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If you live in a big city like New York or Chicago, there’s a good chance you use Lyft on a regular basis. But did you know that you can earn travel rewards on every ride?
From using the right credit card to linking hotel and airline loyalty programs to the app, there are plenty of ways to maximize Lyft purchases. Here are a few ways to maximize points-earning on your next Lyft ride.
Earn bonus credit card rewards on Lyft rides
Several rewards credit cards offer a healthy bonus for Lyft spending. Some cards earn a bonus on transit purchases; others earn a bonus on travel purchases (including Lyft). But there are a handful of cards that specialize in Lyft-specific transactions. To earn a bonus, just add your eligible card to your Lyft payment options within the app.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns an incredible 10 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points per dollar with Lyft through March 31, 2025. We consider Chase points to be worth up to 2 cents each when redeemed for travel — effectively making this earning rate a 20% return.
Several other Chase credit cards earn bonus rewards with Lyft as well. Through March 31, 2025, you’ll receive five points per dollar when using:
The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
You’ll also earn bonus Bilt Rewards Points when you pay with the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees). You’ll receive three Bilt Rewards points when making the card your primary payment method, plus the ability to earn two additional points per dollar when you link your Bilt Rewards account to Lyft. More on that in the next section.
Double-dip by earning travel rewards and credit card rewards
By linking your loyalty program to your Lyft account, you’ll earn travel rewards in addition to the credit card rewards you’ll earn for your Lyft transactions. Here’s what you’ll earn with each program:
View this interactive content on CNN.comAgain, those paying with the Bilt Mastercard will earn a total of five points per dollar: two points per dollar when selecting Bilt as their default rewards partner and three points per dollar when using the Bilt Mastercard to pay for the ride. However to earn points with the card, you must use the card five times each statement period (see Rewards & Benefits).
Use a credit card that offers Lyft or ride share credits
One of the easiest and most effective steps you can take to mitigate your Lyft bill is to use a Mastercard as your payment method.
You’ll get $5 in Lyft credit each month in which you pay for three eligible rides with your World or World Elite Mastercard. Some good examples include the Bilt Mastercard, the Citi Strata℠ Premier Card and the Citi® Double Cash Card.
Even better, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® awards $10 in credit for each month you use the card for three eligible rides, among other premium benefits like airport lounge access.
That said, you’ll only qualify for one $5 credit per month per Lyft account. This means you cannot earn multiple $5 Lyft credits if you have multiple qualifying Mastercards.
Alternatively, four Delta credit cards offer up to $120 in annual ride share credit (which you can use to offset your Lyft purchases):
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
You’ll receive up to $10 in statement credits per month when using your eligible card to pay for Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel or Alto rides.
Get a pricey Lyft membership for free
Lyft offers paid subscriptions that can help you to escape the ancillary fees associated with Lyft rides and provide in-app freebies. If you hail Lyft rides with any frequency, it’s worth looking into a Lyft Pink membership.
There are two levels of Lyft membership: Lyft Pink ($99 per year) and Lyft Pink All Access ($199 per year). The Chase Sapphire Reserve gives card holders a free Lyft Pink All Access for two full years (plus a 50% discount on the third year). That’s a potential value of nearly $500.
Lyft Pink All Access comes with benefits like:
- Free Priority Pickup upgrades
- Discounted prices
- More customer-friendly ride cancellations
- Unlimited 45-minute classic bike rides
- Unlimited e-bike and scooter unlocks
- Discounted e-bike and scooter rates.
- Free Grubhub+ for a year.
Combine this with the fact that you’ll receive 10 points per dollar for Lyft purchases, and it’s easy to see why the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a good choice for Lyft fans.
Bottom line
There are a number of simple ways to get extra perks for your Lyft rides, from discounts to bonus points to free Lyft Pink All Access membership. The travel rewards you earn and the money you save by using the right credit card can springboard your next vacation.
Looking for a travel credit card? Find out which cards CNN Underscored Money chose as the best travel credit cards currently available.