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Do you use Uber as an alternative to taxis and public transportation?
You can now earn (and use!) American Express Membership Rewards points when you get a ride with Uber. And it’s all done through your iPhone!
What’s Uber?
Link: Uber
Link: Uber Rewards for Rides
Uber is a transportation company which connects passengers and drivers through mobile apps. Instead of calling a cab, you launch an app on your smartphone to request a ride. Uber drivers are independent contractors. You can even see how far away your ride is on your phone after you’ve requested a pick-up.
Payment is made through the app on your smartphone. Sometimes Uber is a more expensive than a regular taxi (especially during busy periods), but often it is cheaper. It can be a very convenient way of getting a ride!
That said, I haven’t used Uber more than twice!
How Does The American Express Deal Work?
Link: Sign-Up for Uber
Link: Uber Rewards for Rides FAQ
Note: This deal is currently only available for the iPhone. You can get the Uber app for other smartphones, but they don’t have the American Express deal.
When you sign-up for Uber and download the latest version of the Uber app to your iPhone, you’ll have the option to add your American Express card to your account.
Then, when you request a ride, you’ll have the option to either earn or use American Express Membership Rewards points.
You’ll get 2 American Express Membership Rewards points for every $1 you spend. Or, if you choose to use points to pay for your ride, they’re worth 1 cent each.
You can’t make partial payments with points – it has to be the full amount. If you don’t have enough points in your account, the full fare will be charged to your credit card.
So a $50 ride would cost 5,000 points. That’s not a very good redemption for Membership Rewards points (there are far better ways to use them!) so I think I’d rather pay for a ride and earn 2X points instead!
That said, Uber should count as a travel expense (it’s categorized as taxicabs/limousines) with cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard. So you could earn 2X points on those cards, instead of with American Express. I’d prefer using my Chase Sapphire Preferred card and earning 2X Ultimate Rewards points because I prefer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to American Express Membership Rewards points.
If you live or visit cities that have Uber service, and you take cabs or public transportation often, this could be a good deal for you! At the very least, it’s a super easy way of getting around, especially in unfamiliar cities.
Which American Express Cards Are Eligible?
Link: List of Eligible American Express Cards
Not all American Express cards can be used with this deal. Here’s the full list of eligible cards, which includes:
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card from American Express OPEN
- Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express
Strangely, the new American Express EveryDay Preferred card (which also earns Membership Rewards points) is not on the list. A friend tried enrolling her card to the Uber app, and the American Express deal did not come up!
Bottom Line
You can earn 2 American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 you spend with Uber when you add your AMEX card to their iPhone app.
You’ll also have an option to use points to pay for your ride, but that’s not a very good value.
Only iPhones in the US can use this deal for now. But hopefully they’ll expand it to all smartphones soon.
I like using Uber for rides, especially when I’m traveling in unfamiliar cities. Earning 2X points just makes it even better!
Have you used Uber? What have your experiences been like?
We have used Uber extensively both home and abroad for about 18 months. Best part for us is paying at least a third less than a taxi in New York and DC Metro area. We are assuming prices were less in other locals but can’t actually prove that.
Regarding London taxi drivers protesting: Taxi cab companies abuse taxi drivers and it’s hard for them to make a living;again we only have first hand knowledge of New York and DC Metro area. So taxi drivers everywhere are up in arms, but fortunately what’s actually happening is taxi companies are having to provide better working conditions and better benefits for their drivers. The competition is healthy and potentially, everyone benefits.
We LOVE Uber and will continue to use them exclusively, especially since our previous taxi driver is now an Uber driver. Yay competition!
I haven’t used Uber, or ever intend to.
They don’t have the same standards or regulations that cabs do.
Black Cab drivers in London (the best in the world) staged a protest recently against it and in my city, the airport doesn’t charge Uber drivers any fees
and that doesn’t seem fair.