Lyft and United Airlines launch Pay with Miles in the Lyft app

Pay Lyft rides with MileagePlus miles

Lyft and United Airlines have activated a Pay with Miles option directly inside the Lyft app in the United States. Members of United’s MileagePlus loyalty programme who link their Lyft and United accounts can now use miles to pay for eligible rides. The feature covers everyday trips, airport transfers and several premium options on the rideshare platform. Users can cover the entire fare in miles or combine miles with another payment method if their balance falls short.

To enable the service, travellers must first link their MileagePlus account to their Lyft account. When they book a ride, a miles payment option appears in the app. Before confirming, the app displays the number of miles required, allowing riders to choose between paying entirely in miles or a split payment. Once the trip is complete, the receipt details the miles used and, where applicable, the portion paid by another method. The move builds on a collaboration launched in November 2025 that allowed customers to earn miles on Lyft rides.

The time of redemption

The companies present this as the first partnership that lets members both earn and redeem airline miles directly within a mobility app. Delta Air Lines and Uber had already brought airline loyalty and ground mobility closer together by allowing SkyMiles members to link their Delta and Uber accounts and automatically earn miles on certain eligible rides and orders in the US. That tie-up paved the way for deeper integration between air travel and everyday services, but remained focused on earning. With Lyft and United, the added step is bringing redemption into the app itself, strengthening continuity from the flight to airport access and the last mile.

“Every ride should move you forward — in more ways than one,” said Jordan Glassberg, vice president of partnerships and loyalty at Lyft. He said paying with miles means the miles earned on a previous ride can help fund the next, adding that Lyft positions itself as the first platform to make this possible and to deepen its relationship with United so the journey feels more rewarding.

By adding this option, Lyft and United aim to close the loyalty loop between air travel and ground mobility. United gives MileagePlus more everyday utility, beyond flight tickets or upgrades, while Lyft looks to increase its appeal among customers already engaged in a loyalty ecosystem.

Jarad Fisher, president of United MileagePlus, said: “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.”

The scheme is open to all MileagePlus members who have linked their accounts. Lyft is also offering a 1,000‑mile bonus for new Lyft riders who connect their MileagePlus account and complete two rides within 30 days. The partnership therefore targets frequent travellers, occasional ride-hail users and airport transfer passengers alike, and reflects a broader convergence between airlines, urban mobility and digital payment services.