One of the best ways to boost your loyalty account balances is by double dipping or even triple dipping your rewards. Stacking rewards takes many forms and requires different levels of effort, but one of the easiest ways to do this involves the ride-hailing company Lyft.
When you summon a Lyft, you may be able to earn rewards with not just one or two but three different loyalty programs simultaneously. And the process of doing it is easy. Here’s what you need to know.
Lyft partners
Lyft has close partnerships with the following loyalty programs:
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Before June 2021, you could earn both Hilton Honors points and Delta SkyMiles on Lyft rides. However, you’ll now have to choose between the two. Whether you opt for Hilton or Delta, you’ll still be eligible to earn with Chase and Dosh.
Now, let’s take a closer look at how to earn rewards through each partnership.
Related: Ride Lyft this month and earn 1,000 bonus Hilton Honors points
Delta SkyMiles
- 1 mile per dollar spent (excluding taxes, fees, tolls and tips) on all U.S. rides.
- 2 miles per dollar spent (excluding taxes, fees, tolls and tips) on all U.S. airport rides.
- $20 ride credit as a new Lyft user.
All you need to do to unlock these rewards is link your Delta and Lyft accounts. To do so, visit deltalyft.com and enter your first name, last name and SkyMiles number. Agree to the terms and conditions and then click “LINK ACCOUNT.”
Once you click to link your Delta account, you’ll need to confirm your Lyft account or create a new one.
Then, the final step is to confirm your details on Lyft’s website or app. Once you’ve finished this linking process, you’ll automatically earn Delta SkyMiles every time you pay for an eligible Lyft.
Related: How to redeem Delta SkyMiles for maximum value
Hilton Honors
While I credit my Lyft rides to Delta SkyMiles, you could alternatively opt to earn Hilton Honors points. Here’s what you can earn with Hilton Honors for taking Lyft rides in the U.S. and Canada:
- 3 points per dollar spent (excluding taxes, fees, tolls and tips) on Lyft economy, luxury and extra-seat rides.
- 2 points per dollar spent (excluding taxes, fees, tolls and tips) on shared Lyft rides.
- $5 off the first three rides for new users.
- Bonus points on up to $10,000 in Lyft rides.
If you reach the maximum spending of $10,000 in Lyft rides per year, you’ll earn 30,000 Hilton Honors points. Based on TPG’s valuations, these points would be worth about $180.
To start earning Hilton points on Lyft rides, visit hiltonhonorslyft.com.
Click “Link your accounts” and sign in to your Hilton Honors account.
You’ll need to agree to the terms and click “Link account.”
Once you’ve completed all these steps, you can earn Hilton Honors points every time you take a Lyft.
Related: 8 ways to maximize Hilton Honors redemptions
Should I earn with Delta or Hilton?
Deciding whether to credit your rides to Delta or Hilton depends on your ride patterns. If you generally do airport rides, crediting to Delta SkyMiles and earning 2 SkyMiles per dollar (worth 2.82 cents based on TPG’s valuations) will likely be your best bet.
Alternatively, standard Lyft rides earn 3 Hilton Honors points per dollar (worth 1.8 cents based on TPG’s valuations).
If you link both your Delta and Hilton accounts to Lyft, you’ll likely earn on whichever you most recently linked. To change from Hilton to Delta or Delta to Hilton, select “Rewards” on the left-side toolbar in the Lyft app.
Scroll to “Change partner” and select Delta SkyMiles or Hilton Honors.
Related: Best Delta credit cards
Dosh
Dosh is one of my all-time-favorite rewards apps. It’s simple: Add your credit card information to the app. When you call a Lyft, Dosh automatically recognizes the transaction by awarding you cash back on applicable purchases.
Dosh gives about 2% back on Lyft rides. Once you reach $25 in cash back, you can transfer the funds to various payment platforms, including Venmo, which is what I do. You can earn rewards through Dosh and Hilton or Delta simultaneously, letting you double dip on rewards.
Related: Quick Points: Triple stack these offers to maximize your next Lyft ride
Best cards for Lyft
Best of all, you can stack loyalty program bonuses and your standard credit card earnings. So, this is where the double stack becomes a triple stack.
To maximize your Lyft rides, use a card that offers additional rewards for ride-hailing. Chase recently extended its partnership with Lyft, so select Chase cardholders can earn bonuses on Lyft purchases. Here are the Chase cards that earn 5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar (worth 10 cents at TPG’s valuations) or 5% cash back on Lyft:
The $550-annual-fee Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 10 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar (worth 20 cents at TPG’s valuations) on Lyft.
If you have a Chase card with a Lyft bonus, add your Chase card to the “payment” section of the Lyft app.
World and World Elite Mastercard cardholders earn a $5 monthly credit after taking three Lyft rides in a month. After your third ride, the credit will automatically be applied to the next ride, capped at once per month. Cards covered include the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, Citi Prestige® Card and Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard.
The information for the Chase Freedom, Citi Prestige and Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Start checking Uber and Lyft as soon as you land
Bottom line
Making the most of your points and miles can be complicated, but the opposite is true in the case of Lyft’s partnerships with major loyalty programs. By taking advantage of these partnerships and using the right rewards card, you’ll be well on your way to earning future travel rewards every time you hail a Lyft — with minimal effort.
Additional reporting by Liz Hund.
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