelPerk. They can help you avoid hefty charges, fees, or cancellations and save you time.

Time

You save time in the long run when you buy a rental car and airline ticket bundle. This is because you’ll spend less time on the road and more time exploring your destination.

You also get the bonus of lower upfront costs. Airlines typically offer a low deposit for the flight and hotel, allowing you to spread out the cost over time.

Aside from the obvious perks, most packages offer extras like free upgrades and free airport pickup, which can save you a pretty penny in the long run.

The best way to save on your next car rental is to plan and use discount codes, perks built into your frequent flyer or credit card programs, and even membership clubs that offer discounts. For example, Budget has several weekly and bundled coupon codes that can help you save on your next rental.

Another big time-saving tip is to be flexible with your rental dates. Aim for rentals that occur during your vacation, and avoid booking them close to your departure date. Depending on your needs, this could save hundreds or even thousands of dollars!

Using your smartphone to book a rental car is a convenient option. Apps like AutoSlash will let you compare prices and suggest alternate locations if they are cheaper.

Stephen Gast

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