Ride Share Benefit Changes Coming to Credit Cards Next Month

Uber and Lyft benefits have been part of many travel and cash back rewards cards for the past few years. But starting in November, some of those perks will be modified while others completely end.

Let’s take a look.

Uber Cash Deposits

American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express members can both take advantage of Uber Cash deposits.

Amex Platinum Card holders enjoy Uber VIP status and earn up to $200 in Uber Cash deposits annually. Uber Cash deposits can be used for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders. The deposits are doled out in $15 amounts each month, plus a bonus $20 in December.

Meanwhile, Amex Gold Card members receive $10 in Uber Cash deposits each month.

In both instances, the Uber Cash deposits are if-used and expire at the end of each month if they’re not used. (Enrollment is required. Terms apply. To receive this benefit, you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App. An Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit. The Amex benefit may only be used in the United States.)

But a new twist kicks in early next month. Effective November 8, 2024, you must use an Amex Card as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit. For example, you might currently use a Chase Sapphire Reserve® card to pay for any cash balance after you exhaust your Amex Uber Cash deposits (because the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns 3X points on travel purchases after the card’s annual $300 travel statement credit is used.)

That won’t fly (or ride, as it were) as of November 8. I don’t love the change — but it’s 100% understandable and fair. It’s certainly not a deal breaker for me.

Now, you don’t need to use your Amex Platinum or Amex Gold as the payment method. (Rideshare spending earns just 1X on the Amex Platinum and Amex Gold cards.) You can pay with any ole Amex card you want.

So, which card should you use for rideshare purchases? Eh, whatever one earns you the points or miles you want. If you’re chasing SkyMiles, pay with a Delta SkyMiles® American Express Card. Want Hilton points? Get a Hilton Honors American Express Card. Knock yourself out.

Keep in mind the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card each offer cardholders up to $10 in statement credits each month (up to $120 annually) on U.S. rideshare purchases made with Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel, and Alto.

If you want something a little more flexible, here are a few ideas:

• The American Express® Green Card® earns 3X points on transit (which includes rideshare services, trains, taxicabs, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways. All information about the Amex Green Card was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer and neither provided by nor reviewed by the card provider.)
• The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns 3% cash back on transit purchases. (Cash back is awarded in the form of American Express Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed toward statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. A minimum of $25 Reward Dollars may be applied toward statement credit.)
• On the business side, the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express and Blue Business Cash^TM Card are decent options. The Blue Business Plus earns 2X points on each eligible purchase on up to $50,000 in purchases each year. The Blue Business Cash earns 2% cash back on each eligible purchase on up to $50,000 in purchases each year.

Capital One’s Uber Partnership Ending

This one is a bummer.

Capital One’s partnership with Uber ends on November 14, 2024. That was stated up front when they announced the pact in November 2022. But given that Lyft and Chase extended their partnership benefits through at least March 2025, I was hopeful that Capital One and Uber would work out something.

Alas, no such luck.

That means the 10% cash back on Uber rides and Uber Eats purchases expires for the:

• Capital One Savor Rewards Credit Card
  • All information bout the Capital One Savor Rewards Credit Card has been independently collected by Eye of the Flyer. It was not provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
• Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Complimentary Uber One statement credits also end on November 14 for:

• Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Savor Rewards Credit Card
  • All information bout the Capital One Savor Rewards Credit Card has been independently collected by Eye of the Flyer. It was not provided or reviewed by the card issuer.

Remember to unsubscribe from Uber One as close to that date if you don’t wish to continue.

I must say, I’m glad this promotion came along because it introduced me to the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card card. It has no annual fee and several 3% cash back categories.

Lyft Pink Benefits for Chase

This depends on when you signed up for Chase’s Lyft Pink benefits. It seems several of my friends and I did at the same time, so I’m betting at least a few readers did, too.

My Chase Sapphire Reserve®’s complimentary Lyft Pink membership expires in November. I received this rather interesting email last week.

Yeah, no. I turned my renewal off. I don’t use Lyft very much; their app is buggy, and customer service is rather wonky.

Final Approach

Uber benefits are changing for Amex Platinum and Amex Gold Card members on November 8. The Capital One and Uber partnership ends on November 14. And check to see if your complimentary Lyft Pink membership is about to expire.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Green Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please visit this link.