Delta Air Lines and Lyft are teaming up to offering Lyft users an opportunity to earn Delta SkyMiles on every Lyft ride. The new unique partnership is similar to the SPG and Uber partnership, but different. Unlike SPG and Uber, Lyft users can earn miles without even flying. All Lyft users have to do is link their accounts and start earning miles.
How to Earn Miles on Lyft Rides
Delta SkyMile members who link their Lyft and delta accounts will start earning miles immediately on all Lyft rides. To qualify for miles, the accounts must be registered at DeltaLyft.com. Delta is limiting one SkyMiles number per account, therefore there is no double dipping or sharing miles between multiple Lyft and SkyMiles accounts.
Once the accounts are registered miles can be earned on all Lyft rides. Lyft users earn 1 mile per $1 USD spent on Lyft ride. This excludes the pesky taxes, city fees, etc.
Double Miles Promotion
All accounts which are sync earn one SkyMile per $1 spent on Lyft rides not including taxes and fees. To celebrate the launch of this partnership Delta is offering double miles on select rides. Riders who depart an airport will earn two Delta SkyMiles per dollar spent excluding taxes and fees. The promotion runs through August 31, 2017. Starting September 1, all rides will revert back to the one mile per dollar standard.
Lyft has service at most major US Airports. Check the entire list of Lyft rides to see if your next airport has service by Lyft.
What Makes This Partnership Different
Several airlines and credit card reward programs are partners with several non-flying partners. For example, Membership Rewards and Uber are partners. One can use Membership Reward points for free rides. Airlines also partner with hotels, rental car agencies, magazines, shopping portals and more. Airlines earn money by selling their airline points and miles. The more retailers that are willing to pay for airline points, the more money an airline can potentially make.
The Delta and Lyft partnership is a first that I know of which allows riders to earn points by riding. United has a link to Uber in their mobile app, but that is where the partnership ends. There is no additional points earned by flying United and riding Uber.
SPG and Uber are partners and each uber ride can earn SPG points. The only catch, someone must stay at an SPG property each year to activate the offer. Unlike the SPG/Uber partnership, Delta is not requiring flyers to Fly Delta to earn miles by riding.
Final Thoughts
It is a known fact that flying is no longer the easiest way to earn skymiles, or any airline miles anymore. Earning miles through third party services is easier than flying. As airlines’ frequent flyer programs are focus on revenue and spending, third party services are now the best way to earn miles. This partnership holds potential as an easy way to earn miles.
For those of us still playing the miles and point game, frequent Lyft riders can earn hundred if not thousands of miles each year now. Think about your spending and spend correctly. A Lyft rider using a Chase Ultimate Rewards card could easily earn 3 ultimate reward points per dollar on Lyft plus 1 SkyMile per dollar! That’s 4x the point per dollar! Double dip and choose wisely! Also, if you qualify for the Uber/SPG partnership, I would choose SPG points and Uber over SkyMiles and Lyft.
