Limited Time Earn 5 SPG Starpoints per US$1 with Uber and Changes in the Program

If you know me, you know I LOVE Uber ride-booking. Especially Uber in Las Vegas.

Uber is updating the program with regard to earning SPG Starpoints effective 1 February, 2017. Unfortunately, you will earn ONLY 1 Starpoint for every US$2 spent with Uber for every day Uber rides. (Rides when NOT staying at an SPG Starwood Property.) This is a devaluation since you used to earn 1 Starpoint for every $1 spent in these circumstances.

HERE’S HOW YOU’LL EARN STARPOINTS WITH UBER, AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 2017:*

EVERY DAY Earn 1 Starpoint per US$2 spent with Uber.

DURING STAYS Earn 2 Starpoints® per US$1 spent with Uber.

For a limited time, you can earn 5 Starpoints per US$1 spent with Uber during stays, but only for the month of February 2017. Be sure to review all of the terms and conditions of this offer.

Not a lot to expand on, other than this is a disappointment. I don’t follow the Starwood and Uber relationship that closely, but 1 Starpoint per US$1 seemed quite fair. While programs always change, I sort of wish they gave a bit more notice with regard to the change devaluation. Uber still remains a very reasonable alternative to taxis and car services in most cities. The seamless cash-free payments make the experience faster and better than most other private forms of transportation.

I have only had a few issues with Uber drivers, and my only real criticism is the inability to use multiple (foreign country) phone numbers seamlessly within the Uber APP. Something that I have complained about, but they seem to resolve for me on a case by case basis. In any event, I will keep using Uber (mostly the discount version of UberX) globally.