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Uber is my favorite way to get around. I no longer call or flag down taxis. And on a recent trip to San Francisco and Los Angeles, I didn’t rent a car, using Uber to get around instead.

Uber is the world’s best taxi service because it has clean, courteous drivers and the easiest ride-ordering app imaginable. Tap, tap, tap, and a car whose progress you can track towards you is on its way.

Now Uber and United have teamed up, with United putting an Uber button directly in the United app. Update your United app, and a tile should appear on the home screen for Uber.

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There is a chance to earn 1,000 United miles by using the Uber service through the United app. I don’t think that’s as good as my referral link for new users, through which new Uber users can get a $30 credit toward a free ride when they sign up. (I also get a free ride up to $30. Feel free to post your referral link in the comments.)

  • How does the Uber/United partnership work?
  • How can you get 1,000 United miles by using Uber?
  • Is there a better offer for new Uber users?

United has put a new Uber tile on the front page of the United app. If you click it, it takes you to a map screen within the United app that shows your Uber ride options, which in Honolulu are uberX, UberBlack, Taxi, and Taxi Van.

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Selecting a ride option actually takes you into the Uber app itself with its normal functionality.

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Here’s what I do not know. The United press release says:

Customers who complete their first transaction with Uber via the United app will receive 1,000 MileagePlus award miles for a limited time.”

First of all, this is ambiguous English. It could mean:

  1. Customers who complete their first ever transaction with Uber, if that transaction is done through the United app, get 1,000 miles.
  2. Customers who complete their first Uber transaction through the Uber app, even if that’s their 100th Uber transaction, get the 1,000 miles because it was their first Uber transaction through the Uber app.

Unfortunately I don’t see any terms and conditions to clear up the confusion, nor is “for a limited time” defined.

Because of the ambiguity, I think the best plans are obvious.

If you’ve used Uber before…

I’ve used Uber for dozens of rides. My next time, I am going to start in the United app to book Uber (even when I am not going to the airport.) Maybe I’ll get 1,000 United miles. Maybe not. But it won’t cost me more than a few extra taps.

If you’ve never used Uber before…

Sign up for Uber through my referral link for new users, through which new Uber users can get a $30 credit toward their first ride. That’s a better sign up bonus than 1,000 United miles if you can only get one.

Then book your first ride through the United app. Maybe you’ll get 1,000 United miles on top of the $30 credit.

More About Uber

Uber is an app on your smart phone on which you request a taxi or private car to pick you up.

The in-app map shows you nearby cars and tells you how long you’ll have to wait. You can input your destination and get an estimated price.

Once you get dropped off, you rate your driver. Bad drivers are fired, so you are extremely likely to get a good driver. And if you don’t, customer service is extremely responsive.

Let’s list the ways Uber is better than your local cab company:

  1. Easier and faster to order a cab. No calling in and waiting on hold.
  2. More accurate timetable given for pick up. I hate when the taxi operator tells me she’s sending the “next available” cab. How long will that be?
  3. You can get an estimate of the price in advance.
  4. Uber drivers are more likely to drive a clean, not smelly car in my experience.
  5. Your credit card is saved on file, and you can set your tip percentage on uber.com. No need to carry any cash.

Hat Tip Wandering Aramean

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