Delta has teased ditching Lyft in favor of Uber for several months and the wait is over. Starting this week, you can earn Delta SkyMiles when riding Uber.

Delta replaces Lyft as the rideshare platform of choice

During CES 2025, Delta announced that it would part ways with Lyft and instead join forces with Uber.

Delta’s partnership with Lyft ended on April 7, 2025. The earn structure was the following:

• 2 miles/dollar spent for a Lyft ride to or from the airport
• 1 mile/dollar spent for any other Lyft ride

The appeal of the program was that all rides on Lyft earned at least some spare change in your Delta account. It wasn’t going to ever lead to orders of magnitude more points, but just getting something extra was better than nothing.

Details of the Delta & Uber Partnership

Let’s start with the basics per Delta’s press release. You’ll need to link your Delta and Uber accounts together. Delta says the process is simple:

• Open your Uber or Uber Eats app and go to ‘Account’
• At the bottom of the page, tap ‘Partner Rewards’
• Choose the ‘Delta SkyMiles’ option, then ‘Link to start earning miles’
• Enter your Delta SkyMiles account

Once you do, you’ll earn with the following structure:

• 3 miles/dollar spent on Uber Reserve trips
• 2 miles/dollar spent on premium rides (e.g., Uber Comfort, Uber Black, Uber XL)
• 1 mile/dollar spent on UberX rides to and from airports
• 1 mile/dollar spent on $40+ restaurant and grocery orders with Uber Eats

Delta even says “customers who use their Delta SkyMiles American Express Card on the qualifying Uber categories can earn an additional 1 mile per dollar that they can redeem with Delta”. But the footnote clarifies “you will earn 1 mile for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card”. Sounds like you’re not in fact earning an extra mile, just getting the normal 1x everywhere benefit when using your card. I guess it was an attempt to push more people to their cards?

The downside should be clear: not all Uber rides will earn you Delta SkyMiles. Taking an Uber to the airport to catch your Delta flight? Make sure you’re choosing the right car or you won’t get any credit from Delta. That seems a bit odd to me. I’m sure the intent is for you to buy up to a better car just for the miles but I’m not sure everyone will remember that or play along.

You can do better with both Lyft and Uber

And here is the part of the article where I tell you to just ignore the Delta news and choose something else. Remember that points are only going to be valuable to you if you have enough of them to use them towards a redemption. Getting even 1,000 of them in isolation without a plan to use them or in a program you otherwise don’t use is ultimately a waste.

The loyalty programs associated with Lyft

Lyft has more partnerships with travel programs within the United States. I believe most people would be best off choosing Bilt, but Hilton is also decent for those loyal to the hotel chain. Don’t forget that you can earn more points by paying with a Chase Sapphire Reserve or Preferred card than with the Bilt Mastercard.

Alaska Airlines

• 1 miles/dollar spent for any Lyft ride

Bilt

• 5 points/dollar spent when you use your Bilt Mastercard to pay for any Lyft ride
• 3 points/dollar spent on Lyft rideshare, bikes, and scooters booked through Lyft and when you pay with your Bilt Mastercard
• 2 points/dollar spent on any other Lyft ride

Hilton

• 3 points/dollar spent on most Lyft rides (Lyft, Lyft XL, Lyft Black XL, Lux, Lux Black)
• 2 points/dollar spent on Lyft Shared Rides

The other loyalty programs associated with Uber

Both Air Canada and Air France partner with Uber, but those partnerships are best for those physically in those countries. I actually prefer the partnership with Marriott over Delta as I’d rather have 3 Marriott points over 2 Delta SkyMiles.

Air Canada (only for rides in Canada)

• 3 points/dollar spent on Premium airport Reserve trips
• 2 points/dollar spent on Premium airport trips and airport Reserve trips
• 1 point/dollar spent on Premium rides and airport trips
• 1 point/dollar spent on eligible Uber Eats orders of $40 or more
• 1 point/dollar spent on grocery or retail delivery

Air France/KLM (only for rides in France or the Netherlands)

• 1 mile/Euro spent on UberX Priority, Berline, Comfort, Taxi, Van, and Uber Reserve rides in France
• 1 mile/Euro spent on any Uber ride in the Netherlands
• After 4 rides in a month, you’ll earn double miles for the rest of that month and the following three months.

Marriott Bonvoy

• 3 points/dollar spent on Uber XL, Comfort, Black, and Black SUV rides
• 2 points/dollar spent on UberX rides booked with Reserve
• 2 points/dollar spent on Uber Eats orders of $40 or more to Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, or Element hotels
• 1 point/dollar spent on all other Uber Eats orders of $40 or more

Ultimately, as mentioned, no matter which program you choose, just be sure you have an eventual use for the points.

Are you motivated by the Delta/Uber news?

Suggested reading:

• American Airlines Free Wi-Fi in 2026: It’s About Time
• How to Take Advantage of SkyTeam Lounge Access Updates
• Volunteering for Delta Flight Bumps