A new partnership between United Airlines and Instacart will give the airline’s loyalty members $0 delivery fees for orders placed before, during or after they take a domestic flight, making it easier to replace forgotten items on the go or restock the fridge for their return home. United MileagePlus members who link their accounts with Instacart also can earn other benefits, found at United.com/Instacart, including mileage bonuses for placing their first Instacart order and for joining the Instacart+ membership program.
“We’re excited to make the convenience of Instacart — whether shopping at home or while traveling — even more rewarding for United MileagePlus members,” said Ryan Hamburger, VP of Commercial Partnerships for Instacart in a statement. “This partnership solidifies Instacart’s position as a critical piece of the journey, ensuring our customers have everything they need, wherever they are.”
Instacart also is working with Kinective Media, the United Airlines media network, to reach its loyalty program members throughout their travel experience with targeted messaging across channels including the United app and in-flight entertainment. Additionally, travelers can expect to see offers from Instacart during timely moments, such as on their mobile boarding pass within the United app and on seatback screens.
Earning Benefits in Both Loyalty Programs
In addition to the $0 delivery fees, which are good for seven days once activated, United MileagePlus members who are new to Instacart can earn 5,000 miles when they place four grocery orders of $35+ each within an eight-week period. Existing MileagePlus members who link their Instacart account will receive 500 additional miles when they place an order of at least $35 within 60 days.
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After completing this “Getting Started” offer, these MileagePlus members can earn an additional 5,000 miles if they enroll in a paid annual Instacart+ membership that they maintain for at least 30 days.
“We’re always looking for new ways to make our loyalty program even more valuable for our members and the partners we choose to go a long way toward making travel — and life — easier and more rewarding,” said Richard Nunn, CEO of UnitedMileagePlus in a statement. “This Instacart collaboration gives members the peace of mind to know they can add groceries and other essentials at just about any stage of their trip.”
Delivery platforms like Instacart have been extending their reach beyond traditional partners such as restaurants and supermarkets. In July 2024 Northwell Health partnered with Instacart Health to expand access to nutritious food, beginning with a focus on moms-to-be, and in October 2024 Instacart expanded its partnership with Roku, adding new ad formats on Roku that enable direct purchases on Instacart. In July 2025 Instacart partnered with workforce payments platform Branch to offer a rewards debit card for its Shoppers (the Instacart associates who fulfill online orders).
And other airlines have been forging their own partnerships with retailers and social media platforms. In October 2022 Starbucks partnered with Delta Airlines to enable customers of both companies to earn rewards across their respective loyalty programs, and in July 2024 Southwest Airlines partnered with 10 different TikTok creators to both highlight travel inspiration and offer a simple way to book flights on the airline.
