If you use Lyft even a few times a month — or just occasionally when you travel — you’ve probably noticed something: the rewards side keeps shifting.
And in 2026, it’s not just “pick a partner.” The earning rates — and the value you’ll get back — can be wildly different depending on whether you’re taking airport rides, scheduling rides ahead, or just grabbing a quick ride across town.
So here’s the updated breakdown of Lyft’s current partners — United, Hilton, Atmos (Alaska + Hawaiian), and Bilt — what each one is worth, and why I personally went with Bilt (even though that won’t be the best answer for everyone).
1) United MileagePlus: Best if you take airport rides (or you actually redeem United miles well)
Lyft’s newest major airline partner is United, and the earning rates are tiered by ride type — which makes this one surprisingly strong if you use Lyft for airport rides.
According to Lyft’s rewards page, you’ll earn:
- 4 miles per $1 on scheduled airport rides
- 3 miles per $1 on Extra Comfort, Lyft Black, Black SUV, and on-demand airport rides
- 1 mile per $1 on Standard, Priority Pickup, and XL
A couple of practical notes:
- This is very “airport-optimized.” If most of your Lyft spend is getting to/from airports, United can become the highest-earning option on this list.
- MileagePlus miles earned with Lyft won’t expire (as long as you’re earning them normally through the program’s rules)
Who should pick United?
If you’re already in the MileagePlus ecosystem (United flyers, Star Alliance award users, or people who can consistently get good value out of United miles), this is an easy “set it and forget it” option — especially if you schedule airport rides.
2) Hilton Honors: Simple, consistent, and easy to value
Hilton’s Lyft partnership is straightforward: link accounts and earn 3 Hilton points per $1 on Lyft rides.
If you already redeem Hilton points for hotel stays, this can be a nice “background earning” stream — the type where you don’t need to overthink it.
One important reminder: Hilton also allows point redemptions for Lyft credits, but that’s usually not the best use of Hilton points versus hotel nights (Hilton itself heavily promotes the redemption option, which is a clue that it’s more convenient than valuable).
Who should pick Hilton?
If Hilton is a chain you regularly stay with (and you redeem points for rooms), it is the most “boring in a good way” choice here: consistent earning and predictable usefulness.
3) Atmos Rewards (Alaska + Hawaiian): Strong earnings if you do a mix of everyday + airport rides
Lyft’s other airline partner is Atmos Rewards, which is associated with Alaska Airlines / Hawaiian Airlines post-merger. If you previously earned via Alaska miles with Lyft, this is the program name you’ll see going forward.
Earning is also tiered, and it’s competitive:
- 2 points per $1 on everyday rides (Standard, Priority Pickup, XL)
- 3 points per $1 on airport rides and elevated modes (Extra Comfort, Black, Black SUV)
Who should pick Atmos?
This is the best fit if you’re committed to the Alaska/Hawaiian ecosystem and want strong earnings on both standard rides and airport rides — without needing to schedule the airport ride to get a higher rate.
4) Bilt Rewards: The “flexible currency” play
For my travel style, Bilt is still the standout Lyft partner — because it earns a transferable currency rather than a single-airline or single-hotel point.
Lyft’s rewards page shows: 2x Bilt Points per $1 on eligible rides in the U.S. when Bilt is set as your active loyalty partner.
And Bilt points can be valuable because you can transfer them to partners when you have a specific redemption in mind (rather than locking yourself into one program today).
Also worth noting: Bilt has been expanding how you can redeem value back into everyday spend, including a stated benefit of $10 per month toward Lyft rides through its newer “Bilt Cash” redemption options.
Who should pick Bilt?
Think of Bilt as the “advanced mode” option: flexible points, lots of ways to redeem, and potentially great value.
But if you don’t take Lyft often — or you’re not someone who transfers points to travel partners — it’s probably not worth optimizing. You’ll get more real-world value by earning in a program you already know you’ll use.
So… which one did I choose?
I’ve linked my Lyft account to Bilt.
Not because the earning rate is the highest on paper, but because I can turn those points into the program I need when I need it, instead of committing all my rides to one airline or one hotel chain.
But that doesn’t mean it’s automatically best for everyone.
Which option is best for you?
Here’s the easiest way to decide:
- Pick United if you take lots of airport rides (especially scheduled ones) and you actually redeem MileagePlus miles well.
- Pick Hilton if Hilton points reliably turn into hotel nights for you and you want simple, consistent earning.
- Pick Atmos if you’re loyal to Alaska/Hawaiian and want strong earning across everyday rides plus airport/elevated rides.
- Pick Bilt if you want flexibility and you take enough Lyft rides for the points to add up. If you only use Lyft occasionally — or you don’t transfer points to travel partners — this one may not be worth optimizing.
One important reminder: You can link multiple rewards accounts, but Lyft only lets you earn with one travel partner at a time. If you want a different currency on future rides, you’ll need to switch your active partner.
Don’t forget the easy stack: Mastercard credits (and airport ride discounts)
No matter which loyalty partner you choose above, you can also “double dip” with Mastercard benefits:
- $5 Lyft credit after 3 eligible rides in a month when you pay with an eligible World / World Elite / World Legend Mastercard
- $10 Lyft credit after 3 eligible rides in a month when you pay with the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite or World Legend Mastercard
This runs (at least as currently published) through 1/31/2027.
Mastercard also advertises 10% off scheduled rides to/from U.S. airports on eligible cards, which can matter more than the points if you schedule rides often.
Final thought
Lyft’s rewards game in 2026 is less about “what earns the most” and more about what you’ll actually redeem.
If you’re disciplined about points transfers, Bilt can be the most powerful long-term play. If you’re taking airport rides constantly, United (or Atmos) can rack up miles fast. And if you just want a simple, steady option tied to hotel stays, Hilton is the easiest pick.
What did you link your Lyft account to — and why?
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
