Does Amex Platinum make Uber trips more expensive?
#91
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,446
They definitely do dynamic pricing. But having AMEX Plat vs not having AMEX does not produce a difference. In any case, if price is a concern, you should be checking Lyft at the same time if they are in your market. Just had a pickup from EWR. $64 on Uber vs $47 with Lyft at same service level.
#92
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Jose Cuervo Gold, Bud Light Platinum, Schwab 401K, VW Bug 2MM
Posts: 1,096
^ Now that both services have upfront pricing, I've started checking Lyft and Uber for all trips and just go with whatever is cheapest. Oddly, I fly about twice a month out of LGA and I can't remember the last time Uber was NOT more expensive than Lyft going to LGA. Which is unfortunate, because I have to use that $15/month Amex credit.
#93
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 113
At least for me, uber is 200% more expensive in Seattle. Ride to airport is $95 via uberX vs $45 via Lyft. Tested Monday-Sunday at random times each day (e,g 1am, 5am, 8am, 12pm, 3pm. 9pm etc.). I consider this an anti-perk which makes amex plat more expensive beyond its $550 annual fee. FWIW my uber rating is 4.9+. Will likely cancel amex this year.
#94
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,842
At least for me, uber is 200% more expensive in Seattle. Ride to airport is $95 via uberX vs $45 via Lyft. Tested Monday-Sunday at random times each day (e,g 1am, 5am, 8am, 12pm, 3pm. 9pm etc.). I consider this an anti-perk which makes amex plat more expensive beyond its $550 annual fee. FWIW my uber rating is 4.9+. Will likely cancel amex this year.
#95
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 113
Regardless of the root cause, this extreme price differential renders Amexs $15 uber credit worthless for me. I save $40+ using Lyft every single time, even after using Amex perks for airport rides. And no, I dont use uber eats.
#96
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 600
Another data point. I have taken 12 Uber rides this month and I always have my wife check her Uber account (no Amex Platinum card) at the same time I am requesting a ride. For all 12 rides, there literally has been no difference or a difference of a few pennies because she was a few seconds slower or faster than me checking.
#97
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,878
#98
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Global Entry
Posts: 2,740
#99
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 113
If I used uber because of the Amex perks, I would have overpaid (relative to Lyft) by $500-1000 in the past 3 months alone. Not using uber incurs a zero cost to me. I’m comparing use cases. If I was to use their “perk” I would have come out $500-1000 under. How exactly the pricing algorithm works is anyone’s guess. But my point is, this scenario is akin to handing out 20% off coupon on a product that was marked up by 200%. It has negative implicit value.
Last edited by mia; Jun 30, 2018 at 8:04 pm Reason: Remove inflammatory comments about other posters.
#100
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,878
If I understand correctly, you do not use Uber when it is more expensive than Lyft, which means you have not overpaid. I have never used Uber or Lyft. There is no sense in which the presence of the unused feature increases the cost of the card for either of us.
#101
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,878
Moderator action
One post has been edited, others removed. Write about American Express products, policies and practices, not about other posters. The purpose of any Flyertalk thread to exchange ideas and information, not to change another poster's conclusions.
Fyertalk's rules are published here:
https://www.flyertalk.com/help/rules.php
Fyertalk's rules are published here:
https://www.flyertalk.com/help/rules.php
If you have a difference of opinion with another member, challenge the idea NOT the person. Getting personal with another member is not allowed. Personal attacks, insults, baiting and flaming will not be tolerated.
Moderators value your private views and feedback related to their actions and duties. You may submit appropriate feedback to moderators by private message or e-mail. Do not post comments about moderator decisions or actions, or about the work of moderators, unless a moderator has invited members to post feedback in a particular thread.
Any concerns about the actions of a moderator should be directed exclusively and privately to the Community Director.
Any concerns about the actions of a moderator should be directed exclusively and privately to the Community Director.
#102
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,878
Moderator action
American Express vs Chase discussion tangent moved to more appropriate thread:
Does anyone own BOTH Chase Sapphire Reserve & Amex Platinum?
Does anyone own BOTH Chase Sapphire Reserve & Amex Platinum?