Amex Uber Credit Changes: What Cardholders Need to Know

In early November, American Express implemented a notable change in the terms surrounding the Uber credit benefit for certain cardholders, which has sparked discussions among frequent travelers and points enthusiasts. Previously, the Uber credits, which are $10 monthly for American Express® Gold Card cardholders and $15 for The Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders (with an extra boost in December), were seamlessly added to users’ Uber accounts as Uber Cash without any specific conditions. However, with the recent update, starting from November 8, 2024, American Express requires that an Amex card is selected as the payment method to utilize these credits.

The nature of the change essentially dictates that in order to redeem the credits, you must have your Amex card selected for any excess payment beyond the credit. While the system appears to still allow loading Uber Cash onto accounts, some attempts to use other payment methods suggest possible inconsistencies as the updates are being rolled out. This requirement highlights Amex’s possible intent to drive cardholders to utilize their cards more frequently across purchases, especially given that some other cards offer more lucrative rewards on Uber transactions.

Our Take

While the update to Amex’s Uber credits may seem unfortunate, its impact might not be as severe depending on your usage habits. For those who already prefer using their Amex cards universally, the change presents only a minor adjustment – simply ensuring your Amex card is selected during checkout when utilizing the Uber credits. However, it might feel like an unnecessary inconvenience for those who strategically mix cards for optimal reward accumulation, as it could limit the flexibility previously enjoyed when combining credits with other payment methods.

Ultimately, the shift could be perceived as more of a nuisance than a significant drawback, primarily affecting those who are more strategic about card usage rather than the more casual user. If Amex fully enforces a “charge-and-credit” model, requiring the entire transaction to process via Amex before receiving a statement credit, it could significantly hinder those with multiple cards that offer Uber credits.