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Uber has introduced the ability to lock in your fare when you book your ride as long as you schedule your booking at least one hour in advance. The move aims to allow Uber users a better budget for their rides, especially since they can be significant variance between estimated and actual cost depending on traffic conditions.
A Question Of Price
One thing that has not been clarified yet is how the price will be calculated, and what happens if there are a surge or traffic delays during your ride.
Say you are booking a ride during rush hour a couple of hours before, will the app calculate the price based on the current free-flowing traffic, or will it take into account that your ride will be occurring during a more congested period and adjust the price accordingly? If it is the former, then this could prove to be a way of avoiding surge pricing during peak periods.
If on the other hand the app calculates the fare based on current traffic conditions, and then you're stuck in bumper to bumper traffic for an hour, who bears the cost? Will it be the driver or Uber?
Also, keep in mind, that scheduled rides aren't guaranteed. A driver still needs to be available and take the ride. Unlike a car service or taxi where you could schedule a pickup for 3 am, if no Uber is around, you're out of luck.
Our Take
Uber is aiming to bring itself in line with its competitors like Lyft, which introduced a similar feature last year. While it is great that you can lock in your fare, so you know exactly what you will be paying, there are still some questions that Uber needs to answer.
Source: Engadget.com
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Sounds good. Will def try next time
I’d say this is a step in the right direction.
This is a good chance. Hopefully uber can keep improving.
This is an interesting development. I am keen to see how it will actually work.
Can’t be a bad thing. A pity that it’s not available everywhere.
I tries to use this today, but it is not an option on the app yet in upstate NY, I also tried by requesting Uber online to send me a text with a link to schedule, no text.
Great stuff!! Staying tuned
sounds good, but doesn’t the driver suffer?
That, we don’t know.
Looks like a good feature.
Worth checking out next time around
Fingers crossed they will introduce this on the other side of the big pond too!
I waited almost 30 minutes yesterday for an uber in Los Angeles. that is not acceptable
Great, I will try next time.
nice feature
Nice new option.
About time. They have done this before in other international markets.
Uber keeps pushing boundaries, I like it!
I also like the idea of being able to book ahead, even if it may require a little extra thought. Good move, Uber!
Just came back from China and Uber has changed over there to a new company and can’t be used unless you have a Union Pay card and set up a new account
Certainly a step in the right direction.
great idea
Potential price variability has made me wary or using these types of services. This helps ameliorate that problem.
It may require a little extra forethought, but if this feature can be used to beat surge pricing, or at least mitigate it, it’ll be a welcome enhancement indeed.
Seems like a useful feature
Interesting, but makes perfect sense. Lots of people book cars for specific times at fixed prices to go to the airport, etc. Uber might as well compete in that market.
I will try this next time and see.
Sounds like they’re playing catchup with this, and guaranteeing a driver during high-traffic times is definitely not going to be easy! Glad to see them working on it, though.
Makes sense if they want to compete with Lyft.
Good feature.
So no more surge pricing.
Uber’s increasingly opaque pricing policy has made using the app very unworthwhile at times. I’m mostly using alternatives now.
I love this feature as well. I prefer having a fare that is guaranteed instead of one that can fluctuate.
This isn’t totally fair (not fare) to the Uber driver, as it will take him/her longer and not get paid for it. Unless it is calculated so they come out ahead if there is no traffic, then it evens out
I think nobody knows, but: Will UBER come back to the German Market anytime soon?
I don’t know, but I hope so. Taxis here are ridiculously expensive.
Hopefully this will help during surge pricing
As someone who uses Uber frequently, this feature will be so financially helpful! Surges in my city goes into effect constantly.
I agree with the article. Tthis could be either good or bad depending on how they calculate the scheduled pick up pricing…
UBER charges much higher in rush hour timings so price fixing is crucial and hopefully they should stick to their commitment
I think Uber is a bit too expensive overall.
I hope they lower their prices a bit.
This would be helpful… I have been the victim of surge pricing spikes, it makes it hard to rely on Uber for transpo when you’re worried about that happening.
Thanks! And I didn’t realize that Lyft already does this. I’m going to have to research this. Might save me some time and money too.
Good idea, very frustrating to be stuck in traffic and watch the meter running.
Also, I wonder how long this will last if they are unable to effectively predict conditions of the road and it costs them too much money.
This is tremendous, one of my biggest complaints about uber is that you dont really know the price till you get the ride. This will remove much of the uncertainty.
Nice
I think this is a useful feature, especially for someone on a budget. However, there are questions to be answered. I doubt that Uber would take the hit on the fate diference so the driver would be left short of the traffic conditions were worse than anticipated.
I share your concerns regarding car availability.
It’s a start. But with all the non-guarantees, it’s not that great yet.
I like the idea of being able to book ahead. I always get nervous about those 5:30AM airport trips.
Is it going to be a worldwide feature?
Only the US at this stage.
In South Africa this has been available for quite some time with Uber already. Only we don’t have to order the Uber an hour in advance. The fare is fixed for the distance immediately upon calling for an Uber.
I like this feature.