A new partnership between United Airlines and Lyft could be good news for some travelers.
Starting Nov. 5, 2025, you can earn 1 to 4 United MileagePlus miles for every dollar spent on qualifying Lyft rides after linking your United account to your Lyft profile. The highest rewards rate applies to prescheduled rides to the airport, which could come in handy for some flyers.
How to earn United miles on Lyft rides
Under the new Lyft partnership, you’ll earn:
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4 United MileagePlus miles for every dollar spent on prescheduled rides to and from an airport.
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3 miles for every dollar spent on Extra Comfort, Lyft Black and Black SUV rides and non-scheduled rides to and from an airport.
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2 miles for every dollar spent on Standard, Priority Pickup and XL rides with a company business profile.
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1 mile for every dollar spent on Standard, Priority Pickup and XL rides.
And, assuming you’ve never taken a Lyft ride before, you can earn 1,000 bonus United miles after signing up for Lyft, linking your MileagePlus account and completing two rides within 30 days. NerdWallet values United miles at 1.2 cents each, making this bonus worth $12. That’s not much — but if you needed to book rides anyway, it could be an easy win.
Other features, including the ability to redeem United miles for Lyft rides and automated ride reminders synced to your United flight times, are slated to launch in 2026.
Comparing United with Lyft’s other travel partners
United isn’t Lyft’s first or only travel partner. You can also earn travel rewards on Lyft rides through Atmos (Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines’ joint loyalty program), Bilt Rewards and Hilton Honors — just not all at the same time.
Here’s what they offer for rides on personal accounts.
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3 points per dollar spent on airport rides and more premium rides, including Extra Comfort, Black and Black SUV (excluding taxes, fees, tolls and tips).
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2 points per dollar spent on everyday rides, including Standard, Priority Pickup and XL rides.
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2 Bilt Points per dollar spent on Lyft rides in the U.S.
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3 points per dollar on rides.
If you often get a Lyft to the airport, United’s 4x earning rate is by far the best for prescheduled rides. However, if you typically choose a Standard ride around town, the other options have better base rates. Among the airline loyalty partners, you can earn 2 points per dollar spent on regular rides through Atmos and Bilt, although Bilt points are limited to rides within the U.S.
You can change your rewards partner as often as you want directly in the Lyft app. To maximize your earnings, link to multiple programs and switch to the one offering the best earnings rate for each ride.
