United MileagePlus, Instacart add $0 delivery tied to flights

Published on Oct 6, 2025, 4:48 pm CDT

5 min read

United Airlines and Instacart have launched a first-of-its-kind airline partnership that gives MileagePlus members seven days of $0 delivery fees on Instacart orders placed right before, during, or shortly after a domestic flight. Travelers can enroll when booking a United flight and link accounts to unlock additional rewards, including bonus miles for both new and existing Instacart users. United says the collaboration is designed to simplify stocking a vacation rental on arrival or refilling the fridge at home after a trip, while earning miles along the way.

Key points

Why it matters: Loyalty members get $0 delivery fees for seven days around each domestic trip.
Travel impact: Easier grocery runs for vacation rentals and post-trip restocking, with miles on eligible orders.
What's next: Expect deeper app integration and targeted promos as the partners test adoption and repeat use.
Enrollment: Opt in during United flight booking, then link MileagePlus and Instacart accounts.
Bonus miles: New Instacart users can earn up to 5,000 miles; existing users can earn bonus miles with qualifying orders.

Snapshot

Under the new collaboration, MileagePlus members who book a domestic United flight can enroll for a seven-day window of $0 delivery fees on Instacart orders. The window covers orders placed right before departure, in-flight, and shortly after landing. Members must link MileagePlus and Instacart to qualify. New Instacart customers can earn 5,000 miles after placing four orders of $35 or more within eight weeks of joining. Existing Instacart customers who link accounts can earn 500 bonus miles after placing one order of at least $35 within 60 days. Members can also earn an additional 5,000 miles by upgrading to a paid annual Instacart+ membership and keeping it active for at least 30 days.

Background

Grocery delivery benefits have become a popular add-on in co-branded credit card portfolios, and United previously worked with Instacart on cardmember perks through Chase. This tie-up broadens access beyond credit cards to the full MileagePlus base and claims an airline first for delivery-fee waivers tied directly to trip timing. United has been layering lifestyle value into its loyalty and product stack, from larger lounges to connectivity upgrades. Recent moves include free high-speed Wi-Fi expansion and major club investments at key hubs. For travelers, the Instacart benefit aims to reduce errand time at the start or end of a journey and keep loyalty earning active between flights.

Latest developments

How the MileagePlus-Instacart offer works

MileagePlus members see the Instacart $0 delivery-fee offer during United's domestic flight booking flow. After enrolling and linking accounts, the benefit activates for seven days covering pre-trip, in-flight, and post-arrival ordering. Qualifying orders placed in that window are delivered with $0 fees, making it easier to provision a vacation rental at destination or restock at home on return. New Instacart users can earn 5,000 bonus miles by completing four $35-plus orders within eight weeks, while existing users can score 500 bonus miles with a $35-plus order within 60 days. Members who upgrade to a paid annual Instacart+ plan and keep it active for at least 30 days can earn another 5,000 miles. United positions this as a convenience play that also reinforces MileagePlus engagement between trips.

Analysis

This partnership tackles two traveler pain points: time lost to errands at trip bookends and under-utilized loyalty earning outside the airport. By anchoring a seven-day $0 delivery-fee window to a booked flight, United and Instacart make the benefit feel timely and practical. The bonus-mile structure nudges both trial and early repeat behavior, particularly the 5,000-mile offer tied to four $35-plus orders for new users. For United, this deepens MileagePlus stickiness beyond flights and credit cards, while adding a lifestyle utility that rivals can copy but will need to operationalize. For Instacart, it opens a targeted, travel-aligned acquisition channel with a high-spend demographic and a clear activation trigger. Execution details will matter, including clear in-app messaging, order-minimum disclosures, and traveler-friendly timing at vacation rentals with limited delivery windows. If adoption and repeat rates hold, expect broader day-of-travel retail tie-ins, richer co-promotions, and potential international expansion where service coverage allows.

Final thoughts

Linking grocery delivery to trip timing is a clever, low-friction way to add real utility to a loyalty program. If United and Instacart keep the enrollment flow simple and the benefits clearly messaged, travelers will likely use the seven-day window on both ends of a journey. The bonus-mile offers should spur trial, while the $0 delivery fees encourage habit. For MileagePlus members who already value seamless arrivals, this is another reason to keep flying United and to engage with the program between flights-especially when that next order supports a smooth landing. United MileagePlus Instacart.