Giveaway: National Car Rental Executive Elite Status

by Gary Leff

As promised last week, I’m giving one lucky blog reader National Car Rental Emerald Executive Elite status.

As I mentioned, I have Executive status with National myself (but not ‘Executive Elite’).

National’s unique selling proposition is its ‘Emerald Aisle’ where Emerald Club members pick their own car. Just cruise the aisle and pick the one you want from that area of the rental lot, it’s not just about picking the car with the lowest miles or the most prestige on offer but sometimes you want a bigger car for more people or a smaller car for easier parking.

It’s much nicer than getting assigned a car you don’t want, and then queueing for a rental counter agent to beg to be switched to something else. Much faster, too.

Emerald Club <I?Executive members get to pick from the ‘Executive Aisle’ which tends to have a greater, broader selection of better cars.

Here’s a comparison of National’s elite levels.

  • Executive status is earned after 12 rentals or 40 rental days. Regular Emerald Club members earn free rental days every 7 rental credits, Executive members earn free rental days after 6 credits and their free days are valid on a full size car not just a midsize.

  • Executive Elite is earned after 25 rentals or 85 rental days. Every 5 rental credits earns a free rental day, valid for any car that’s available. Executive Elite members also get guaranteed reservations with 24 hours notice. And in practice the treatment received is better than the published benefits, or so Executive Elite members tell me.

Want Executive Elite status for a year?

  • All you need to do to enter is leave a comment to this post, either how you would make use of rental car elite status or what one thing would make the car rental experience better for you?

  • Only enter once. Anyone leaving more than one comment will not be eligible to win.

  • I will draw a winning comment at random using random.org

  • The contest will remain open for entries through Friday, April 29 at 6pm Eastern.

This is a giveaway, I don’t get anything by offering it, all interpretations of rules are mine and it isn’t mean to be a strict terms and conditions just a friendly gesture to benefit readers. If you have a question, please don’t post it as a comment here since you only get one entry! Instead email me.

Enter away, good luck on Executive Elite status, and thanks for the giveaway opportunity, National!

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  2. I will say the electric car such as leaf, volt will be awesome to have if they are in the free upgrade selections.

  3. I use the Emerald Aisle now to get all the room we can for our 15 month old and his associated “stuff.” Exec Elite would be even better!

  6. I’d divorce my wife and let her keep everything. Then I’d rent a different car everyday to help me get over the grief!

  11. I just completed a National rental at SAN, and the both the best and worst part was picking out the car… I couldn’t decide!

  12. I’d love to be able to rent a car that has some snacks and a chilled drink inside! Or at least a coupon for some free fast food on my way out. Thanks for this contest!

  13. I was very impressed with the selection of cars in the
    Executive aisle at EWR last week (as compared to the regular Emerald aisle), so I would love to have that status.

  15. I would love to get some love at some rental company. Status would be a big plus making my travel life alot easier.

  18. I used to use National with my old company, now its primarily Hertz. Here is a pet peeve, with some companies when trying to rent in certain locations at certain times, even with elite status, a one day rental is ‘not available’ for a certain date yet if you ask a weekly rental is ‘available’ starting on the same pickup date.

  20. I already miss my National Exec status… I’ve been relegated to Avis (due to work rules), and I fell to “regular” National level. I miss the Exec aisle!

    Keep up the great posting – I really enjoy following your travel writing.

  22. National Car Rental Emerald Executive Elite status will make my collections more completed.

  23. Executive elite gives me a great choice of upgraded vehicles without waiting in line. Definitely a big timesaver.

  31. I hate hassling with rental cars; anything that can speed up that process would be fantastic.

  33. National Is my favorite car rental company by far! To have elite status would make an already special experience something spectacular; I can only imagine. I know there could not be a happier winner than me!!!!!

  34. The guaranteed 24-hour reservation ability would be great, as oftentimes I am interested in renting a car but the local airports show as sold out.

  35. “one thing would make the car rental experience better for you?”

    Not having to interact with humanoids at all during the pickup & return process.

  39. We travel frequently but not enough to get the 85 days/year. We’d love to finally be able to try Emerald Elite!

  42. I use National and have had elite status in the past. Love their service and would love to have it again.

  47. Wow! I’ve never seen so many comments on any travel blog.

    I wish I can choose my own car.

  49. I plan on traveling a lot this year for business and this would be extremely valuable to me!

Comments are closed.