Uber has begun rolling out a new scheduling feature that allows riders to book trips up to 30 days in advance. Initially available only in Seattle, the option is expected to expand to additional cities soon. Riders can schedule a trip as little as 30 minutes ahead or as far out as one month for an UberX pickup.
To schedule a ride, users select the pickup date, time, pickup location and destination within the app. Uber sends reminders 24 hours and 30 minutes before the scheduled pickup to help ensure passengers are ready when their ride arrives. Tom Fallows, Uber’s director of global experiences, explained that while the company is known for on-demand service, some riders appreciate the added reassurance of a pre-scheduled trip.
Fare pricing for scheduled rides follows the same rules as regular UberX trips. Fares are calculated at the time of the ride and can be affected by surge pricing during periods of high demand, such as rush hour. Riders may cancel a scheduled trip without incurring a cancellation fee if they cancel within five minutes after the car is dispatched.
One limitation of the current rollout is that scheduled rides are available only to riders with Business Profiles—accounts linked to corporate payment methods. Uber has indicated the feature will expand to more rider types and locations over time.
