Uber announced an exclusive multi-year partnership with Delta Air Lines during CES 2025 that allows SkyMiles members to earn miles when they ride with Uber or order delivery through Uber Eats in the US. Agreement means the end Delta's partnership with Lyft.
The partnership will launch in the spring, giving Uber customers access to benefits such as an “enhanced Uber pickup and drop-off experience at Delta hubs,” according to a company statement. Asked what that means, an Uber spokesperson declined to elaborate.
Uber is promising 1 mile per dollar on $40+ restaurant and grocery orders on Uber Eats and UberX rides to and from the airport with accounts linked to its customers' Delta SkyMiles memberships. Users of premium rides like Uber Comfort or Uber Black will earn 2 miles per dollar spent. And for riders who reserve in advance, they can earn 3 miles per dollar spent.
The tie-up with Delta could be a move to connect the airline and Uber with Joby Aviation, an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) startup that has separate partnerships with both Uber and its own. Delta. Delta's partnership with Joby means Delta customers will one day be able to tap Joby's electric air taxi service, starting in NYC.
Uber's partnership with Jobbi is more involved. Joby has acquired Uber ElevateUber's urban air mobility unit, in 2020. Part of that deal was to integrate their respective services into each other's apps for a more seamless connection between ground and air travel. In addition, Jabir's air taxi software, ElevateOSWhat came out of that partnership, not unlike an Uber ride, promises to enable on-demand mobility.
Last October All three companies held an event in NYC Where they talked about a vision of connected mobility, stopping shy of announcing a full-blown, three-way partnership.
Joby, which is backed by both Uber and Delta, has yet to obtain the necessary certification to operate an electric air taxi service, but Targeted to launch in 2025.
Spokesmen for Uber, Jobi and Delta declined to share any progress on what I predict will be an apparent alliance.