New to Uber - can you schedule rides?

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kirinlager007

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Topic # 204572 7-Oct-2016 11:55

Hi all,

I've decided give Uber a go since I have heard many great things about it and the cost is so much better on the pocket as compared to a regular taxi. One thing I noticed in the app I downloaded is that there is nowhere to schedule a ride in advance...??

However I did see it on Uber's site that this function is available (but only in cities where Scheduled Rides are enabled)... has anyone had any experience using Uber for scheduled rides in NZ? If there isn't did you have any work around to getting this to work for you? I need to catch a ride at around 4am in the morning for an early flight out of the country and I'm not sure if there are any Uber drivers awake during that time....

Would appreciate your feedback on this.

Thanks

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Awesome
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Reply # 1647213 7-Oct-2016 12:02

I have this feature in Melbourne. There is a 'Schedule Ride' button near the bottom of the screen.

Probably not enabled in your city yet

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sbiddle

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Reply # 1647227 7-Oct-2016 12:29

It's only available in selected cities.

I used Uber Pool in the US as well - that's being rolled out progressively in US markets.

nathan

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Reply # 1647261 7-Oct-2016 13:15

wake up early or book a normal taxi. You get what you pay for.

Scheduling and pool is rolled out here where I live in Seattle.

Maybe ask Uber NZ when they will roll it out?

https://twitter.com/Uber_NZ

Yabanize

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Reply # 1647299 7-Oct-2016 13:48

Some people have started seeing the schedule ride button in NZ, but Uber is really an on demand service, in fact the "Schedule ride" feature will only work if there are drivers available at the time, it does not guarantee a driver will be available

networkn

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Reply # 1647316 7-Oct-2016 14:24

It was available when I used it for the first time last night near eden park.

scuwp

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Reply # 1647329 7-Oct-2016 14:33

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For something as important as a flight I would not be leaving it to chance that an Uber driver will be around at 4am. Book a taxi and have some assurance of service. I don't think Uber is mature enough yet in NZ to match the reliability of other public transport options.

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networkn

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Reply # 1647330 7-Oct-2016 14:38

scuwp: For something as important as a flight I would not be leaving it to chance that an Uber driver will be around at 4am. Book a taxi and have some assurance of service. I don't think Uber is mature enough yet in NZ to match the reliability of other public transport options.

Yeah 100% agree with that. Or set it so you have enough time that should it not work out, you have enough time to call a regular taxi to bail you out.

MikeAqua

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Reply # 1647338 7-Oct-2016 14:52

scuwp: For something as important as a flight I would not be leaving it to chance that an Uber driver will be around at 4am. Book a taxi and have some assurance of service. I don't think Uber is mature enough yet in NZ to match the reliability of other public transport options.

Or book a shuttle. It will take longer but if price is the prime consideration ...

Mike

bmt

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Reply # 1647466 7-Oct-2016 19:58

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I wouldn't consider booking a taxi an assurance of service at all..

nathan

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Reply # 1647502 7-Oct-2016 22:09

I tweeted Uber they say scheduling live in Auckland & Wellington

Scott3

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Reply # 1647543 8-Oct-2016 00:17

bmt:

I wouldn't consider booking a taxi an assurance of service at all..

Me neither (although I have had a generally good run)

I think quite a few taxi companies take bookings but don't allocate a vehicle, rather they just push issue the booking into the dispatch system 20mins before the time, and hope a car is available.

Plenty of examples in the media of this going bad. (generally taxi bookings for people leaving major events, or in city fringe locations)

For international flights I use Cheap Cabs, But leave time to call another cab / uber if they don't show. (stopped using supershuttle, after one of their drivers ran down our neighbors hedge (to avoid 3 point turn) despite mestanding next to the van telling him to stop)

khull

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Reply # 1647613 8-Oct-2016 09:23

Update your Uber App and you should see scheduling.

As I charge everything to the client, I do choose to go with a taxi for those instance. And as others have mentioned, I find uber more reliable simply because of the rating system they have and uber is never kind to drives who achieve consistently poor rating. Same cant be done with taxis

Also I've had booked taxis turn up late because they accepted another job and their 'friend' was suppose to do the run

Benjip

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Reply # 1647631 8-Oct-2016 10:01

If you live in Auckland, I can assure you there are always plenty of Ubers around any time of the day or night. I've never had the "No drivers available" in Auckland.

MikeAqua

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Reply # 1647639 8-Oct-2016 10:27

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bmt:

I wouldn't consider booking a taxi an assurance of service at all..

Depends who you use perhaps? Wellington Combined and 'blue bubble' companies in Auckland, Nelson and Christchurch have never let me down. Neither have corporate cabs.

Mike

Scott3

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Reply # 1647726 8-Oct-2016 16:52

Benjip: If you live in Auckland, I can assure you there are always plenty of Ubers around any time of the day or night. I've never had the "No drivers available" in Auckland.

If I'm out of town with the car, my wife will take use uber to get from parnell to the CBD (usually under $8). In morning commuting times, she has issues with no availability even though parnell is hardly an outlying suburb (uber will dispatch cars from the near side of the CBD or from Newmarket to us)

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