Delta Air Lines "this spring" will begin a partnership with Uber, under which customers who link their Uber and SkyMiles accounts can earn miles, Delta CEO Ed Bastian announced on stage along with Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi at the CES technology trade show in Las Vegas.
SkyMiles members will be able to earn one mile per dollar spent on UberX rides to and from airports, two miles per dollar on premium rides and three miles per dollar on Uber Reserve rides, according to Delta.
The new partnership means that the carrier will end its relationship with Lyft, according to a Delta spokesperson, who added that customers can continue to earn SkyMiles via Lyft rides through April 7, 2025. "Customers with linked accounts will receive direct communications from Delta and Lyft in the coming days about the transition," the spokesperson added.
Delta Concierge
Delta also plans to introduce in 2025 a generative AI-powered "personal assistant" that will offer "multi-modal" transportation options with partners Uber and Joby, among other services via the Delta app, Bastian announced at the show. (Delta has invested in Joby, which has developed an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that can be used for home-to-airport transportation.)
Dubbed Delta Concierge, the tool will be designed to assist customers with more "personalized, contextual insights and experiences."
Bastian gave an example, set in the future, of a woman taking a business trip to Tokyo. As she prepares for her trip, Delta Concierge could warn her of heavy traffic on the way to the airport and suggest a quicker Joby flight instead.
Once introduced later this year, Delta Concierge also will be able to notify customers about any passport expirations or visa requirements, according to the carrier. It also will offer "wayfinding" at unfamiliar airports, notifications for bag-drop directions, and locations of the nearest Delta Sky Club as well as a traveler's gate, according to Delta. "In the years ahead," Delta plans to develop the tool to offer other updates, such as weather conditions. Future releases also will enable customers to connect to Delta Sync Wi-Fi and Delta Sync seatback entertainment, according to the carrier.