Lyft customers are once again able to accrue airline miles, as the ride-sharing company announced a new partnership with United Airlines on Wednesday.
The agreement allows Lyft users who link their accounts to United’s MileagePlus program to earn miles per dollar spent on various ride types. This move comes several months after Lyft concluded its eight-year collaboration with Delta Airlines, signaling a shift in its strategic alliances within the travel sector. The end of the Delta partnership, and Delta’s subsequent move to Uber, highlights the competitive landscape and fluidity of loyalty programs in the transportation and travel industries. This three-way chess match reflects an evolving understanding of customer acquisition and retention strategies where user data and integrated experiences are becoming increasingly valuable.
Under the new program, riders will earn one mile per dollar spent on Standard, Priority Pickup, and XL rides. Accelerated mile accrual is offered for premium services, with two miles per dollar for rides booked via business profiles. Further incentives are provided for luxury and convenience, with three miles per dollar for Extra Comfort, Lyft Black, Black SUV, and when taking regular rides to or from the airport. Pre-scheduled airport trips will yield the highest return, granting four miles per dollar spent.
The company clarified that reward multipliers are not cumulative; riders will receive the highest applicable multiplier for each booking, ensuring a transparent and straightforward rewards system.
Lyft’s marketing chief, Brian Irving, underscored the partnership’s alignment with both companies’ dedication to enhancing customer experiences. “We have this simple, yet really customer-obsessed way of approaching things,” Irving stated, emphasizing a customer-centric philosophy driving the collaboration.
Airlines have increasingly focused on bolstering loyalty programs to drive revenue growth, offering diversified avenues for customers to accumulate miles. This is particularly important in a market increasingly sensitive to ancillary revenue streams.
United Airlines reported a 9% increase in revenue from its loyalty program last month. The airline also generates significant revenue through co-branded credit cards and related partnerships, indicating the financial importance of these programs.
According to United, the Lyft partnership underscores its commitment to expanding its customer-centric partnership ecosystem. The airline’s pre-existing partnerships include collaborations with Ticketmaster and Avis, and the integration of Spotify onto seatback screens earlier this year. This multi-faceted approach to enhancing the customer journey highlights United’s broader strategy of creating value through diverse partnerships.
Richard Nunn, CEO of United’s MileagePlus program, emphasized the potential for further collaboration rooted in technological innovation and data integration.
“This is very much the start of a very deep and meaningful technology integration,” Nunn stated, hinting at future advancements aimed at creating a more cohesive and user-friendly experience.
Enhancements on the horizon include the ability for riders to redeem miles for Lyft rides directly through the Lyft app, along with integrated alerts and reminders for United flights, expected to roll out in early 2026. This level of integration aims to streamline the user experience and promote continued engagement within the joint ecosystem.
To incentivize adoption, United is offering 1,000 bonus miles to new Lyft users who link their MileagePlus accounts and complete two rides within the first 30 days. This promotional offer aims to rapidly build the user base and drive early adoption of the integrated program.
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