Lyft in Talks with United Airlines to Expand Travel Perks
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 days ago
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Strategic Partnership Talks: Lyft is reportedly in discussions with United Airlines to extend travel perks to corporate customers, a strategy supported by its acquisition of European chauffeur service TBR, with CEO David Risher emphasizing that having an asset like TBR is crucial for entering such negotiations.
- Acquisition Context: Last October, Lyft acquired Glasgow-based TBR Global Chauffeuring for $110 million, expanding its ride-sharing options into the high-end luxury market, with TBR operating across 120 countries and over 3,000 cities, thereby enhancing Lyft's global service capabilities.
- Existing Partnerships: Lyft currently collaborates with United Airlines, allowing MileagePlus members to pay for Lyft rides with earned miles and earn up to 3 points per dollar on airport trips with Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, which further enhances customer loyalty.
- Market Potential: By pursuing a potential corporate partnership with United Airlines, Lyft aims to attract more high-end customers, leveraging its newly acquired TBR services to enhance its competitive position in the market, which is expected to drive booking growth and free cash flow.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy LYFT?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on LYFT
Wall Street analysts forecast LYFT stock price to rise
29 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
20 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 13.820
Low
16.00
Averages
24.06
High
32.00
Current: 13.820
Low
16.00
Averages
24.06
High
32.00
About LYFT
Lyft, Inc. provides global mobility platform offering a mix of rideshare, taxis, private hire vehicles, executive chauffeur services, car sharing, bikes and scooters. Its Lyft mobile application (the Lyft App) connects riders with drivers for on-demand ride services and supports a variety of other multimodal solutions. The Company is also engaged in licensing and data access agreements, the sale of bikes and bike station software and hardware, advertising services, riders renting through its network of shared bikes and scooters, drivers renting vehicles through Express Drive. Its ridesharing marketplace includes taxis, private hire vehicles, executive chauffeur services and car sharing. Its Express Drive is a car rental program for drivers. Through its Express Drive program, drivers can enter into rental agreements and rental car partners for vehicles that may be used to provide ridesharing services on the Lyft Platform. It owns Freenow, a multimodal app with taxi offering at its core.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- AI Collaboration Outlook: Apple's partnership with Google is expected to significantly enhance Siri, with Melius Research predicting that the new Siri will be 'a lot better,' which could improve user experience and attract more developer engagement, thereby strengthening Apple's ecosystem competitiveness.
- Price Target Increase: Melius raised Apple's price target from $355 to $385, implying nearly a 25% upside from Tuesday's close, reflecting market optimism regarding Apple's AI strategy and its potential impact on revenue.
- Market Performance Review: Although Apple's initial attempts in the AI space did not generate strong market enthusiasm, the iPhone 17 series achieved success due to software and hardware improvements, demonstrating Apple's resilience in product innovation.
- Long-term Partnership Benefits: Apple's multi-year collaboration with Google not only supports its AI features but also allows Apple to avoid spending billions on AI infrastructure, a strategy that will help maintain its competitive edge in future market dynamics.
See More
- Strategic Partnership Talks: Lyft is reportedly in discussions with United Airlines to extend travel perks to corporate customers, a strategy supported by its acquisition of European chauffeur service TBR, with CEO David Risher emphasizing that having an asset like TBR is crucial for entering such negotiations.
- Acquisition Context: Last October, Lyft acquired Glasgow-based TBR Global Chauffeuring for $110 million, expanding its ride-sharing options into the high-end luxury market, with TBR operating across 120 countries and over 3,000 cities, thereby enhancing Lyft's global service capabilities.
- Existing Partnerships: Lyft currently collaborates with United Airlines, allowing MileagePlus members to pay for Lyft rides with earned miles and earn up to 3 points per dollar on airport trips with Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, which further enhances customer loyalty.
- Market Potential: By pursuing a potential corporate partnership with United Airlines, Lyft aims to attract more high-end customers, leveraging its newly acquired TBR services to enhance its competitive position in the market, which is expected to drive booking growth and free cash flow.
See More
- Uber Revenue Growth: Uber reported a 21% year-over-year revenue increase in Q1, reaching $10.7 billion, showcasing its strong performance in the global market while expanding into robotaxi and hotel booking services to solidify its market position.
- Lyft Steady Growth: Lyft's revenue grew 14% year-over-year in Q1 to $1.4 billion, despite an operating loss of $5.3 million; however, its acquisition of Gett U.K. aims to penetrate higher-value segments in the London market, enhancing its competitive edge.
- Market Size Comparison: Uber's annual revenue exceeds $53 billion, significantly outpacing Lyft's $6.5 billion, highlighting Uber's advantages in scale and global reach, positioning it favorably in the future AI-driven transportation landscape.
- Future Growth Opportunities: Uber's network of 30 partners will facilitate the expansion of robotaxi services to 15 cities by the end of 2026, while Lyft's integration with Google's Waymo may provide growth potential, although its discounted share price suggests greater upside, contingent on its ability to accelerate revenue growth.
See More
- Union Formation: Ride-share drivers in Massachusetts have formed the first officially recognized union in the U.S., representing nearly 70,000 independent contractors, marking a new era of worker organization that could inspire nationwide unionization efforts.
- Innovative Legal Framework: The passage of a ballot measure in November 2024 allows ride-share drivers to organize and collectively bargain over pay and benefits, fundamentally changing their labor rights and raising industry standards.
- Minimum Wage Standard: Massachusetts Attorney General secured a settlement with Uber and Lyft mandating a $32.50 hourly minimum wage for drivers and a $175 million payout to resolve claims of misclassification, further securing drivers' economic interests.
- Industry Impact: The establishment of this union is seen as a key victory for unionization efforts in other states, particularly as similar legislation is advancing in California and Illinois, potentially triggering a nationwide transformation in labor rights.
See More
- Union Formation: The App Drivers Union, officially certified in Massachusetts, becomes the first union in the U.S. for Uber and Lyft drivers, representing approximately 70,000 app-based drivers in collective bargaining, marking a significant milestone in driver rights protection.
- Support Exceeds Expectations: The union garnered support from 32% of active rideshare drivers, significantly surpassing the 25% threshold required by state law for certification, indicating a strong demand among drivers for better pay and fair treatment, which could drive industry change.
- Union Backing: The App Drivers Union is supported by the powerful 32BJ Service Employees International Union and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, enhancing its bargaining power and influence, signaling an increase in driver representation within the industry.
- Market Reaction: Over the past six weeks, shares of Uber and Lyft have declined by 5.7% and 5.2%, respectively, reflecting market concerns regarding the driver rights movement and its potential impact, which may lead to significant changes in the companies' operational models.
See More
- Growing Market Demand: Obi's report indicates that consumer demand for cheaper rideshare alternatives in New York City is rising, with Empower's prices averaging nearly 30% lower than those of Uber and Lyft, highlighting a shift towards cost-effective travel options in a high-cost urban environment.
- Significant User Growth: Empower's share of weekly ride requests in the Obi app surged from 21% in January to 40% by the end of March, surpassing both Uber and Lyft, demonstrating rapid growth and increasing consumer loyalty in the rideshare market.
- Driver Earnings Advantage: Empower drivers retain approximately 94% of fare and tip revenue, significantly higher than the 82% retained by Uber and Lyft, making it an attractive option for drivers and enhancing service appeal to riders.
- Legal Challenges and Consumer Satisfaction: Despite facing legal scrutiny from NYC regulators, nearly 80% of Empower users report satisfaction with the service, and 71% believe it should be allowed to operate without a TLC license, reflecting strong consumer demand for affordable rideshare options.
See More











