Lyft partners Southwest Airlines in loyalty scheme

Lyft is partnering with Southwest Airlines, the world’s largest budget airline carrier, to offer the airline’s loyalty programme customers 1,100 points if they use Lyft’s ride-hail services from one of the 11 airports served by the two companies. The scheme was trialled at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas last year and this collaboration follows Uber's announcement of a similar partnership with American Airlines last month.

Ride-hailing company Lyft is partnering with Southwest Airlines, the largest commercial air passenger carrier at McCarran International Airport, in a promotion tied to the airline’s loyalty program.

Southwest Airlines jets are lined up at the A Gates at McCarran International Airport, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Ride-hailing company Lyft is partnering with Southwest Airlines, the largest commercial air passenger carrier at McCarran International Airport, in a promotion tied to the airline’s loyalty program.

Through the rest of the year, the airline will award Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards customers with 1,100 points after they take their first ride on Lyft from one of 11 airports served by the companies, including McCarran.

The new program was announced by both companies Thursday.

It’s the second collaboration between the two companies. Earlier this month, Lyft offered $15 off on a first-time ride to Southwest customers who are not Rapid Rewards members at the 11 airports. That offer, which took effect March 22 and is good through the end of the year, can’t be combined with the new offer.

In addition to McCarran, the promotions are offered at Austin, Texas; Louisville, Kentucky; Nashville; Oakland, California; San Antonio; San Diego; and at Midway International in Chicago; Love Field in Dallas; Los Angeles International; and Reagan National Airport in Washington.

Lyft, the second-largest ride-hailing company operating in the United States, was licensed in Nevada last year and was the first ride-hailing company to begin operating at McCarran.

The Southwest deal is the second collaboration between a ride-hailing company and a major U.S. airline. In February, Uber, the largest company, announced a partnership with American Airlines benefitting top-tier members of the airline’s AAdvantage program.

Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Find him on Twitter: @RickVelotta