At first glance, annual credit card fees may seem high, especially if you’re new to the world of points and miles. But dig a little deeper, and some cards have built-in perks and perks that can easily offset or even exceed the upfront cost.
take American Express Platinum Card®For example. While its annual fee is a hefty $895 (see Rates & Fees), the card’s benefits in the form of tons of travel and lifestyle points are worth more than twice the annual fee cost. That doesn’t even include other perks that don’t have a specific dollar value, like lounge access and hotel elite status.
One benefit that stands out is the Uber Cash benefit, American Express® Gold Card and platinum.
Here’s how to use American Express Uber Cash for rides and meals.
American Express Uber Cash Overview
One of the most direct benefits of both gold and platinum Is Uber Cash automatically added to your account every month. But there are some nuances to exactly how this benefit works, especially if you’re a new cardmember.
With the Gold Card, you’ll get up to $120 in Uber Cash per year (valid in the US):
Meanwhile, Platinum offers up to $200 in Uber Cash per year:
- $15 per month
- Extra $20 in December ($35 total for the month)
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To get Uber Cash, you first need to link your card to your Uber account. To do this, go to Wallet in the Uber app and add your Gold and/or Platinum Card as a payment method.
From there, Uber Cash should automatically appear in the Uber Balance section of your wallet. As long as your card remains linked to your Uber account, your Uber Cash will be automatically deposited into your wallet each month.
Typically, when you deposit Uber Cash, Uber sends a reminder the night before the first of every month. If you hold both Gold and Platinum tiers, your monthly benefits will be combined into one Uber Cash balance.
It’s important to remember that this Uber Cash expires at the end of each month. In other words, if you don’t use your points for a month, they won’t carry over to the next month.
Platinum members also get up to $120 per year in Uber One membership, which is fully covered with auto-renewable plans for $9.99 per month or $96 per year (registration required)
Uber One provides members with:
- Get $0 delivery fee and reduced service fee on eligible Uber Eats orders
- Get 6% back on your rides in the form of Uber One points
- Discounts on delivery and pickup orders
- Discounted rides
Related: Use Uber or Lyft often? These are the best credit cards for you
How to use Uber Cash for a ride
When you’re ready to ride, you can find your payment information before confirming your ride (you can also edit it during the ride).
In the example above, my Uber Cash balance would be depleted and the additional charges would be charged to my American Express card on file.
You must have an eligible American Express card set up as your payment method to use Uber Cash.
To ensure you use Uber Cash, make sure you turn it on as your payment method before requesting a ride.
However, there are some situations where you might not want to use your card’s Uber Cash benefits. For example, if you’re traveling for business, you may not want to use your balance on a company-covered trip.
RELATED: List of Forgettable Statement Credits: Perks and Benefits You Can’t Overlook
How to use Uber Cash to buy meals or groceries
To redeem Uber Cash for Uber Eats or Uber Grocery, the process is similar to the ride-hailing process. Once you have decided on your order, you will see the payment options before confirming your order. You must use American Express as your payment method to use Uber Cash.
Again, if you really want to use this balance, you’ll need to confirm that Uber Cash is open in your wallet.
However, if you plan on paying for a meal through work, for example, you probably don’t want to use Uber Cash. In this case, make sure Uber Cash is turned off and you’re using the credit card on file.
Related: How to Maximize the Benefits of the American Express Platinum Card
bottom line
The monthly Uber Cash benefit on Amex Platinum and Amex Gold is one of the easiest perks for card members to use, and it can quickly help offset each card’s annual fee. However, keep in mind that this is a “use it or lose it” benefit, meaning your Uber Cash won’t roll over to the next month.
The good news is that there are plenty of use cases, including Uber rides and Uber Eats orders, so you can easily take advantage of this.
To learn more, read our full review of the American Express Gold and Platinum Cards.
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
Apply here: American Express Platinum Card
For American Express Platinum Card rates and fees, click here.
