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Whether it's domestic or international, travel has underwent significant changes, even some permanent ones. Covid may no longer be a huge concern at a majority of destinations worldwide, but its impact is still being felt across different sectors of the industry, where staff shortages are contributing to a summer of travel chaos.
Flight disruption is now becoming the rule rather than the exception, and the huge influx of passengers is resulting in excessively long delays at some major international hubs. In a bid to ease the traffic into and out of airports and reduce wait times, Uber will now allow travelers to pre-book their transfer up to 30 days in advance in several destinations.
If you're planning on traveling in the next few weeks, this is your chance to secure a ride to the airport before most drivers are unavailable:
Airport Transfers Are About To Become A Lot Smoother
Uber is paving the way among same-category service providers in allowing customers to schedule a ride this far ahead, and they have a very good reason for doing that. This year, passenger traffic at U.S. airports has more than doubled compared to 2021, according to data provided by the Transport Security Association (TSA), and it could increase even further.
Now that the U.S. has finally lifted its much-criticized pre-departure testing regime, more than half of Americans who had been patiently waiting for rules to be eased so they could travel will be taking to the skies in a heartbeat. While this is good news in terms of tourism recovery, we have seen how the situation can turn anarchic when demand outpaces supply.
We all have had to stand in line for endless minutes until the next taxi or Uber was available, sore-headed and all, after a long flight journey, and it's never a pleasant experience. Unfortunately, wait times for airport transfers are set to increase once summer is in full swing – they're already long, and the season is only starting.
Luckily, with the new Uber Reserve option, customers can now book trips up to a month in advance to and from several airports within the U.S. and globally. Though it was launched last year in select locations, the update has now been extended to more than 55 hubs, both domestic and international, with the latest adds being the following:
Domestic*
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
International
- Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) – Milan, Italy
- Milan Linate Airport (LIN) and Malpensa Airport (MXP) – Milan, Italy
- Giovan Battista Pastine International Airport (CIA) – Rome, Italy
- Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) – Rome, Italy
- Nice Cote d’Azur Airport (NCE) – Nice, France
- Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) – Paris, France
- Cape Town International Airport (CPT) – Cape Town, South Africa
- O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) – Johannesburg, South Africa
- Lanseria International Airport (HLA) – Johannesburg, South Africa
There are, in total, 39 airports in the US where Uber Reserve is available. Customers are advised to check their Uber app to confirm whether the feature has been rolled out in the area
What Are Some Of The New Features?
Besides allowing early bookings, Uber Reserve gives travelers total peace of mind, as they have a guarantee their car will be waiting for them as soon as they leave the terminal. How so? The driver is required by Uber to wait up to 60 minutes – with no extra charge – just in case there are delays. Looking at the current state of things, we really couldn't have asked for better.
There are other pretty cool features that might appeal even to those who are not huge Uber enthusiasts: when a flight is delayed for longer than 60 minutes, the Uber's flight tracking integrated system will automatically adjust the expected arrival time, based on flight information, to ensure the driver is still there on time.
Whenever possible, drivers will also be assigned before pickup, as per customer request. On top of that, passengers can select drivers out of their ‘Favorites' list on any Reserve ride. Lastly, curbside pickup and pickup at restaurants in some airports is now permitted, making it easier for passengers to find their car without having to walk to designated areas.
How Far In Advance Should I Request My Uber?
As air traffic increases and all travel lanes become heavily congested, it may be wise to schedule your Uber in advance to ensure you will be at the airport in time for your flight. Most importantly, pre-booking a transfer at your destination is key, unless you're fine with waiting for the next available driver to come and pick you up… Along with every other person on your plane.
Airports like Cancun International can be incredibly busy during peak hours, when hundreds of thousands of passengers are either transiting air-side or rushing straight to the airport's front doors to get the first taxi, and it's sometimes impossible to find an ride in only a few minutes. Like we mentioned previously, travel demand is only going up.
Scheduling a Uber ride or pre-booking a private transfer, in Cancun's case, can save you a lot of the hassle of trying to find a reliable driver when you're just desperate to get to your hotel as quickly as possible. Fortunately, Uber Reserve is available in countless locations Stateside, and you can read more about further enlargements clicking here.
Read More:
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Uber and Lyft Remove Mask Mandate In The United States and Canada
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Belinda Seaton
Sunday 19th of June 2022
THERE IS NO WHERE ON UBER APP to do this. PLEASE SEND INFO TO MY EMAIL. thx! ( I asked a question before and didn't get an answer):
Kashlee Kucheran
Sunday 19th of June 2022
If you need help using the Uber app, I'm afraid we cannot help. You will have to contact Uber help