10-second tip: maximizing Lyft credits.
I am LOVING Lyft.
It is my new favorite way to get around in San Francisco.
In case you aren’t already familiar with Lyft, it’s a “peer-to-peer ridesharing” service – passengers who need a ride can request one from drivers who have a car. You can read my detailed description of it here, and my review of it here.
It’s really just fun. Much more fun than Uber, which can be a little stuffy. Lyft is perfect for zipping around town. You really do feel like you are just hanging out with a friend.
Since you are encouraged to sit in the front seat (although you don’t have to), you’ve got a much more personal connection with the driver. Every driver has such an interesting story! Josh and I caught four Lyfts on Saturday night, and one ride was with a woman who graduated from the same high school we did (seventeen years before us), and had one of the same English teachers (he was still at the school, seventeen years later)!
Small world.
Anyway, you probably know that Lyft is offering a $25 “free ride” credit when you sign up using a friend’s referral link (here is mine – thank you for using it!). What you might not know is that the credit is a “ride credit.” What that means is that you need to use the credit all at once – it doesn’t matter if your ride costs $10 or $25. At the end of the ride, your credit will be gone.
So, how to maximize?
- This is the most obvious way: just make sure your first Lyft ride is long and/or trafficky. Don’t waste your credit on a short 5-minuter.
- If your ride ends up costing less than $25, leave a big tip! Tips from free ride credits are limited to 25% of the suggested donation, but you can max that out. Here is an example from our evening:
Anyone else have any fun Lyft stories to share? Have you tried Lyft yet? What are you waiting for? 😉
Interesting. I’ve never tried Lyft, but that’s mostly because I never go anywhere without my kids 🙂 and since there’s 6 of them, we don’t fit into most cars 😀
Something for me to think about if my wife and I ever get away again
I tried them (and uber) last week when we spent a weekend in San Francisco. (Using your sign up link, of course).
We liked most of our rides and found it interesting that our Lyft driver was also working for Uber at the same time. He was great though, and very friendly.
My link is http://www.lyft.com/invited/laura2927,
if anyone out there wants to sign up with my link. (:))
It made our ride back to the airport from Trick Dog Bar in the Mission very affordable!
Points with a Crew – I hope that you have a chance to try it. It’s fun. I can only imagine the scene with you, your wife, and all of your kids in a couple of Lyfts! It would make a great blog post. 🙂
LauraPDX – Thanks! Glad you had a good time. Interesting that one of your drivers was working for both at once…
No lyft near me but will keep in mind for a trip
Lyft is awesome. use code ZAREEN6
I would love to see a blog post about the new lyft plus! It seats 6 passengers. 🙂 have you done one on themed lyfts?
Jasmine – Great idea!! I haven’t heard about this yet, but I will definitely look into it.