Lyft & United Airlines: Now Pay for Rides With MileagePlus Miles

Lyft and United Airlines have expanded their partnership to allow United MileagePlus members to redeem their miles directly for Lyft rides, a first-of-its-kind collaboration in the U.S. Rideshare market. The new feature, launched on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, enables riders to use their accumulated miles to cover the full cost of a ride or to split the payment with another method.

The program is available immediately to all MileagePlus members who have linked their United and Lyft accounts. It applies to all eligible Lyft ride types, including standard rides, airport transfers, and premium options, according to a news release from Lyft.

“Every ride should move you forward — in more ways than one,” said Jordan Glassberg, vice president of partnerships and loyalty at Lyft. “Pay with miles means that the miles you’ve earned on your last rideshare can help get you to your next one.”

Jordan Glassberg, VP of Partnerships and Loyalty at Lyft

MileagePlus members will see a “pay with miles” option within the Lyft app when requesting a ride, allowing them to view the mileage redemption amount before confirming their trip. The launch builds upon an existing partnership where MileagePlus members can earn airline miles on eligible Lyft rides.

Jarad Fisher, president of the MileagePlus program, noted the strong existing demand for integration between the two loyalty programs. “Many MileagePlus members have already linked their account with Lyft, showing strong demand for earning miles and more flexible ways to engage with the MileagePlus program,” Fisher said.

This latest development represents an expansion of a relationship that began last year when United integrated Lyft into its loyalty program, allowing riders to earn miles on eligible trips. At that time, the companies signaled their intention to extend the partnership to include mile redemption for rides.

The move aligns with a broader trend within the airline industry of prioritizing loyalty program revenue generation. United has focused on promoting loyalty within its program, allowing cardholders to earn more miles on eligible flights compared to non-members. This strategy reflects a wider industry shift towards deriving increased revenue from loyalty programs, as highlighted in a recent report by Reuters.

According to the Reuters report, banks contribute billions of dollars annually to airlines for miles and related loyalty program payments, sometimes equaling or exceeding the carriers’ operating income. This financial dynamic has prompted airlines to adjust their loyalty program rules, emphasizing credit card spending and making rewards more difficult to earn on lower-fare tickets.

Other airlines, such as American Airlines and Delta, have also adjusted their loyalty programs. American Airlines has discontinued offering AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points on basic economy tickets, while Delta allows travelers to leverage spending on its co-branded American Express cards to achieve elite status. These changes demonstrate a broader industry effort to maximize revenue from loyalty programs.

United’s approach to loyalty, as previously reported, involves distinguishing between loyalty and rewards programs to drive revenue. The integration with Lyft and the ability to redeem miles for rides represent a continuation of this strategy, offering MileagePlus members increased flexibility and value within the program.