Mark Halloween night on your calendar and set a reminder on your phone. No, we’re not talking about candy or costumes. Instead, this is the last night you have to use your Uber Rewards Points before they disappear.
As TPG first reported earlier this summer, ride-hailing service Uber is phasing out its older loyalty programs, Uber Rewards, and focusing users on the Uber One program that launched last year. In fact, that transition has already begun in earnest: The end of August marks the end of customers’ ability to earn earnings points as part of the Uber Rewards program. However, Uber has given riders an extra two months, through October 31, to redeem any remaining points.
With October here, take this as your one-month warning that those points will disappear if left unused.
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Switch from Uber Rewards
First launched in 2018, Uber Rewards is the first mechanism by which Uber users can earn and redeem points, and achieve elite status.
Uber customers can typically earn 1 point per dollar on Uber Eats purchases, 2 points per dollar on your most standard Uber rides, like UberX and UberXL, and 3 points per dollar on Uber Black, Uber Black SUV and Uber Green.
Those points can get you discounts and benefits at some other retailers like Starbucks and free or discounted Uber rides or Uber Eats delivery. For example, 2,000 Uber Rewards Points is equivalent to a free $30 UberX ride.
Earning enough points within a certain amount of time can help you achieve elite status, give you a higher score earning rate, and – at the program’s highest elite status levels – upgrade your vehicle.
But in August, Uber announced it was ending its Uber Rewards program, switching entirely to its pay-to-join program, Uber One, which doesn’t have points or elite status but includes an enhanced experience for drivers. paid members.
Technically, the Uber Rewards program will end on November 1, but August 31 is the last day to earn points in that program. So if you have any unused points that you want to redeem when you ride an Uber or order Uber Eats, you have until the end of the night of October 31 to use them before they disappear.
Related: Earn Marriott Bonvoy points for Uber rides and food delivery
Focus on Uber One
With this shift away from Uber Rewards, the company is focusing on Uber One, first launching in 2021.
The program is a membership fee-based program in which members pay a monthly fee and can then access benefits across the company’s platforms.
For a $9.99 monthly fee, Uber One members get unlimited free shipping on Uber Eats orders and are eligible for up to 10% off on delivery orders. and receive qualified goods. Uber One members also get 5% off rides and get access to the highest rated drivers on Uber.
Where Uber Rewards is a free loyalty program that in some ways works like an airline loyalty program where you get benefits through your loyalty, Uber One is like a monthly club where you get access to instant and tangible benefits by paying a monthly fee.
If you’re a former Uber Rewards member who regularly takes advantage of elite status benefits, this is a disappointing change, as you’ll now have to pay a monthly fee to get discounts on your trip and you won’t earn extra rewards. Depending on how much you spend on Uber, this change could represent a significant loss in value.
Remember Lyft Still Lets You Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards Points when you pay with a participating Chase card and earn Delta SkyMiles or Hilton Honors points on your ride.
That said, carrying the right card can completely offset that monthly fee. For example, the cardholder of Platinum Card® from American Express stand up $200 annually for Uber – $15 per month and then an additional $20 in December – so you actually have about $5 in Uber money left over each month after paying your monthly Uber One fees. American Express® Gold Cardholders also get $10 per month in Uber Cash. Enrollment is required.
Key point
Early October means we’re in the final days of the Uber Rewards program. Even though the days for earning points on your rides are over, the clock is ticking now: All remaining points must be used up before the program completely disappears under the paid to join Uber program. One at the end of the month.
