Emerald Club

Emerald Club is built around choice at the lot. A member reserves a midsize car, walks to the Emerald Aisle and drives off in any midsize or larger car parked there, paying the midsize rate. That benefit applies in the US and Canada. In the National app, Emerald Checkout lets a member scan a car in the aisle, confirm the rental and speed the exit with a Virtual Pass barcode. National, part of Enterprise Holdings, also waives the fee for a second driver, so family members and colleagues can share the wheel at no charge.

The reward unit is the rental, not the dollar. Every qualified rental earns 1 credit, whether it lasts a day or two weeks. A base member needs 7 credits for a free rental day. Executive members need 6, and Executive Elite members need 5. Free days can be used around the world.

Members who want miles or hotel points can pick a partner in place of credits. Delta SkyMiles and American Airlines each pay 2 miles per dollar. Southwest Rapid Rewards members get 600 points per rental, Hilton Honors members get 500, and Korean Air and EVA Air members get 500 miles. Caesars Rewards members earn 1 Reward Credit per dollar. A per-dollar partner pays more for a long rental. A per-rental partner pays the same for one day as for ten.

Status counts paid rentals or paid rental days in a calendar year. Executive takes 12 rentals or 40 days, and it moves the member from the Emerald Aisle to the Executive Area, where full-size and larger cars go for the reserved midsize rate. Executives also get a guaranteed upgrade when they reserve a full-size through luxury car. Executive Elite takes 25 rentals or 85 days. It adds a guaranteed car, up to full size, with 24 hours' notice, and free days on any available car class with no blackout dates.

Members get help abroad as well. They get priority service in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. Some branches in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain and Germany give a free one-class upgrade when a car is free. Rentals at Enterprise Rent-A-Car branches that take part also earn Emerald Club free days and count toward status. That ties National's program to its sister brand.

Counting rentals in place of dollars favors a particular customer. A consultant who flies out Monday and back Thursday every week racks up rentals fast, and each short trip earns as much as a long family vacation. That suits the frequent business renter, the same customer the aisle and the Executive Area speak to. The cost of a free day falls as status rises, from 7 rentals to 5, which means the top tier earns a free day 40% faster than a new member.