Delta Air Lines has announced plans to launch a new partnership with Uber in the coming months, and that’ll come at the expense of Delta’s existing Lyft partnership.
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Earn Delta SkyMiles for Uber rides as of spring 2025
As of some point in the spring of 2025, Delta and Uber plan to launch a partnership, giving SkyMiles members the opportunity to earn rewards for Uber spending, whether it’s a ride or delivery. Once live, SkyMiles members who link their accounts will be able to earn:
- 3x SkyMiles for Uber Reserve rides
- 2x SkyMiles for Uber premium rides
- 1x SkyMiles for UberX rides to & from the airport
- 1x SkyMiles for Uber Eats (restaurant and grocery) orders
Additional details about the partnership are expected to be released in the coming months, ahead of launch, and I’ll of course provide updates as they’re made available. We’ve seen quite a few airlines and hotel groups partner with either Uber or Lyft, to give loyalty program members an incentive to do business with them. Presumably being able to share data is also a major benefit, as that can reveal some interesting consumer behavior.
This was announced at CES 2025, as Delta CEO Ed Bastian gave a keynote address (there was also a bigger announcement about inflight entertainment). He also shared the stage with Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, talking about the multi-modal future of travel, where a single customer itinerary will be connected from start to finish through deep partner integrations. I’ll believe it when I see it…
Delta & Lyft partnership ending as of April 2025
Delta has had a partnership with Uber competitor Lyft since 2017, offering SkyMiles members the opportunity to earn rewards for rides. We’ve learned that the partnership between Delta and Lyft will be ending as of April 7, 2025. So I think it’s safe to say that the Uber partnership may start around that time, or shortly thereafter.
With the Delta and Lyft partnership, it’s possible to earn 2x SkyMiles for Lyft airport rides, and 1x SkyMiles for other Lyft rides.
Personally I don’t view this partnership ending as much of a loss. That’s because Lyft also has partnerships with Alaska Mileage Plan, Bilt Rewards, and Hilton Honors, among other loyalty programs. You can only earn rewards with one partner, and I tend to think the other partnerships potentially offer significantly more value.
Meanwhile the most lucrative partnership with Uber is currently with Marriott Bonvoy, and I think that it will still be a better option than Delta SkyMiles.
Bottom line
Delta and Uber plan to launch a partnership as of the spring of 2025, whereby SkyMiles members will be rewarded for Uber and Uber Eats spending. Delta currently has a partnership with Lyft, which will be ending as of April 7, 2025.
Since you can typically only take advantage of one partnership, I can’t say I care a whole lot about this development either way, since there are other Uber and Lyft partners that I prefer.
What do you make of Delta dumping Lyft in favor of Uber?
So my $40 Uber to the airport will get me 40 SkyPesos. Not even worth filling out the registration form.
I wonder if you’ll be able to “double dip” and get credit on both Delta and Marriott.
What a match made in hell.
Two sneaky companies that likes to maximize exploit on its customers.
Ed Kalanick and Travis Bastian couldn't have done it better.
Zuckerberg and Bezos would make them the four horsemen of apocalypse.
With Elon being apocalypse.
Very well said.
After the Marriott nerf, this one isn't too bad. 1x sky pesos on uber eats and rides to the airport. A little disappointed it's not all UberX rides but oh well. They offered 1 mile for all rides and 2x on airport rides with Lyft. (which are the worst earnings for Lyft's 4 partners)
Because of the 10x points on Lyft via CSR, I am loyal to Lyft. At least I will have the opportunity to start earning Hilton points by switching the partner.
I see it's substantially worse than the existing Lyft partnership, not that that was ever especially lucrative. Oh well.
1x for any ride and 2x for airport rides with the Lyft partnership was definitely better. Typical offering customers less and spinning it as more
I mostly do Uber X, and therefore get nothing from Marriott.
The only thing that is surprising is that Uber hadn't already chosen another airline as a long-term partner and DL had the freedom to switch.
Lyft might be partnering with ???? in the future?
Smart move for DL. As for Lyft, already a partnership with Citi’s AA executive card, so wouldn’t be surprised if they move toward Citi/AA. Especially with Chase / Lyft pink benefit not renewed after the 2 year period. But just speculation, we will see…
I receive the $15 monthly Uber Amex platinum credit and have always noticed that the rides are misleadingly priced to show the fare after deducting the $15 credit (e.g., app shows $20 fare but it's actually $35 and you only find out that this true rate was hidden from you after your credit card is charged $20 (plus using the $15 Amex credit) instead of just $5). Also, the advertised fare is typically equal to...
I receive the $15 monthly Uber Amex platinum credit and have always noticed that the rides are misleadingly priced to show the fare after deducting the $15 credit (e.g., app shows $20 fare but it's actually $35 and you only find out that this true rate was hidden from you after your credit card is charged $20 (plus using the $15 Amex credit) instead of just $5). Also, the advertised fare is typically equal to Lyft's but that is only after deducting the $15 credit. That's why I always use Lyft for rides and use up my Amex platinum Uber credit on Uber Eats instead. My experience with both Uber and Uber Eats has shown me that Uber is a untrustworthy company with virtually zero customer service if something goes wrong.
READ THIS. Recently, DoC had an article about Uber pricing and it had a link to a YouTube video. The video was an investigation related to a lawsuit brought by drivers regarding compensation. Aside from the driver compensation issues, the investigation also shows that Uber varies rider price (for the same ride) depending on a number of factors. If a person has Amex statement credits or if the person funds their account with (discounted) gift...
READ THIS. Recently, DoC had an article about Uber pricing and it had a link to a YouTube video. The video was an investigation related to a lawsuit brought by drivers regarding compensation. Aside from the driver compensation issues, the investigation also shows that Uber varies rider price (for the same ride) depending on a number of factors. If a person has Amex statement credits or if the person funds their account with (discounted) gift cards, the person will systematically be charged a higher price. Wiping out any net benefit.
With respect to this Delta-Uber partnership, I would not be surprised if the value of Delta miles earned is surpassed by the higher pricing Uber would charge to someone with a linked Delta account. You have been warned.
Seems like the type of shady thing Uber would do
Seems like the type of shady thing Delta would do
Yeah, as Dina implies, this isn't cut and dry.
With Lyft, the choice was a bit more simple for me. You earned 3x Hilton points for all kinds of Lyft rides (including their discount rides). With Delta, you earned 1x for most Lyft rides, and 2x for airport rides. I am more often taking non airport Lyft rides, and 3 Hilton points (which I value at 0.5 cents) is with more than 1 SkyMile (closer...
Yeah, as Dina implies, this isn't cut and dry.
With Lyft, the choice was a bit more simple for me. You earned 3x Hilton points for all kinds of Lyft rides (including their discount rides). With Delta, you earned 1x for most Lyft rides, and 2x for airport rides. I am more often taking non airport Lyft rides, and 3 Hilton points (which I value at 0.5 cents) is with more than 1 SkyMile (closer to 1.2-1.3 cents for me). So I close Hilton as the partner for the few Lyft rides I take
With Uber, it is a bit different. Currently, you earn 3x Marriott points with Uber premium (basically uber Black), 2x with Uber Reserve, and 1x with Uber Eats. With Delta, you earn 3x SkyMiles with Uber Reserve, 2x with Uber Premium, 1x Uber X to airports, and 1x with Uber Eats. 1 SkyMile is worth more than 1 Marriott point (I value Marriott at about 0.7 cents), so the numbers seem to work out for Delta.
The question is who gets the Waymo partnership...
Hi Ben. Could you elaborate on why you think the Uber Marriott crossover is a better deal than the one with Uber and Delta?