BigFlyer

The title says it. I'm not taking Uber these days, nor is anyone else I know. In fact, we're all sheltering in place as required by law.

Seems fairly obvious to me that Amex should let the Uber credits roll over month to month so we can actually use the credits.

Yes, I know that I could use the credit for Uber Eats, but for various reasons I prefer not to do that. Part of my cost/benefit analysis in signing up for the Platinum card was the value of the Uber benefit.

diesteldorf

I agree with you, but there are two factors that could be causing Amex to avoid an extension.

1) they have already given a $20 wireless and $20 streaming credit to account for the decreased value of the card
2) Most importantly, I think it is likely that Uber is paying for some or all of the credit, though I have no clear evidence. If Uber is paying for part of the credit, they may prefer that customers are still able to utilize their credits with UberEats and may not want customers to hold the credits for an extended period of time. Also, if Amex grants any extensions or manual credits those could potentially be coming 100% from Amex, so they could actually end up losing money.

Regardless, you make a good point and I hope Amex reconsiders.

notquiteaff

Amex probably also made some sort of cost/benefit analysis when they offered us the Plat card and Covid likely has impacted that, too. (e.g., Chase reported a 40% drop in card member charges)

Personally, I have always used the credit for UberEats, so nothing changed as far as that benefit is concerned... (but lounges, 5X travel are a different story).

Global Adventurer

I don't understand why the Uber credit can't be used worldwide, I use UberEats at least twice per month while stationary or traveling out of the country, including Uber ride share. I forfeit all those credits year round

ESpen36

I've always used my credit for Uber Eats. Works perfectly. No loss of benefit opportunity for me.

cfabar1

I may break down and use UberEats, though I find it massively overpriced.

I do think the wireless and streaming credits, which are worth much more than this, help soften the blow.

gengar

AMEX already threw cardholders a bone with the wireless/streaming credit; clearly this was meant as a 'retention bonus' in consideration of the loss of value of travel benefits to a large portion of the cardholder base, so I think it's a lot to ask that Uber credits be held for us indefinitely. AMEX Plat has always been a card with a wide array of benefits which are always going to have varying utility to cardholders - the Uber credit and wireless/streaming credits are just more examples of this.

Steve M

I think so too, on all counts. Regarding the latter, toward the end of the month I seem to get both emails and push notifications in the Uber app about my not having used my Amex credit this month so far, and reminding me that I can also use them for Uber Eats.

kdm31091

Uber Eats is overpriced compared to ordering directly and I think if you're using it for Eats, it's not really fair to consider the credit at face value, since you can get the same food cheaper by ordering directly in most cases. But obviously some saving is better than nothing, and if you are not going to use it for rides, you may as well use it for Eats instead of letting it go to waste.

As far as letting it roll over, Amex being Amex, I doubt it. They intentionally make their credits difficult to use, and they seem to like the breakage that comes with doling it out monthly (not everyone will remember to use it). As someone else said, I assume charges are way down lately so their interchange income is down. They did not used to even advertise that you could use the Uber credit for Eats, but now they are more forthcoming about it. I expect they feel that being able to use it for Eats is "good enough" and there's no need to do more.

garykung

For starter, Uber is in a bigger trouble than AMEX.

In attempt to resist AB 5, Uber fired its first shot, but failed so far. In return, California is suing Uber back.

After the COVID situation has been settled, Uber could be out of business (because Uber may have to pay back the unemployment tax it failed to pay), rendering all credits unusable.

What's the point?

Gig103

I'm more concerned with the airline credits, which have no feasible alternative right now, rather than the Uber credits, which do have an alternative.

I'll also point out that the $320 in streaming & wireless credits were not part of your cost/benefit analysis; one could argue that is making amends for 8 months of Uber and the entire airline incidentals credit.

Frankly, I hate Uber as a company and am enjoying watching California slap them around in the courts. I get my monthly delivery+service fee covered by Amex but I'd rather see these new credits stick around instead of Uber after the dust settles on COVID-19. They aren't purely travel in nature, but just about everyone has a mobile device and at least one streaming service.

ESpen36

I recommend finding a local business (no big chains). My favorite local restaurants do not have marked-up prices when ordering via Uber Eats. (I know because I also go in person to order, and the prices are the same). Also, I believe that all of the ordering apps have reduced or eliminated their "cut" from small local businesses for the duration of the COVID crisis as a way of helping those restaurants stay afloat and getting more customers on the app platform.

ymx

I have an Uber Cash balance of about $60, of which $15 is my Amex Benefit that expires 5/31. I assumed if I placed an Uber Eats order it would use up the Amex Benefit first, but it didn't touch that and instead took it from the larger Uber Cash balance. This is frustrating. I think I read this was an issue with other posters. Any workarounds to this?

saltytheseagull

This irritates me as well. I recommend looking into pickup if possible because it eliminates uber's 15% fee.I also agree that the credits should be able to be used abroad.

To the poster above, I was afraid of this happening to me as well, but my AMEX credits have been deducted first.

notquiteaff

I have had a cash balance from discounted gift cards for a while, and UberEats has always used my Amex credit first. Not sure of a reason or workaround, but if it happened to me, I would hassle Uber customer service (if they have such a thing) about it.