topic Re: USB Altitude Connect ~ 4x Lyft? in Credit Cards

USB Altitude Connect ~ 4x Lyft?

Yoshi1981 — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 13:31:09 GMT

Hello all,

Q. Does Connect count Lyft as travel for 4x points? Planning to apply for Custom Cash through pre-approval whenever EX finally updates. Confirmed Citi counts Lyft as 5% through research but can't find a concrete answer on this with Connect. Lyft is currenly highest monthly spend.

If Connect counts Lyft as 4x travel rather use CC for groceries. And yes I haven't applied yet, waiting on #$@!# EX to finally update. Could totally get denied for CC even with pre-approval but Citi has gone from offering three card options to five so thinking positive until there's reason to do otherwise.

Thanks!

Re: USB Altitude Connect ~ 4x Lyft?

NoHardLimits — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 23:23:21 GMT

From the application Terms & Conditions:

"You will earn 3 bonus Points (4 Points total) for every $1 on travel category purchases (such as purchases made directly with airlines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, limousines, passenger trains and cruise line companies)."

Re: USB Altitude Connect ~ 4x Lyft?

Yoshi1981 — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 23:32:35 GMT

@NoHardLimits wrote:
From the application Terms & Conditions:

"You will earn 3 bonus Points (4 Points total) for every $1 on travel category purchases (such as purchases made directly with airlines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, limousines, passenger trains and cruise line companies)."

Right, I can see that. But I don't know if ride share services are considered equal to taxicabs with USB. At first glance of terms and conditions for Custom Cash I'm confident assuming Lyft falls under select transit but with Connect idk.

Re: USB Altitude Connect ~ 4x Lyft?

NoHardLimits — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 00:07:14 GMT

@Yoshi1981 wrote:
@NoHardLimits wrote:
From the application Terms & Conditions:

"You will earn 3 bonus Points (4 Points total) for every $1 on travel category purchases (such as purchases made directly with airlines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, limousines, passenger trains and cruise line companies)."
Right, I can see that. But I don't know if ride share services are considered equal to taxicabs with USB. At first glance of terms and conditions for Custom Cash I'm confident assuming Lyft falls under select transit but with Connect idk.

US Bank is very restrictive about travel categories and excluded many MCC codes that one would think qualifies as travel. Generally speaking, Lyft is not a taxicab. If you consider the rewards terms for a different US Bank card, the Cash+, it specifically states eligible purchases in the Ground Transportation category as:

"Get 5% cash back when you use your card for purchases such as bus and passenger railway tickets, taxi fares and more. You can also get cash back on purchases for car services, like Uber and limousines!"

Re: USB Altitude Connect ~ 4x Lyft?

Yoshi1981 — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 00:17:57 GMT

@NoHardLimits wrote:
@Yoshi1981 wrote:
@NoHardLimits wrote:
From the application Terms & Conditions:

"You will earn 3 bonus Points (4 Points total) for every $1 on travel category purchases (such as purchases made directly with airlines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, limousines, passenger trains and cruise line companies)."
Right, I can see that. But I don't know if ride share services are considered equal to taxicabs with USB. At first glance of terms and conditions for Custom Cash I'm confident assuming Lyft falls under select transit but with Connect idk.
US Bank is very restrictive about travel categories and excluded many MCC codes that one would think qualifies as travel. Generally speaking, Lyft is not a taxicab. If you consider the rewards terms for a different US Bank card, the Cash+, it specifically states eligible purchases in the Ground Transportation category as:

"Get 5% cash back when you use your card for purchases such as bus and passenger railway tickets, taxi fares and more. You can also get cash back on purchases for car services, like Uber and limousines!"

@NoHardLimits Got it Thank you

Re: USB Altitude Connect ~ 4x Lyft?

Yoshi1981 — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 00:57:58 GMT

Browsed a bit more, saw Reddit confirmations of 4x points with Uber using Connect. Called USB credit card #, even the representative wasn't quite certain. Placed on hold so she could contact a different department, best answer she could come up with was taxicabs are definitely good for 4x points but whether Lyft is considered equal to taxicabs not sure.

So, dug a little deeper and found this on NerdWallet. "Taxicabs and limousines, (MCC 4121). This category can now include services like Uber and Lyft." Whether or not rides are coded as 4121 is TBD. Will be using Connect for Lyft rides next week and update here later whether 4x or 1x points received.

Re: USB Altitude Connect ~ 4x Lyft?

NoHardLimits — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 01:02:16 GMT

@Yoshi1981 wrote:
Browsed a bit more, saw Reddit confirmations of 4x points with Uber using Connect. Called USB credit card #, even the representative wasn't quite certain. Placed on hold so she could contact a different department, best answer she could come up with was taxicabs are definitely good for 4x points but whether Lyft is considered equal to taxicabs not sure.

