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Catch a Free Uber Plane or Boat Ride or Car Upgrade at Art Basel

Nov. 30, 2016
4 min read
uber
Catch a Free Uber Plane or Boat Ride or Car Upgrade at Art Basel
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At this week's Art Basel event in Miami, the popular ridesharing service Uber, which is mostly known for its ground transportation, is making it easier to get around — by water and through the air. Uber's introducing the ability to travel for free by boat or seaplane so Art Basel attendees don't have to sit in the notorious congested Miami traffic. And if sitting in four wheels on the ground is more your thing, the ridesharing giant is also offering car upgrades.

The Request Zones for this year's Art Basel event.

Uber has teamed with EFFEN Vodka to offer ground transportation upgrades, as well as options to travel by boat or seaplane. Here's how each of the three modes of transportation will work:

#UberSEAPLANE

This complimentary trip will pick you up from your origin in a LUX SUV and drive you to a luxury seaplane. The plane will then take off from the Seaplane Base and give you an aerial tour of Miami — Miami Beach, Downtown and Wynwood — so you'll be able to see Art Basel from a different perspective. The plane won't actually take you to a new destination — in fact, you land at the same spot from where you took off. However, from there, you'll get an #UberBOAT yacht service (see below) to the opposite side of Biscayne Bay and another LUX SUV ride to your final destination.

To get a ride on the #UberSEAPLANE, request the option from the Mainland Request Zone (Downtown Miami or Wynwood) starting on Thursday, December 1, at 10:00am. Rides will be offered between December 1 and December 3, from 10:00am to 2:00pm daily. Each ride can transport up to six riders, and the requester must be at least 21 years old. Because rides are complimentary, they are extremely limited. If you aren't able to get a ride on your first attempt, keep trying.

#UberBOAT

Last year, Uber offered #UberBOAT service as a way for Art Week attendees to avoid traffic altogether, and it's back — but this year, it's free. The complimentary yacht service will offer Uber riders a quick and convenient way to get between Miami Beach and the Art Districts across Biscayne Bay. The ride features a ground pick-up service at your origin with service to the pier, as well as a yacht ride to the opposite side of Biscayne Bay, from where another Uber car will be there to pick you up and transport you to your final destination.

To get a ride, request the #UberBOAT option from your Uber app while in one of the Request Zones. Rides will be offered between 2:00pm and 10:00pm from December 1 to December 3. Just like the #UberSEAPLANE rides, #UberBOAT rides are free and can carry up to six riders, and the requester must be at least 21 years old.

#EFFENUpgrade

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Sponsored by EFFEN Vodka (like the other two Art Basel options), the #EFFENUpgrade will give you a complimentary ride upgrade if you're choosing to travel by car the whole way to your destination. A limited edition LUX SUV that's wrapped in custom art made by artist Kwue Molly will pick you up. Once inside the SUV, you'll have access to a custom photo booth where you can snap your upgrade and send it to friends.

To get an #EFFENUpgrade, request the option between December 1 and December 3 from 4:00pm to 12:00am. Note that your ride must begin and end within the Request Zones in order to be eligible for the upgrade.

Bottom Line

Ultimately, this is a really nice offer from Uber if you're attending Art Basel in Miami this week. By offering free alternatives to getting around during the congested traffic time of Art Week, the ridesharing service is helping to make the event more enjoyable for everyone. While these rides are free, you'll still need an Uber account to take advantage. If you don't already have an account, you can sign up here to get your first ride for free (up to $20) from TPG.

H/T: Miami New Times

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