Lyft is rolling out a slew of features that are especially timely for the holiday season and people on the go.
The rideshare company revealed in a study that 71% of rideshare users surveyed find transportation to and from the airport more taxing than the flight. With the holiday season around the corner, concerns are expected
to rise as transportation demand to the airport climbs 20% on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and rises 30% on the Sunday and Monday after the holiday, according to information shared with AFROTECH.
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Even in the midst of this, the majority (86%) of riders surveyed preferred rideshare over driving to the airport themselves. Lyft says it is committed to making its riders’ travel experience easier. It is now allowing riders to schedule drop-offs and pick-ups up to 90 days to avoid the last-minute holiday bustle. It will also make more XXL rides available to accommodate a larger volume of luggage and presents.
Lyft adds that it is committing to on-time pickups and will resolve any instances where this is not honored. And beyond ground travel, the rideshare company has added perks to support users in the air. It will now track flight changes and ensure travelers can earn travel rewards through its credit card, hotel, and airline partnerships. This includes a recent collaboration with United, so travelers can now earn four United MileagePlus® miles per dollar spent on pre-scheduled rides to and from the airport. According to a news release, riders can also earn three miles for every dollar spent on Extra Comfort, Lyft Black, and Black SUV rides, two miles for every dollar spent on Standard, Priority Pickup, and XL rides with your company business profile, and one mile for every dollar spent on Standard, Priority Pickup, and XL rides.
“This collaboration brings our brand purpose of ‘serve and connect’ to life in a powerful way,” Brian Irving, CMO of Lyft, said in a news release. “A large amount of our riders use Lyft for trips to the airport, so we’re giving riders more value from rides they’re already taking while making their entire travel journey more seamless.”
The announcement is also timely, not only for the holiday season but also for the everyday person who is always on the move and juggling various tasks. Elaine Welteroth, who leads Birth Fund — a coalition that helps cover the cost of midwifery care — can relate as she wears many hats including award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, producer, television host, and mother. She tells AFROTECH
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she practically lives her life in the backseat of a Lyft, taking calls over Zoom or on her phone, writing, feeding her children, and that is likely only scratching the surface.
She has already taken hundreds of Lyft rides and booked more than 50 flights in 2025 alone, she shares, underscoring how beneficial these new features will be for not only herself but also for other riders constantly on the move.
“I am the queen of multitasking, and I love to maximize every minute. And I’m always traveling, I’m always on the go, for anybody who follows me. They know this, this life that I’m living,” Welteroth expressed. “I’m always like going between, a Lyft and an airport… I’m so big on maximizing every moment and squeezing all the value out of a moment. I love the idea of being able to earn United Miles on my Lyft to earn United Points or rewards on my Lyft rides. It just makes sense.”
She later added, “I think for anyone who’s ambitious, multitasking, busy, this is the perfect benefit for you, just literally connect your accounts. … You’re all looking out the window, enjoying your day. Why not also earn extra points while you’re at it?”
The post Lyft To Allow Riders To Earn Airline Miles Ahead Of Holiday Season And For Folks On The Go appeared first on AfroTech.
The post Lyft To Allow Riders To Earn Airline Miles Ahead Of Holiday Season And For Folks On The Go appeared first on AfroTech.