Uber’s loyalty program Uber Rewards has now launched in Australia, allowing members to earn points on rides with Uber and food with Uber Eats. The introduction of the program was welcome news to those loyal to the company, who can now enjoy the benefits that come with elite status. This guide outlines the Uber Rewards program, including the four membership tiers and their benefits, plus how you can earn Qantas points with Uber.
In this post:
How to earn Uber Rewards points
Uber Rewards members will earn points on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in both Australia and overseas. The following earn rates apply:
- 1 point per $1: UberPool & Uber Eats
- 2 points per $1: UberX, UberXL, Uber Comfort & Assist
- 3 points per $1: Uber Premier
Get your Uber coupon code here.
Uber Rewards membership tiers
Uber Rewards has four membership tiers, which are earnt after reaching a set number of points. Your status is reset every six months, which is quite poor in comparison to airline loyalty programs. As soon as you reach the required points you will upgrade to the higher membership level, and have 6 months on your new level, unless you earn enough points to keep or upgrade your status.
Uber Rewards Blue
Blue membership is the base-level status which is earnt by joining Uber Rewards. There are no additional benefits for Blue members.
Uber Rewards Gold
Gold is the lowest elite status tier in Uber Rewards and is unlocked at 1,200 points. To achieve Gold you would have to spend $60 on UberEats and $70 on UberX every month for six months. Uber Rewards Gold members get access to:
- 10% off an Uber Comfort trip every month
- For every 750 points, you can choose from a selection of rewards such as:
- 15% off Uber or UberEats for 3 days
- 200 Qantas Points
- Partner rewards such as a McDonald’s Big Mac meal or a charity donation
Uber Rewards Platinum
Platinum membership is unlocked at 4,000 points. Despite the massive jump in points required from Gold, the only additional benefit for Platinum members is ‘price confidence on a route’. Essentially, this means that during busy hours you’ll be covered by a promotion between your two favourite places. In my opinion, this being the only benefit for Platinum members is rather poor, especially considering that you need more than triple the required points for Gold. The discount during extremely busy times under ‘price confidence on a route’ is capped at 35%.
Uber Rewards Diamond
Diamond membership is unlocked at 7,500 points. In addition to Gold and Platinum benefits, Diamond members get access to:
- Dedicated 24/7 phone support
- Occasional upgrades from UberX
Joining Uber Rewards
Uber Rewards is free to join, simply follow these three steps:
Step 1: Open the Uber app, tap the menu icon in the top left corner, and select Uber Rewards
Step 2: Tap Join for free to start the signup process
Step 3: Review the Terms and Conditions, and tap Accept
Earning Qantas points with Uber Rewards
Apart from converting 750 Uber Rewards points into 200 Qantas points (mentioned above), you can also earn Qantas points on Uber rides to or from selected Australian airports. It’s an alliance that should be greeted enthusiastically by all travellers, especially frequent business travellers. If you are a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, simply link your Qantas and Uber accounts in the Uber app to start earning points.
How do I link my Qantas and Uber accounts?
Before you get started earning Qantas points with Uber you will need to link your accounts. Here’s how to do it on your smartphone:
Step 1: Sign into the Qantas app and select ‘Book’ from the bottom menu bar, then tap the ‘Uber’ icon.
Step 2: On the next page, hit ‘Get Started’.
Step 3: Enter your mobile number
Step 4: You will then be sent an SMS to verify your number, then you can log into your existing Uber account or set up a new one.
What rides are eligible for Qantas points?
Uber rides to or from Australian airports will earn members 1 Qantas point per $1 spent. Airports included in the program are Adelaide, Avalon, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Cairns, Canberra, Gold Coast, Hobart, Maroochydore, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney, Townsville and Toowoomba. You can book a ride from the Qantas or Uber app. Your Qantas Points may take up to six weeks after your ride to land in your account.
Plus, Qantas Frequent Flyer members who are new to Uber can earn 2,000 bonus Qantas points after linking their accounts and taking their first Uber ride within Australia!
Uber Rewards In Summary
While it is great to be able to earn points on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders, in my opinion, the Uber Rewards loyalty program offers comparably poor value. The benefits for Gold members are a welcome bonus, although nothing amazing. It gets worse for Platinum and Diamond members, which require so many more points to unlock with little added benefits.
It’s free to join Uber Rewards, so if you are a frequent Uber user and keen to earn more Qantas points I would still advise joining the program. After all, earning some points is better than earning none.
