United Airlines and Instacart just rolled out a partnership that blends travel rewards with grocery delivery perks. For the first time, an airline loyalty program is linking directly with an on-demand delivery platform, giving MileagePlus members $0 delivery fees* around their flights and the chance to rack up extra miles with every grocery run.

It’s a play that goes beyond inflight snacks and airport lounges—United is bringing rewards straight into members’ kitchens.

What MileagePlus Members Get

The deal has some notable perks for frequent flyers:

• $0 delivery fees when flying United domestically – Members booking a U.S. flight can unlock a week of free deliveries from Instacart, useful for last-minute packing essentials or a stocked fridge waiting at home after landing.
• Extra miles for groceries – New Instacart users can pick up 5,000 miles by placing four qualifying orders. Existing users aren’t left out—they can earn 500 bonus miles just by linking accounts and placing an eligible order.
• Instacart+ rewards – Those who sign up for a paid annual Instacart+ membership through the MileagePlus offer can bank another 5,000 miles, along with ongoing delivery and savings benefits.

Ryan Hamburger, VP of Commercial Partnerships at Instacart, framed it as a way for “travelers to spend less time running errands and more time enjoying the journey.” Richard Nunn, CEO of MileagePlus, went further: this isn’t just about convenience, it’s about making rewards part of the everyday life cycle of travel.

Why This Partnership Matters

Airlines have long used partnerships to extend the value of loyalty programs—from hotel chains to car rentals to co-branded credit cards. But groceries are new territory. For United, this is an attempt to embed MileagePlus into daily routines, beyond trips booked a few times a year.

For Instacart, the tie-in provides exposure to millions of frequent flyers and business travelers—people who value time and convenience enough to see grocery delivery not as a luxury, but as a necessity.

A Wider Trend in Loyalty Ecosystems

Globally, the move echoes a broader shift: loyalty programs are no longer confined to travel and retail silos.

• Emirates Skywards has expanded into lifestyle rewards, linking with everything from ride-hailing to food delivery in the Middle East and Asia.
• Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer has integrated with Grab and KrisShop, blurring the line between travel and daily commerce.
• In the U.S., Delta’s partnership with Starbucks shows how airlines are experimenting with lifestyle crossovers to deepen engagement beyond flying.

Industry analysts from Skift and Phocuswright have highlighted how these integrations are reshaping loyalty into an “always-on” engagement model, where points and perks touch everyday life, not just occasional trips.

Conclusion: United’s Playbook and What’s Next

This United–Instacart collaboration is more than a perk—it’s a strategic signal. Airlines increasingly understand that loyalty programs aren’t just about flights; they’re about owning a share of the traveler’s lifestyle economy. United is pushing MileagePlus into the same arena where Starbucks Rewards, Amazon Prime, and even fintech players like Revolut are battling: being the platform people interact with daily.

Compared with peers like Delta or Emirates, United’s Instacart tie-up stands out as one of the first serious moves into the grocery and delivery space in North America. If it gains traction, expect competitors to follow. After all, in a market where margins on flights are razor-thin, the real battle is for customer engagement long after the plane has landed.