Dive Brief:
- Lyft members can now connect their accounts with United Airlines’ MileagePlus loyalty program to earn miles for Lyft rides, the companies announced Wednesday.
- The number of miles earned varies by trip type, ranging from one mile per dollar spent on any standard, priority pickup or XL Lyft ride to four miles per dollar spent on pre-scheduled rides to and from the airport.
- In the future, MileagePlus members will be able to redeem their miles for rides through the Lyft app, which will offer United travelers automated flight alerts and ride reminders. The update is expected to launch in early 2026.
Dive Insight:
Lyft sees a focus on its customers, including through its various booking options and loyalty programs, as the key to its growth.
The rideshare company reached record revenue of $1.7 billion in the third quarter of 2025, up 11% year over year, according to a Wednesday earnings release. Net income was $46.1 million, compared to a $12.4 million loss in in the third quarter of 2024.
The number of rides grew 15% year over year to 248.8 million, and the number of active riders — customers who have taken at least one trip in the quarter — was up 18% year over year to 28.7 million.
One of the factors driving ride growth are programs like Lyft Silver, which the company launched about six months ago, CEO David Risher said on a Q3 2025 earnings call Wednesday.
Lyft Silver, an alternate version of the Lyft app aimed at older adults, includes greater availability of vehicles with easy access and the ability to contact a live support team 13 hours a day.
Lyft Silver has contributed 1 million rides to Lyft’s total, according to Risher.
“I think that the customer obsession drives profitable growth,” Risher said during the call. “That continues to be our mantra. That's how you get from, you know, tiny to small to medium to large, extra large.”
Lyft recently launched Lyft Cash Rewards, a free loyalty program which joined Lyft’s subscription lineup last month. Customers need to add credit to their account and activate the auto-refill option to join the program, but it doesn’t have any further costs.
The loyalty program was introduced as a complement to Lyft Pink and Price Lock, which are both paid subscription programs. While these programs have worked well, they leave out customers who don’t want to pay extra for loyalty perks, according to Risher.
