• by Laurie Sullivan , Yesterday

Lyft Ads will expand a partnership with United Airlines on Tuesday to introduce and launch a dynamic advertising unit that updates the creative in the Lyft rise share app during a rider’s journey.

Riders using Lyft in New York City could receive a dynamic creative ad in the app that highlights travel times to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey and John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York CIty (NYC).

“Dynamic Ads" debuts for travelers in NYC today in the app, helping to identify the time it takes for them to arrive at the airport. 

The automatically generated ads personalize the content and are based on user intent signals. 

The campaign runs through December 31, 2026.

Shane Dwyer, vice president of Advertiser Solutions at Lyft Ads, told MediaPost this campaign with United is the latest in a history of partnerships between the two companies that span brand, loyalty and ads.

"Users might have the opportunity to experience the new ad format at two points of their journey," Dwyer said, "while they wait to match with a driver and are waiting for their driver to arrive."

The ad places two estimated travel times side-by-side -- one to each airport -- based on the rider’s location at the beginning of their journey. 

Maggie Schmerin, United’s chief advertising officer, said pairing this type of technology with an “eye-catching creative” can deliver a message that feels timely and relevant to travelers.

When it takes less time to reach JFK, the dynamic ad reveals United’s campaign slogan, “BETTEWR,” reminding riders that EWR and United Airlines have more destinations from the NYC area than any airline.

United MileagePlus members can link their Lyft account to earn up to 4 miles per $1 on pre-scheduled airport rides, along with additional offers or perks.

While the new dynamic ad unit is the core of this relationship with Lyft, it is part of United's ongoing campaign promoting its EWR hub and its numerous routes/destinations for NYC-area travelers.

United flyers can also pay for rides with miles, and new Lyft riders earn 1,000 bonus miles once they take two eligible rides in 30 days.

United's recent announcements of international expansions, aircraft and more for the Newark airport is supported by the new ad format pioneered by Lyft, as a product of this campaign. 

United Airlines has made several major changes lately to its partnerships and advertising strategies, from its partnership with Lyft to expanding services through its Kinective Media ad network, which launched in June 2024.

The company is pushing toward “programmatic ads in the sky,” using verified TSA and passenger-booking profiles and behavior to scale targeted ads across its app and seatback monitors, according to one report.

United’s Lyft partnership and its focus on advertising ties in a new fleet of planes with updated cabins, booking technology, services, and international routes to attract travelers, especially those willing to pay a premium for extra comfort.

On August 21, 2026, United announced a partnership with Disney Advertising to broadcast the ESPN Fantasy Football Draft live from a commercial flight.

Schmerin also spearheaded the proof-of-concept for United's free, high-speed SpaceX Starlink Wi-Fi access.

The airlines began rolling out free, gate-to-gate high-speed Starlink satellite Wi-Fi across its fleet to enable streaming, live TV and gaming on planes.

United’s mobile app also now features a Virtual Gate tracker showing real-time progress boarding bars, alongside a pilot program for tracking TSA wait times at major hubs.