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How to make your airport experience easier with Uber Reserve

Feb. 19, 2024
5 min read
Uber Reserve_Editorial1
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Have you ever flown to your destination and then had to wait in line for a taxi to take you to your hotel? Or, have you foregone a private ride for a hotel shuttle or shared transportation service with a dozen other people only to find yourself making multiple stops before reaching your accommodations?

Fortunately, these headaches can be a thing of the past on your next trip with Uber Reserve.

Thanks to Uber Reserve, there’s a better way to travel. Uber Reserve lets you schedule an airport pickup and drop-off ahead of time, tracks your flight for delays and even lets you cancel (with no fee) up to an hour before pickup.

Here’s everything you need to know about scheduling a ride from the airport in advance with Uber Reserve.


What is Uber Reserve?

UBER

Uber Reserve is your answer to prearranged private transportation. Instead of waiting to request your ride upon arrival (potentially competing with others who land around the same time), travelers pre-schedule their airport pickup right in the Uber app. The service takes the guesswork out of travel, giving you one less thing to worry about when you take to the skies.

Additionally, with built-in flight-tracking technology, Uber Reserve will automatically adjust your reservation time based on the flight information you provide, so the driver will know if you’ve been delayed or landed early. Plus, If you aren’t ready to ride the moment you touch down, don’t stress: The driver will wait up to 45 minutes after your scheduled pickup time — or up to 60 minutes for Uber Black.

You can schedule your airport pickup with Uber Reserve at over 100 airports worldwide, including more than 50 in the U.S.

Related: How (and why) you should connect your personal account to Uber for Business

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How to use Uber Reserve

Reserving your ride is simple and can be done right from the Uber app. From the home screen, you’ll see the “Reserve” calendar icon in the "Suggestions" section. From here, you can reserve a ride anywhere from 30 minutes to up to 90 days in advance — and you can cancel for no charge up to 60 minutes before your scheduled pickup time.

When reserving your airport pickup, enter your destination airport as the "Pickup Location" (the app will likely default to your current location). Then, type in where you want your ride to drop you off.

Accessing the Uber Reserve booking flow in the Uber app
UBER

Tap “Let’s go,” and you’ll then be asked when your flight arrives at the airport you designated. Choose your date of arrival, then tap "Select date."

Next, type in your flight number and then hit “Search.” Your flight should appear in the results, and when you tap it, you’ll see the various ride options available. Depending on the airport, you can choose UberX, UberXL, Uber Comfort, Black or Black SUV. The prices will be displayed for each option.

Once you select your ride, you’ll be taken to a confirmation page where you can see your details. You can find all your reserved rides on the "Activity" tab in the Uber app.

Note that you’re not limited to airport pickups. You can also use Uber Reserve for non-airport rides by following the same steps.

Maximizing Uber Reserve

Beyond taking the stress out of your airport pickups, there are some easy ways to make the most of Uber Reserve. One of the easiest is by using the right credit card. You can add any payment card to your Uber account, but not all of them are created equal.

Some offer perks like monthly Uber cash deposited directly into your account, while others award bonus rewards on Uber purchases. Here are some of the best credit cards to use for Uber Reserve:

Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Gold or Platinum as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card.

Related: How to use your Amex Uber credits for rides and meals

In addition to swiping the right card, you can also leverage Uber Reserve to earn bonus Marriott Bonvoy points. When you link your Uber and Marriott Bonvoy accounts, you can earn up to 6 points per dollar spent on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders — a nice bonus for travelers.

Bottom line

Uber Reserve is a game changer for travelers. No more waiting in the freezing cold or the blistering heat for a taxi. With Uber Reserve, you can schedule an airport pickup from 30 minutes to 90 days in advance and have the flexibility to cancel any ride you don’t need up to 60 minutes before pickup with no fee. It’s that simple.

If you’re looking for one less thing to worry about in an already stressful travel experience, book your next ride with Uber Reserve right from the Uber app on your smartphone.

Featured image by UBER

TPG featured card

Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
4 / 5
Go to review
Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site

Rewards

1 - 4X points

Intro offer

As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

Annual Fee

$325

Recommended Credit

Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.
Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
4 / 5
Go to review

Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
3XEarn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
2XEarn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
1XEarn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
  • Annual Fee

    $325
  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.