Starbucks, Lyft Partner to Spark Unique Customer Experience

Combining your first cup of coffee and your morning commute is a key part of the day for millions of Americans, and it’s something that two companies−Starbucks and ride-sharing service Lyft−hope to capitalize on through its partnership.

Although the partnership began last year, Starbucks recently announced that it will award Starbucks loyalty program points to customers who use the cars between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. local time. What’s more, riders who connect their Starbucks Rewards accounts to their Lyft accounts can earn five rewards stars for each Lyft ride taken; first-time Lyft riders can earn 125 Starbucks stars — enough for a free cup of coffee — for linking their accounts and taking a ride within a certain amount of time.

“Our partnership with Lyft is one of the ways we’re able to provide Starbucks Rewards members the opportunity to earn Stars through purchases made with other companies,” Maggie Jantzen, Manager, Global Communications, told Loyalty360. “These partnerships are part of our continued commitment to provide the most robust digital ecosystem of any retailer in the world. To this end, we’ll continue to look for new platforms to engage and stay connected with our customers, providing Starbucks Rewards loyalty members the opportunity to earn Stars through both Starbucks and non-Starbucks purchases.”   

Paige Thelen, Communications Manager for Lyft, told Loyalty360 about how this partnership came to be.
“We’ve heard from people that they’d like to be able to buy Lyft credits for friends and family members to share with them the great experiences they’ve had with Lyft,” Thelen explained. “With the introduction of gift cards, we expect to see more rides on the Lyft platform, benefiting both passengers and drivers. We’re committed to providing unique experiences to passengers, whether that’s through the app, in the car, or through meaningful partnerships that can add value to passengers’ everyday commutes. We don’t have metrics to share, but do expect to see more people using Lyft as a result of these efforts.”

Starbucks is a great partner for Lyft.

“Finding partners with shared values and visions is the best way to create a meaningful experience for customers, while also making the partnership work for the business,” Thelen added. “We apply this thinking to every partner that we work with. We will continue to explore ways to bring value to the Lyft community through our relationship with Starbucks.”

What makes this partnership unique?

“With Starbucks, we are bringing together two important moments in your day: Your first cup of coffee and your morning commute,” Thelen said. “This is the first time that Lyft has offered tangible gift cards for riders. It is also the first time that passengers can earn Starbucks Rewards Stars by taking Lyft rides.” 

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