Delta to launch SkyMiles partnership with Uber but cut ties with Lyft

There will soon be a new way to earn airline miles when riding with Uber — especially if you frequently use the ride-hailing company for treks to and from the airport.

Delta Air Lines on Tuesday announced Uber as its newest ride-hailing service partner in a reveal that came as part of a massive keynote spectacle at the Las Vegas Sphere.

The tie-up between the ride-hailing service and the Atlanta-based carrier will begin later this year, TPG first reported Tuesday. It will allow Delta SkyMiles members to earn Delta miles on eligible Uber rides and Uber Eats deliveries.

However, in adding Uber as a partner, Delta confirms it will soon drop competing ride-hailing company Lyft. This means you'll soon no longer be able to earn SkyMiles on Lyft rides.

Here's what to know about the changes and your future SkyMiles earning potential on Uber rides.

Delta's new partnership with Uber

A big focus of Delta's new Uber partnership is allowing members to earn SkyMiles on trips to and from the airport.

In announcing the news, Delta noted that 15% of all Uber bookings either begin or end at an airport, though certain other nonairport rides will be eligible for mileage earning, too.

Here's how the earnings will shake out for SkyMiles members who link their frequent flyer accounts to Uber:

• 1 mile per dollar spent on UberX rides to and from airports
• 2 miles per dollar spent on premium Uber rides (Uber Black, Uber XL and Uber Comfort)
• 3 miles per dollar spent on Uber Reserve rides
• 1 mile per dollar spent on eligible Uber Eats restaurant and grocery deliveries

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As laid out above, you'll earn SkyMiles on your "standard" UberX rides only if you're taking the ride-hailing company to or from the airport. However, if you're using one of the higher-priced Uber options, such as Uber Black or Uber XL, you'll be eligible for SkyMiles earnings even if you're not traveling to or from an airport.

More details are expected later this spring, the airline said.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi joined Delta CEO Ed Bastian on stage in Las Vegas during the announcement. He noted that the ride-hailing company will also work with Delta to offer passengers better instructions on how to locate the ride-pick-up area, which can be a hassle at many airports.

"We're also evolving our airport experience by providing easy, step-by-step instructions right in the Uber app to guide you from the plane straight to your ride to improve pickup and drop-off experiences at Delta hubs," Khosrowshahi said in Las Vegas Tuesday.

More details about the partnership are expected in the coming months, but customers can already get a jump-start on preparing to link their accounts by joining a waitlist on Uber's website.

Lyft tie-up ends

As soon as Delta announced its partnership with Uber on Tuesday, one of the first questions we had for the airline was: What will become of its existing deal with Lyft, which allows Lyft riders to earn SkyMiles on eligible rides?

That partnership is ending soon, TPG learned.

SkyMiles earnings on Lyft rides will last through April 7, a spokesperson for the carrier confirmed.

Customers with linked Lyft accounts will receive additional details in the coming days, according to Delta.

"We are appreciative of the partnership we've had with Lyft, benefitting loyal customers who have collectively earned billions of miles," a spokesperson said.

What this means for travelers

It's not a huge surprise that Delta would want to move closer to Uber as its ride-hailing partner of choice.

Delta, of course, has deep ties to American Express, which itself offers cardmembers a variety of benefits through its travel credit card portfolio.

For instance, travelers who carry The Platinum Card® from American Express can earn up to $15 each month in Uber cash (plus an extra $20 in December). Cardmembers with the American Express® Gold Card can earn up to $10 monthly in Uber cash. Your Amex Plat or Amex Gold card must be added as a payment method to your Uber account, and you can redeem with any Amex card; Uber Cash can only be used toward purchases in the U.S.

Meanwhile, Uber does still offer a partnership with Marriott Bonvoy that can be rewarding for travelers who book Uber Eats deliveries to certain Marriott-affiliated properties. However, the Bonvoy-Uber tie-up doesn't currently offer travelers a way to earn points on standard, non-Reserve UberX rides. So, that will be a distinct advantage of the Delta-Uber partnership ... at least, if you're riding to or from an airport.

Related reading:

• Best Delta credit cards
• Delta Medallion status: What it is and how to earn it
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• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Delta basic economy: What you need to know about bags, seats, boarding and more