To celebrate, Etihad customers renting with Hertz will have an opportunity to win exclusive 5-star luxury travel experience

Etihad Airways has signed a three-year agreement with Hertz, bringing the airline’s passengers a broad range of worldwide car rental benefits and money saving offers.  The partnership is designed to integrate the technology platforms of both Hertz and Etihad Airways to deliver a seamless travel experience from the departure gate to the driving seat.

Hertz has built a new dedicated microsite allowing Etihad customers to conveniently book online, and has also created a unique platform enabling Etihad Call Centre staff to offer customers a competitive deal on car hire while booking their flights by phone.

Hertz car rental services are now available to all Etihad customers worldwide through multiple reservation channels, including etihad.com, Etihad call centres, Etihad Holidays and retail outlets.

The extended partnership stands out as a market leader in terms of integration between an airline and a car rental organisation, and builds on the benefits and privileges of the companies’ existing loyalty programme partnership.

To mark the beginning of the new partnership, all Etihad customers renting a car with Hertz by April 30, 2011 will have the chance to win a luxurious package of two return Etihad flights to either Europe or Australia, five nights’ 5-star accommodation at Relais & Chateaux, and the use of a Hertz Prestige Collection vehicle for five days to explore the open road. Terms and conditions apply, and are available on the Etihad website www.etihad.com.

Michel Taride, President Hertz International and Executive Vice President Hertz Corporation, said: “I view this exciting alliance between Hertz and Etihad Airways as an opportunity for two world leading brands to join together to offer our joint customers exceptional service and value wherever they choose to travel. Our new partnership will provide customers with premium service and superior access to our products at all destinations served by Etihad around the globe.”

James Hogan, Chief Executive Officer, added: “The extended strategic partnership is an exciting development from our initial frequent flyer cooperation because it offers our customers the most seamless and integrated process of booking their flights and car transportation requirements at the same time, via many of Etihad’s distribution and service channels.

“Etihad Airways and Hertz share the same customer service values of continually seeking to provide their customers with what they want, and I am sure that this extended alliance will be hugely popular across all our markets.”

Sky-high service levels and innovative travel benefits for guests whenever they fly are priorities built into the Hertz-Etihad partnership. This is reflected by the introduction of a new dedicated fast track service through the Hertz #1 Club Gold counters at Abu Dhabi Airport.

Meanwhile, Etihad’s Pearl Business Class passengers will receive a 15 per cent discount when renting luxury vehicles from the Hertz Prestige Collection, while Diamond First Class guests will receive complimentary access to the top level of Hertz #1 Club, the President’s Circle, which combines superior service and upgrades on every rental.

Hertz and Etihad are building upon the strategic partnership which exists through the Etihad Guest loyalty programme and now expands into a wide range of products and distribution channels.

Additional benefits of the new global alliance for Etihad passengers include exclusive promotions offered through the car rental tab at etihad.com, and 500 Guest Miles with every rental.