Uber drops unlimited credit-based promotions for $25 ride limit

Uber Australia has axed its long-standing offer of unlimited credit to customers who refer new members to the on-demand limo service and moved to a $25 per-ride credit with a three month expiry date.

Under Uber's previous 'Give 10, Get 10' referral system, new customers who sign up with a current user's promotion code would receive a $10 discount off their first ride while the owner of the code received $10 credited to their account.

With sufficient people using that promo code, its owner could earn hundreds of dollars in Uber credit which could be used on any Uber trip.

The new referral scheme, which comes into effect from today, allows a more generous $25 'first ride' credit for a new Uber customer, but the owner of the promo code now receives 'a free ride to $25' and must pay the difference between that $25 credit and the full trip fare.

In addition, each $25 ride credit is valid only for three months.

However, Uber states that "this offer is for a limited time only," which hints that the promotion could return to a $10/$10 basis.

The scheme continues to apply to all Uber services from Uber Lux and SUV vehicles to the standard Uber Black and low-cost UberX, although not UberTaxi.

Uber says that the $25 free ride credit "can be used in participating Uber cities all over the world. The value of the ride may vary according to city, country and currency and will apply in the local city value."

You can sign up to Uber for free using the special Australian Business Traveller invitation code of uberAusBT and get $25 in credit towards your first ride.

(Disclaimer: we'll also pick up $25 of Uber credit when you take that ride, so it's a win-win.)

Start by creating your free personal account at uber.com, download the Uber app for your iPhone or Android smartphone, and you're ready to ride in style.

Read our review of Uber Sydney

Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT

David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.