In 2021, Marriott and Uber launched a partnership, giving Marriott Bonvoy members opportunities to earn bonus points with Uber in the United States. Well, we’ve just learned about changes coming to this partnership. While there are some positive updates, I’d say the changes are mostly negative.
In this post:
How the Marriott & Uber partnership is changing
The Marriott Bonvoy and Uber partnership will be changing as of October 14, 2024. As a reminder, here’s how you currently earn points with the collaboration, through October 13, 2024 (for what it’s worth, I value Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each):
- Earn 6x Bonvoy points per dollar spent on Uber Eats restaurant and grocery deliveries to hotels operating under the Marriott brand with a minimum $40 basket
- Earn 2x Bonvoy points per dollar spent on non-hotel restaurant and grocery orders (including pick-ups) with a minimum $40 basket
- Earn 3x Bonvoy points on UberXL, Comfort, and Black rides
As of October 14, 2024, here’s how points earning rates will be changing with this partnership:
- You’ll earn 2x Bonvoy points per dollar spent on Uber Eats restaurant and grocery deliveries to hotels operating under the Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, or Element brand
- You’ll earn 1x Bonvoy points on all other Uber Eats restaurant and grocery delivery purchases, with a minimum $40 basket
- You’ll continue to earn 3x Bonvoy points on UberXL, Comfort, and Black rides
- You’ll start earning 2x Bonvoy points on pre-scheduled UberX Reserve rides
On top of that, those with an Uber One membership will automatically receive Marriott Bonvoy Silver status.
My take on these Marriott & Uber partnership changes
As you can see, there are both some positive and negative changes here.
Unfortunately the changes with Uber Eats are entirely negative, as the points earning rates there are being cut in half. You’re going from earning 2x points to instead earning 1x points.
Some people may appreciate the ability to earn 2x points on pre-scheduled UberX Reserve rides, so that’s a minor positive. It’s also nice that Uber One members get Marriott Bonvoy Silver status, though that’s not exactly the most valuable elite tier out there.
For my own consumer behavior, these changes are quite negative. With this partnership, I primarily earn points through Uber Eats, so my points earning rates are being cut in half.
Bottom line
As of October 14, 2024, Marriott and Uber are updating their partnership, so we’ll see points earning rates for several types of purchases change. The most significant updates involve Uber Eats purchases, where we’ll see earnings rates reduced from 2x points to 1x points. Some Uber One members may also appreciate getting Marriott Bonvoy Silver status, but I’d argue that’s not much to get excited about.
What do you make of these Marriott & Uber partnership changes?
I've never gotten my Marriott/Uber link to work. I gave up a few years ago...
So Paul Weiss on here is SFO/EWR on VFTW since posted the EXACT same thing - good to know.
It’s Marriott…everything they touch either turns to poo or gets Bonvoyed.
The email that Marriott just sent out still mentions the $40 minimum for 1 point per dollar rewards on Uber Eats orders. So unfortunately, I don't think that minimum has indeed disappeared, making these changes pretty much all negative.
Can you double-check the note about no minimum spend to earn points after the changes? The email I got from Marriott still has a $40 minimum:
> Earn 1 point per dollar on Uber Eats restaurant and grocery orders of $40 or more.
Tbh, I view Marriott points as worthless so this doesn’t move the needle for me - yea, if I order food a million times over the next couple of decades, then maybe that will be enough for a free night.
Silver status is a joke given that everyone has Marriott Gold from various credit cards… which is also useless…
As Eric picked up on, the most interesting thing is the switch (reduction) in earnings when ordering Uber Eats to Marriott hotels. You used to be able to earn 6x when ordering to any Marriott hotel. Now, accelerating earnings only seem available if you are staying in an “extended stay” brand.
At one time, it seemed Marriott was experimenting with incentivizing guests to order Uber Eats, likely in an effort to cut restaurant and...
As Eric picked up on, the most interesting thing is the switch (reduction) in earnings when ordering Uber Eats to Marriott hotels. You used to be able to earn 6x when ordering to any Marriott hotel. Now, accelerating earnings only seem available if you are staying in an “extended stay” brand.
At one time, it seemed Marriott was experimenting with incentivizing guests to order Uber Eats, likely in an effort to cut restaurant and other costs. Now, it seems like Marriott wants to keep those guests ordering at the restaurant (if one is available) instead of ordering in.
How does it know / how does it classify that your order was delivered to a Marriott property? If you live next to a hotel can you have your order delivered to that address, stand outside, and receive the extra points? Separately, seems interesting to me that Marriott is undercutting its own hotel catering (or I guess, was, under the old scheme; the new list of hotels seem to be those that have no restaurant inside).
If you set your address to a Marriott property, you'll get the extra points. This is true even if you end up picking up your order. So, if picking up, set the address to a Marriott hotel and then search for the restaurant.
Thanks for the tip! :)
I like it when Paul, Weiss, recommends some legally dubious actions.
I stopped using Uber Eats after they delivered my food in an unsealed bag, with somebody else's drink having spilled all over it, and the response I got from some Indian was
Thank you for contacting us. We want to make this right. I know how unpleasant it must be to receive food in this condition. We have made a note to the restaurant. It is our goal to ensure safe and fast order delivery....
I stopped using Uber Eats after they delivered my food in an unsealed bag, with somebody else's drink having spilled all over it, and the response I got from some Indian was
Thank you for contacting us. We want to make this right. I know how unpleasant it must be to receive food in this condition. We have made a note to the restaurant. It is our goal to ensure safe and fast order delivery. We appreciate your business.
I simplified that from a 6 paragraph screed.
GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK YOU MORONS