Uber Launching Rewards Program [Program ends Aug. 2022].
Mar 20, 2019, 7:20 am
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
Wouldn't be surprised at all if it were a bug. I just noticed it because the first reward I got, the counter was at zero thereafter. Did the math, and it looks like I lost out on 18 points. Even if that happens every time, definitely not enough to fight with the gaping abyss that is Uber customer service.
Mar 20, 2019, 11:57 am
#32
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3,097
I'm only using lyft, but I wonder if they're not actually doing something along these lines already? I've noticed that the average rating for the drivers I'm getting has gone up recently, by a significant margin. Over the last few weeks I've only seen two drivers below a 5.0 and they were both 4.9. Also I seem to be getting rides at the airport faster than other people (though, it's hard to tell if these are uber or lyft passengers).
Apr 4, 2019, 12:16 am
#33
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
I’ve been diamond since the rollout. I definitely get MUCH faster pickups at airports (a stated benefit). I base this on years of experiences as well as a few “side by side comparisons” where I’ve been with people who request at the same time as me. Still no upgraded rides. Unlike another poster, I have found the ride price protection quite valuable. The price locked in for my route ($20.49 iirc) is about $2 more than the lowest I’ve paid in the last year, and very much in line with what is typical. Quite often the price protection is actually triggered, including at least one time where the fare would have been over $45. Do be aware that the price protection does have a cap after which you get only a partial discount. Given I was already a heavy Uber user, these are all nice bonuses. For some people, they may be worth switching from a competitor, especially for the faster airport pickups and price protection. The accumulation of Uber cash doesn’t hurt, either.
Apr 25, 2019, 11:35 am
#34
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Mlife NOIR
Posts: 320
I’m well on my way to earning 25,000 points in the 6 month period - and have gotten maybe 2 upgrades.
Wish they had some kind of secret level above Diamond - with actual upgrades - but I realize their margins are low.
Wish they had some kind of secret level above Diamond - with actual upgrades - but I realize their margins are low.
May 11, 2019, 1:54 am
#35
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
I am diamond and have had a similar experience. No upgrades at all, but the platinum-level perks of priority airport pickup and price protection have been useful. The price protection is nice because it actually works for a several-block radius around the home and destination address. I frequently save $7 or $8 per trip. But "UberX Diamond" seems to get me the same sorts of drivers I had before, so I'm not seeing any benefit of diamond over platinum. Maybe I should use the "phone support" benefit to complain about the lack of upgrades...
Jun 24, 2019, 4:14 am
#36
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
Status means nothing when it comes to customer support. You're simply "helped" first by an incompetent offshore agent who is probably paid/rated on numbers of closed tickets and not how well they solve problems.
I'm a Platinum, and I had a promo on Uber Eats that did not apply to any restaurants at all in the Uber Eats app. I sent them a question on Twitter, and I got an offshore agent that answered in broken English that "Your promo was applied correctly, and you did not pay for the delivery fee" Well of course I didn't pay for a delivery fee! I didn't place the order because the promo wasn't working!
Told them on Twitter thanks for nothing, and I will no longer use Uber Eats in the future because I'm not confident that they'd be able to help if something went wrong with an order.
I'm a Platinum, and I had a promo on Uber Eats that did not apply to any restaurants at all in the Uber Eats app. I sent them a question on Twitter, and I got an offshore agent that answered in broken English that "Your promo was applied correctly, and you did not pay for the delivery fee" Well of course I didn't pay for a delivery fee! I didn't place the order because the promo wasn't working!
Told them on Twitter thanks for nothing, and I will no longer use Uber Eats in the future because I'm not confident that they'd be able to help if something went wrong with an order.
Jun 24, 2019, 6:47 am
#37
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
I wonder if they can see your status when you interact via Twitter? Never had this problem interacting with Uber via in their in app chat feature.
Jun 25, 2019, 12:25 am
#38
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
I don't think they do, although it's not like it matters. The extent of Uber's twitter interactions are to apologize, and "thank you for your patience, please work with our email team."
So, the Twitter team actually does nothing of value besides handing your issue off to an offshore agent who will give you a BS or canned response just to close the ticket.
So, the Twitter team actually does nothing of value besides handing your issue off to an offshore agent who will give you a BS or canned response just to close the ticket.
Jun 25, 2019, 9:30 am
#39
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
I’ve had five issues with Uber over the last six months. None were simply closed with BS responses. Each resolved satisfactorily with minimal hassle. Diamond status probably helped which is why I questioned the use of Twitter vs in app chat.
YMMV.
YMMV.
Jun 26, 2019, 9:25 am
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Jun 28, 2019, 1:36 pm
#42
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: SFO/SJC, JFK
Programs: United 1K 2MM - Jet Blue Mosaic - Hyatt LTG - Marriott Plat - Hertz PC
Posts: 205
Especially when the issue is fraud-related, as it seems the system prevents the lower-level agents from knowing that it is a fraud issue. Typical corporation too big to care about its own customers.
Aug 5, 2019, 12:08 pm
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Back to square one it seems
I had until yesterday to bank 500 points in past six months to keep gold status. I was at $460 spending as of last night, needing $40 more for both a $5 credit and renewing gold. Unfortunately, it seems that while I still can get the $5 with $40 more in spending, which is fine via Amex credits, the gold status is now off the table. I show that I need the full $500 in the next 6 months for that. Moreover, with blue status I now have a chance to earn a measly 5% off rides after I complete 6. Yesterday, I was traveling at 50% off.
Aug 6, 2019, 12:33 pm
#44
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,318
I missed qualifying by one day. I appealed through Uber customer (non)service for several days. I eventually even got my case escalated. In the end, no dice.
Peace in the Middle East would be easier than getting Uber to grant an exception.
Peace in the Middle East would be easier than getting Uber to grant an exception.
Aug 7, 2019, 12:52 am
#45
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
Not only are the people you contact not empowered to grant the exception you're looking for, they're outsourced and don't seem to care about anything. I wouldn't be surprised if they're paid by the number of closed tickets (or some efficiency metric) and not by quality of resolution.