Earning points with Uber Rewards
Uber is rolling out a new program that frequent travelers have been requesting for years. The ridesharing service announced Uber Rewards, its very own loyalty program that will reward riders with Uber credits and elite status that comes with many perks.
The program resembles an airline rewards program. It’s free to join, but riders won’t be automatically enrolled, so make sure you opt-in in the app. You may also look into stacking miles with this program with a credit card that pays back on rideshare.
There’s two main aspects to the program: First the rewards you earn, and second, the different tiers of elite status you can attain and each perk that comes along with it. You can see how to earn points below:
- Earn 3x points per eligible dollar spent on Uber Black and Uber Black SUV trips
- Earn 2x points per eligible dollar spent on UberX, UberXL, or Uber Select
- Earn 1x points per eligible dollar spent on Uber Eats and Uber Pool trips
Redeeming points with Uber Rewards
With Uber Rewards, 500 points can be redeemed for $5 in Uber credit, meaning that each Uber point is worth a penny. In other words:
- You get a $5 credit for every ~$167 spent on Black and Black SUV (~3% return)
- You get a $5 credit for every $250 spent on X, XL, and Select (~2% return)
- You get a $5 credit for every $500 spent on Eats and Pool (~1% return)
These rewards will be added to your overall Uber Cash balance, so you’ll be able to redeem multiple credits towards a single ride.
Earning status with Uber Rewards
Uber Rewards has four status tiers — Blue, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. The requirements to earn status are as follows:
- Blue status requires 0 points (the starting level for most)
- Gold status requires 500 points, so requires ~$167-500 of spend or you get it if you have already matched this from previous months of spend.
- Platinum status requires 2,500 points, so requires ~$833-2,500 of spend
- Diamond status requires 7,500 points, so requires $2,500-7,500 of spend
Here’s a full listing of the perks offered at each tier:
- Uber Blue status allows you to earn rewards
- Uber Gold status gets you priority support and the ability to get flexible cancelation
- Uber Platinum status gets you price protection on a route and priority pick ups at airports
- Uber Diamond status gets you premium support, highly rated drivers, complimentary upgrades, and complimentary delivery of three Uber Eats orders
How does flexible cancelation work?
If you cancel a ride, you’ll get an in-app message letting you know if the ride qualifies for a refund of the usual cancellation fee. You’ll only get this refund if you rebook the ride within 15 minutes and complete the trip. Flexible cancellations are only available to Gold, Platinum and Diamond members. Pool and Express Pool trips are not eligible. This benefit can be used once per hour at most, up to three total uses per month. This benefit is only available in the US and may not be available in all locations, such as certain airports and venues/stadiums.
How does price protection work?
When you unlock the Platinum level, you’ll be prompted to set your two favorite locations. Once you’ve set these, any ride taken between those two points will enjoy a lower price that won’t be as affected by traffic or dynamic pricing. The price protection benefit has a 35% maximum discount per ride. You may be charged the amount of the price that exceeds 35% off the real-time (non-protected) price. Your chosen route can be changed once every 30 days by contacting support. This benefit may not be available in all cities, or for all possible routes. Only UberX trips receive price protection. and does not apply to scheduled rides.
How does priority picks up at airports work?
Based on driver availability, Platinum and Diamond members may receive faster pickups. This benefit is only available at some airports due to local regulations and rideshare agreements. Shorter wait times are not guaranteed for any given airport pickup.
How does complimentary upgrades work?
Complimentary upgrades are sometimes given on select UberX rides. These upgrades are only available to Diamond members. This benefit is not available in all locations, and excludes certain airports and venues/stadiums.
How does Free Uber Eats delivery work?
Once Diamond level is unlocked, you’ll receive three free Eats deliveries. These free deliveries will be added to your account automatically and will apply to your next three UberEats orders. You’ll need to have an Eats account. Free delivery means no booking fee and no busy area fee.
2019 Updates on Uber’s Rewards Program
[January 2019] We are stoked about the new Uber Rewards program and have been using it over a month now. We were given Platinum level because i’ve already taken hundreds of Uber Rides and several Eats orders over the past year which is how they count that. I haven’t noticed any big differences in service or the cancellation fee credit or waiver. I still get cancellation fees sometimes even when booking another ride immediately. So maybe they have some kinks to work out.
I have received the $5 credit after racking up 500 in points which was nice. The rewards program may be a replacement for the Ride Pass which saved me tons more money at giving me 15% to 20% off of all rides in the U.S. I would much rather have the Ride Pass but welcome this if I can eventually get to the Diamond level that will help out some at least with a free UberEats delivery.
In related news the Uber Visa Card which is becoming highly popular among Uber riders recently sent us a survey and you can see here.
