Triple Dip on Uber Rides: 8+ Points & Miles for $1 Uber Spend

Even if you don't have the American Express Platinum Card, which will soon be awarded $200 in annual Uber credit, you can still stretch your Uber spend with free credit cards and loyalty programs. Take this triple dipping example:

1) Purchase Uber Credits from the United MileagePlus X App: 1.25 United Miles per $1 on Uber

MileagePlus X App Receipt

Download the United Airlines MileagePlus X App on your smartphone.  Like the web-based MileagePlus shopping portal, you get to earn United miles for purchases.  However, unlike the web portal, this app instantly generates a gift card that you use for the purchase.  You simply enter the amount of funds you need, select the credit card you'll use to pay for the gift card, and then the gift card code is generated.  I generally just buy $50-$100 in credits at a time and load them into the app so I don't have to bother with it for every ride.  You'll earn 1 United mile for every dollar spent.  Pay with a Chase card and you'll get a 25% bonus, for 1.25 United miles per dollar.  Once you generate the gift card code in the MileagePlus X app, simply go to your Uber app, select "Payments" from the menu, then "Add Promo/Gift Code".  After you've entered the code, the credits will stay in your account profile and be used as the default payment method until you've depleted the credits.

2) Pay for the Uber Gift Card with Your Chase Freedom Card: 5 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points per $1 on Uber

Presuming you've already enrolled for the 5% quarterly cash back bonus categories for the no-fee Chase Freedom card, you want to use that card to pay for the Uber gift card that you're purchasing through the MileagePlus X app.  You'll earn 5 points per dollar spend during Q1 2017 on transportation purchases, which includes Uber.  If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you then can also transfer those points to travel partners or redeem them for cash back or gift cards.

Since the Chase Freedom bonus on transportation ends March 31, you may want to consider purchasing a bigger block of Uber credits right now through the MileagePlus X app paid with the Chase Freedom.

3) Link Your Starwood Preferred Guest Account and Uber: 0.5 - 2 SPG Points per $1 on Uber

If you have a free SPG loyalty program membership, have completed at least one qualified stay, and linked your Uber and SPG accounts here, you will earn 0.5 SPG points for every $1 spent through the Uber app, and any days you're staying at a SPG property you earn 2 SPG point per $1 for rides that coincide with the dates of the stay.

So, don't miss out of free points and savings on your Uber rides.  Depending on how you choose to redeem Chase points (you can for example transfer 1:1 from Chase Ultimate Rewards to United), you can now earn 6.25 United miles per $1 on Uber plus 0.5 - 2 SPG points.  Three ways to earn, all on the same underlying Uber spend!