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Update: Uber Rewards has officially ended and all points have now expired.
Less than five years from its launch, Uber is killing off Uber Rewards — the loyalty program that rewarded riders for all Uber spending. After August 31, members will stop accruing rewards and elite members will no longer enjoy any perks of the status they earned.
Note that the Uber One membership program will still be available. However, this paid service isn't a real replacement for the free Uber Rewards program.
The End of Uber Rewards
The Uber Rewards loyalty program started in 2018, giving members between 1 to 3 points per dollar spent on most Uber purchases. Members could also earn elite status that would grant various benefits — such as flexible cancellations, priority pick-up at the airport, double points earned on Uber Eats, etc. As of September 1, 2022, all these elite benefits will be no more:
This follows a trend among some companies. Last year, Airbnb ended its referral program where members could collect credit for inviting others to the program. More than once, Amazon Affiliates has nerfed rewards for its members. More recently, Hertz devaluated its loyalty program once again.
While some companies lean into their loyalty programs, Uber is going backward. But, considering Uber already devalued its program more than once, it's not as surprising to see Uber kill off its rewards program.
What To Do Before Uber Rewards Ends
All Uber Rewards benefits will stop accruing after August 31, 2022. However, members will still have until October 31, 2022 to redeem accrued points. That means you'll have a couple of months (September and October) to review the available rewards and choose how your want to redeem points.
Any points not redeemed by midnight local time on October 31, 2022 will expire. However, any rewards selected before this date will be valid for their full validity. Most rewards are valid for 28 days after selection.
If Uber ending its rewards program is your last straw, keep in mind that you can earn Hilton Honors points or Delta SkyMiles on Lyft rides. Plus, Chase Sapphire cardholders can earn bonus points when riding with Lyft:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 10X Ultimate Rewards points now through March 2025
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 5X Ultimate Rewards points now through March 2025
Uber One Membership
In its announcement about terminating Uber Rewards, Uber is pushing Uber One (formerly Uber Eats Pass). This is a paid membership program that offers free delivery on restaurant orders above $15 and grocery orders over $30, plus savings on rides and Uber Eats. Uber claims members save an average of $22 per month using Uber One. And it charges $9.99 a month to get these perks.
Currently, you can sign up for a free trial membership for Uber One. Just make sure to cancel your membership more than 48 hours before it's set to renew if you don't want to be charged for continuing the membership.
Citi cardholders should also check their Citi Merchant Offers. Many Citi cards seem to be targeted for an offer to get $9.99 back when spending $9.99 on Uber One — plus other Uber offers:
Our Take
It's a shame to see Uber canceling its rewards program — especially without any announcement to members who were working toward rewards and elite status. Besides one Uber Help article, Uber has been completely silent about the end of its rewards program, with many rewards users not getting an email and the Uber app not reflecting any pending changes.
What do you think about the end of Uber Rewards? Was this a loyalty program you were participating in? Or did you even know that Uber had a loyalty program?
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Terrible program. Uber is more expensive than lyft in most cases so I’m switching. Just wish AMEX centurion would switch too with their $20/monthly perk