Delta SkyMiles members can now earn miles by riding with Uber, ending their contract with Lyft

Uber announced an exclusive multi-year partnership with Delta Air Lines at CES 2025 that allows SkyMiles members to earn miles when they ride with Uber or order delivery through Uber Eats in the US. It means the end of the contract Delta’s partnership with Lyft.

The Uber partnership will begin in the spring and will give Uber customers access to benefits such as an “enhanced Uber pickup and drop-off experience at Delta hubs,” according to a statement from the company. When asked what that meant, an Uber spokesperson declined to elaborate.

Lyft and Delta formed their partnership in 2018; It will expire on April 7, 2025.

“Years ago, we teamed up with our first airline to open up more ways to elevate and innovate travel experiences, turning those customers into Lyft loyalists,” Lyft said in an emailed statement. “We continue to expand our horizons by joining forces with key brands that share our customer obsessions, such as Alaska Airlines, Chase, DoorDash, Mastercard, Hilton, Disney and Bilt. Link your Lyft account and discover a world of growing benefits”.

Accounts linked to a Delta Skymiles membership promise Uber customers 1 mile for every dollar spent on restaurant and grocery orders over $40 with Uber Eats and on UberX airport rides. Premium Rides like Uber Comfort or Uber Black will earn users 2 miles per dollar spent. For riders who book in advance, they can earn 3 miles per dollar spent.

The tie-up with Delta could be one of the moves to connect the airline and Uber with both Uber and eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) startup Joby Aviation, which has its own separate partnership with Uber. Delta. Delta’s partnership with Joby means that Delta customers will one day find Joby’s electric air taxi service starting in NYC.

Uber’s collaboration with Joby is more involved. Joby has acquired Uber ElevateUber’s urban air mobility division in 2020. Part of this agreement was to integrate their respective services into each other’s apps to create a more seamless connection between ground and air travel. In addition, Joby’s air taxi app, ElevateOSComing out of this partnership, Uber promises to provide on-demand mobility as opposed to a ride.

In October last year the three companies held an event in New York where they talked about their vision of connected mobility, avoiding announcing a full-blown, tripartite partnership.

Joby, which is backed by both Uber and Delta, still needs to get the necessary certifications to provide an electric air taxi service, however It aims to launch in 2025.

Spokespeople for Uber, Joby and Delta declined to share any progress on what I suspect will be an apparent alliance.