So, dug a little deeper and found this on NerdWallet. "Taxicabs and limousines, (MCC 4121). This category can now include services like Uber and Lyft." Whether or not rides are coded as 4121 is TBD. Will be using Connect for Lyft rides next week and update here later whether 4x or 1x points received.

Hope the MCC is favorable for you!

Re: USB Altitude Connect ~ 4x Lyft?

Yoshi1981 — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 01:04:28 GMT

@NoHardLimits wrote:
@Yoshi1981 wrote:
Browsed a bit more, saw Reddit confirmations of 4x points with Uber using Connect. Called USB credit card #, even the representative wasn't quite certain. Placed on hold so she could contact a different department, best answer she could come up with was taxicabs are definitely good for 4x points but whether Lyft is considered equal to taxicabs not sure.

So, dug a little deeper and found this on NerdWallet. "Taxicabs and limousines, (MCC 4121). This category can now include services like Uber and Lyft." Whether or not rides are coded as 4121 is TBD. Will be using Connect for Lyft rides next week and update here later whether 4x or 1x points received.
Hope the MCC is favorable for you!

Thank you! Fingers crossed.

Re: USB Altitude Connect ~ 4x Lyft?

GhostCredit — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 21:19:01 GMT

Yeah honestly when it comes to the Altitude Connect its not as broad as the CSP or Autograph. For Altitude Connect its good for those of what's is listed. I heard Airbnb did count as travel but people got 1x on it, it's a hot and miss. Even the AC doesn't have toll/parking whereas the Autograph does.

I would use the Citi custom cash or usbank cash plus for your Lyft rides. If you do it year round. Or just go with he Autograph or BoA CCR if you don't have those cards.

Re: USB Altitude Connect ~ 4x Lyft?

Yoshi1981 — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 21:34:33 GMT

@GhostCredit wrote:
Yeah honestly when it comes to the Altitude Connect its not as broad as the CSP or Autograph. For Altitude Connect its good for those of what's is listed. I heard Airbnb did count as travel but people got 1x on it, it's a hot and miss. Even the AC doesn't have toll/parking whereas the Autograph does.

I would use the Citi custom cash or usbank cash plus for your Lyft rides. If you do it year round. Or just go with he Autograph or BoA CCR if you don't have those cards.

@GhostCredit You're right, starting to see various limitations. I still like the card and it suits my needs, but may ask to PC to Cash+ in a year if thats possible.

Haven't apped for Custom Cash yet, pre-approval is there but prefer to wait on EX to catch up with EQ/TU. Not sure if the 20-30 extra points will make any difference with approval or SL but can't hurt. I really don't see an approval happening for Autograph with my profile as is but maybe in the future. I did consider it though, seems nice. For now, want to try for Custom Cash and Chase Amazon.

Re: USB Altitude Connect ~ 4x Lyft?

Yoshi1981 — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 21:37:39 GMT

Forgot to add, tried pushing my luck with USB for Cash+ a few days after Connect approval and no dice. Sole reason was USB wants to see payment history specifically with their card for a bit before extending more credit. Which was fair, expected a denial and wasn't worried about a second HP.

Re: USB Altitude Connect ~ 4x Lyft?

firefox100 — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 00:00:01 GMT

Question does the Citi custom cashback also give 5% cashback for Trains and Masstrainsit. I have the following creditcards the Citi custom cashback , the Autograph visa and the US Altitude go visa. I have been using the Autograph for lyft and trains and the Custom cashback for eating out couple hundred per month eating out. What I am think is to start using the Citi custom cashback for lyft uber and trains and the Altitude go for eating out is this good move.b

Re: USB Altitude Connect ~ 4x Lyft?

Yoshi1981 — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 01:47:19 GMT

@firefox100 wrote:
Question does the Citi custom cashback also give 5% cashback for Trains and Masstrainsit. I have the following creditcards the Citi custom cashback , the Autograph visa and the US Altitude go visa. I have been using the Autograph for lyft and trains and the Custom cashback for eating out couple hundred per month eating out. What I am think is to start using the Citi custom cashback for lyft uber and trains and the Altitude go for eating out is this good move.b

@firefox100 according to various articles like below and Reddit users Lyft is 5% using Custom Cash. Trains and mass transit should qualify as select transit but maybe it depends on how the specific transit authority codes? Not sure.

https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-credit-cards-for-uber-lyft-taxi/

Re: USB Altitude Connect ~ 4x Lyft?

Yoshi1981 — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 02:10:03 GMT

Update: Pleased to report Lyft codes as Taxicabs/Limousines and is indeed eligible for 4x points with Connect. Awesome sauce!