Travelers can now enjoy greater convenience thanks to a fresh partnership between United Airlines and Instacart. MileagePlus members will benefit from $0 delivery fees on Instacart orders placed before, during, or after domestic flights, aiming to ease the hassle of forgotten items and groceries while traveling.
How The Partnership Works
United Airlines’ MileagePlus loyalty program members can unlock complimentary Instacart delivery fees for a week whenever they link their accounts and take a domestic flight.
This benefit lets travelers order essentials ahead of travel, when on the road, or just before arriving home—covering scenarios from forgotten toothpaste to restocking the fridge after a trip.
To enjoy these benefits, MileagePlus members simply link their United and Instacart accounts. Notably, Instacart is doubling down on targeted offers, ensuring members see timely offers through United’s digital and in-flight channels, like mobile boarding passes and seatback screens.
Earning Rewards Across Programs
Beyond waived delivery fees, the partnership enables customers to accumulate rewards in both programs:
- New Instacart customers: Place four Instacart grocery orders of $35 or more in eight weeks to earn 5,000 MileagePlus miles.
- Existing MileagePlus members: Link accounts and place a $35+ Instacart order within 60 days to receive 500 bonus miles.
- Further rewards: After initial offers, members enrolling in a paid annual Instacart+ membership (and keeping it for at least 30 days) earn an additional 5,000 miles.
Instacart’s Expanding Ecosystem
The United partnership reflects Instacart’s growing ambitions beyond basic grocery delivery. In recent years, Instacart has expanded into health services—such as its 2024 initiative with Northwell Health—and digital media, including a partnership with Roku for direct-shopping ads.
The company also launched a rewards debit card for its workforce, demonstrating a commitment to broader customer and shopper ecosystems.
Loyalty Programs: The New Competitive Edge
United isn’t alone in using partnerships to enrich its loyalty offerings. Other major airlines have launched similar initiatives:
- Delta Airlines & Starbucks (2022): Customers can earn cross-company rewards.
- Southwest Airlines & TikTok (2024): Engaged social media creators to inspire travel and drive flight bookings.
These moves signal a shift toward creating lifestyle-centric travel rewards that intersect with consumers’ daily habits—giving travelers extra motivation to stay loyal.
Looking Forward
This collaboration aims to make travel less stressful and encourage loyalty members to keep flying United and shopping with Instacart.
As both brands integrate more technology and convenience, consumers can expect further innovations that blur the lines between travel, everyday shopping, and loyalty rewards.
