Lyft is bouncing back from Delta's defection with a new United Airlines loyalty partnership that went live today. The rideshare company announced its MileagePlus integration just months after Delta ended their eight-year relationship to team up with Uber instead. For Lyft's 24 million active riders, it means earning airline miles is back on the table with potentially better rates than the old Delta deal.
Lyft just turned its biggest partnership loss into what could be an even bigger win. The rideshare giant announced today it's teaming up with United Airlines for a new MileagePlus loyalty program, striking back after Delta unceremoniously dumped them for rival Uber earlier this year.
The timing isn't subtle. Delta's decision to end their eight-year partnership with Lyft sent shockwaves through the loyalty program world, especially since it handed Uber a major competitive advantage. Now Lyft is fighting back with what appears to be a more generous mile-earning structure than their old Delta arrangement offered.
Here's how the math works: Standard rides earn one mile per dollar, business profiles get two miles per dollar, while premium services like Lyft Black and airport runs jump to three miles per dollar. The sweet spot? Pre-scheduled airport rides that rack up four miles per dollar - a rate that should make frequent flyers take notice.
"We have this simple, yet really customer-obsessed way of approaching things," Lyft marketing chief Brian Irving told CNBC about the partnership philosophy. It's corporate speak, but the underlying strategy is crystal clear: if you can't beat Uber on price or market share, beat them on loyalty program value.
United's enthusiasm for the deal makes perfect sense when you look at their numbers. The airline reported that loyalty program sales surged 9% last quarter, part of a broader industry push to squeeze revenue from every possible angle. Airlines have discovered that loyalty programs aren't just customer retention tools - they're profit centers that generate cash through credit card partnerships and mile sales to partners.
The competitive landscape just got more interesting too. While Uber celebrates its Delta partnership, United brings serious firepower to Team Lyft. The airline's MileagePlus program boasts over 100 million members, and unlike some carriers, United has been aggressively expanding its partner ecosystem. They've already locked up Spotify for seatback entertainment, plus partnerships with Ticketmaster and Avis.
