Aer Lingus’s AerClub and Uber launch their Avios Earning Partnership

For those of you who are members of Aer Lingus‘ loyalty programme – AerClub and use Uber, there’s good news, as you can now collect Avios when riding.

Kieran Harte, Head of Uber Ireland (centre), with Sarah Taylor and Annemarie Leahy, Aer Lingus Cabin Crew, at Dublin Airport launching Aer Lingus’ new partnership between AerClub and Uber. Image: Aer Lingus

Members of the airline’s loyalty programme will collect 1 Avios for every €1 spent on any journey taken on the Uber app in Ireland and the UK.

To celebrate the new partnership, AerClub members who link their AerClub and Uber accounts via the Uber app and complete a journey before July 31st will receive 500 bonus Avios. Users simply need to link their AerClub and Uber accounts by entering their details into the Uber app in the settings section. Avios will automatically appear in each member’s account after every Uber ride.

Avios is the reward currency of AerClub and can be collected by flying worldwide and through everyday spending with hundreds of retail partners. Whether you’re catching a flight or heading home after an adventure, this partnership with Uber ensures members can now also boost their balances on every journey they take with Uber in Ireland and also in the UK.

According to Uber and Aer Lingus, ride adoption has increased by 175%, with Uber operating in every city in the Republic of Ireland (normally as a licensed taxi service). Like all Uber services, you request a ride via the app.

For those who wish to sign up, there’s a guide at https://www.uber.com/gb/en/u/aer-lingus/

In Quotes

Susanne Carberry, Chief Customer Officer, Aer Lingus, said:

“At Aer Lingus, we’re dedicated to making AerClub as rewarding as possible for our 3 million members. Our new partnership with Uber offers yet another seamless way to collect Avios through everyday spending. Whether it’s a journey to the airport or a convenient trip across town to a meeting, every journey booked through the Uber app earns Avios—bringing members closer to flights, upgrades, and exclusive travel extras.”

Kieran Harte, Head of Ireland, Uber, added:

 “With this exciting collaboration, we can help users of the Uber app collect Avios with every ride. Whether you’re commuting to work with Uber or exploring a new city, every ride brings you closer to a dream destination with Aer Lingus.”

Rob McDonald, Chief Commercial Officer, IAG Loyalty, added:

“It’s fantastic to be able to expand our existing partnership with Uber, offering AerClub members another way to collect Avios as part of their every day. This builds on our existing partnership with Uber in the UK, meaning both AerClub and British Airways Club members can now benefit from earning Avios with Uber seamlessly across Ireland and the UK.”

But where to credit?

This marks the second Avios partnership that Uber has signed (with British Airways signing on some time ago). The question then becomes, which one to link your Uber account to?

• British Airways The Club – Collect in the United Kingdom only (£1/Avios)
• Aer Lignus AerClub – Collect  Collect in Ireland (€1/Avios) and the United Kingdom (£1/Avios)

Note, you cannot collect outside the territories listed (I know – I’ve tried, especially with some of the rides I have in the USA). If you’re spending any significant time in Ireland (or live there), it might be worth switching over to earning via AerClub and hoovering up the extra Avios for your travels.

You can link to both programs, but you’ll need to choose which partner you want to collect with by making them your Earning Partner in the Uber app. You can only collect Avios with one loyalty partner at a time.

So there are some good options, and it may not hurt to sign up for both of them.

Remember that you can combine and move Avios across the Avios loyalty network, so these won’t be orphan points (be it centralising them in your BA stash, moving them to Iberia for lower tax flights and so on).

More than a useful benefit.