Uber Is Now Allowing You to Schedule a Ride up to 30 Days in Advance
Last month, Lyft announced it would be testing out an option for passengers to schedule rides up to 24 hours in advance. And now, Uber is looking at expanding its on-demand service to allow its customers to do the same. Starting today, Uber is rolling out a new scheduled rides feature, expanding its on-demand nature. (If you don't already have an Uber account, you can sign up now to receive a free ride [up to $20] from TPG.)
You can schedule your ride any time from 30 minutes to 30 days in advance, and Uber will send you a reminder both 24 hours and 30 minutes in advance of your pickup. Being able to schedule a ride in advance won't make you exempt from the company's pesky surge pricing, and you'll be notified if surge pricing applies when your ride is on its way. However, there are no additional charges for the service. If need be, you can also cancel your ride for free before the ride has dispatched, or you can cancel when it's already dispatched up to five minutes without a cancellation fee.
Here's how it'll work:
- Open your Uber app and select UberX
- Click Schedule a Ride (located at the bottom of the map)
- Set your pickup date, time, location and destination
- Confirm your details and click Schedule UberX.
The roll out is starting as of today for Uber for Business customers in Seattle, and Uber plans to launch the service in "other top business travel cities," as priority for the service is given to riders who have business profiles or are linked to their company's Uber for Business account. There's no indication of the next-planned cities for the service. However, you can sign up for early access on Uber's website. I signed up for early access but haven't received any email or indication that it went through, and I still don't have the option to schedule a ride (I have both a personal and Uber for Business account).
Overall, this is a great option for Uber users to have. When you're traveling, there's some comfort in knowing that a car will be there to pick you up. Don't forget to sync a card with your Uber account that will maximize your points earning, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
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