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Update: The changes mentioned below have now taken effect.
Amex just announced a slight change to the Uber Cash benefit that could affect how some cardholders utilize it. This change goes into effect on November 8, 2024. It'll impact what card you can use to pay the difference between your monthly Uber Cash credit and your balance due.
Here's what you need to know about the impending change and who will be impacted.
Uber Cash Benefits for Amex Cardholders
A monthly Uber Cash credit is a regular benefit for American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express cardmembers to use with Uber or Uber Eats. It's a sizable benefit that helps justify the annual fee of both cards. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
To receive the Uber Cash benefit, you simply need to add your American Express card to your Uber account. After that, the credits will show up in your account in the early part of every month.
Amex Gold cardmembers receive up to $10 in Uber Cash monthly — up to $120 annually. Amex Platinum cardmembers receive $200 in Uber Cash annually — which breaks down to $15 monthly, plus an additional $20 in December. This amount can be used for Uber services in the US. Unused Uber Cash does not roll over to the next month, so it's a use-it-or-lose-it benefit.
Amex Disclosure: To receive $10 monthly credits (up to $120 per year) in Uber Cash, you must add the American Express® Gold Card to your Uber account and select it as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction.
Related: All About The Platinum Card® from American Express
New Restriction to the Uber Cash Benefit
As it stands right now, you only need to add your Amex card to their Uber account for the credit to apply to an eligible transaction. If there's a difference between the credit and what you owe, you can use any card of your choice to cover the rest of the transaction. This is what's about to change.
Come November 8, 2024, you must select an Amex card as the backup form of payment when using the Uber Cash benefit. If you don't pay the remainder of what you owe with an Amex card, the Uber Cash benefit won't apply. If your balance due is less than the credit amount, these restrictions won't matter to you.
Previously, you could use any card as a backup payment when using your Uber Cash credit, as long as your Amex Gold or Amex Platinum is added to your Uber account. That meant you could use the card that gave the best returns on travel or food purchases. After November 8, that's no longer an option.
However, there's a caveat. AwardWallet clarified with Amex that you can use any Amex card or even an Amex gift card as your backup form of payment — not just the card affording you the Uber Cash credit. This means you can pay the remainder of the balance due with the American Express® Green Card, for example, and earn 3X points per dollar spent on rideshare purchases.
Our Take
The impending changes to the Amex Uber Cash benefit won't matter if you don't use more than your monthly credit. But if you use more than your monthly credit on a single transaction, you'll need to get a little more savvy to earn the best rewards on the portion of your transaction not covered by your allowance.
Currently, you can use any credit card for the backup payment. After November 8, 2024, you must cover any difference with an Amex credit card or an Amex gift card. Otherwise, your monthly Uber Cash credits won't apply to your Uber ride or Uber Eats purchase.
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