Seattle-based Alaska Airlines and on-demand ride-sharing app Lyft have recently announced their brand new partnership.

An Unexpected But Beneficial Partnership

Customers who have a registered Alaska Mileage Plan account with Alaska Airlines will be able to earn two miles for every $1 spent on the Lyft app. This offer is only valid in the United States and Canada and runs until December 31, 2022. After this period, you will still be able to earn miles, but at a rate of just one mile per dollar spent on a ride.

Individuals may sign up for this new program by linking their Alaska Mileage Plan with their Lyft account, and vice versa. Customers will then start earning miles immediately with every ride. This can be done via the new partnership website alaskalyft.com. Opening the Lyft app and selecting Alaska Airlines as the active partner in the "rewards" section will activate the link between the two accounts. 

Not Just Flights  

Since the announcement, Alaska Airlines has stated that the miles you earn via Lyft rides can not only be redeemed for flights, but also for hotels, experiences, and more.

Worth it?

While the new partnership presents itself as an advantageous way to earn miles, for some patrons it may not prove to be the most feasible way of doing it. This is due, in part, to the way most airlines in the world price their tickets in terms of miles. A ticket on an Alaska Airlines flight from New York to either Los Angeles or Seattle costs on average 30,000 miles. Even if you take advantage of this limited-time promotion, one would have to spend approximately $15,000 on Lyft rides in order to get just one free flight or $30,000 outside of the offer. Naturally, this is meant to be a convenient way for travelers to top up miles through ground transportation and not as a sole method of building mileage.

Despite this, the partnership will most likely aid in the growth of Alaska's Mileage Plan Program. As more potential customers will be incentivized to join the program, this presents an exceptional way to passively earn miles.

Official Statement on Behalf of Alaska Airlines   

In the official press release, Sangita Woerner, Senior VP of Marketing and Guest Experience at Alaska Airlines, had this to say about the novel partnership:

"...We always want our guests to have a terrific travel experience, even when they're not flying with us. Our new partnership with Lyft makes sure our flyers are also cared for on the ground as they go places. Alaska and Lyft are both respected brands by millions of customers who turn to us as their preferred modes of transportation..."