Ahead of the expected travel boom this summer, Uber announces the launch of a suite of new and enhanced products, in line with its goal to help Aussies go anywhere and get anything in every state and territory this summer.
The rollout comes as new Uber data reveals Aussies are embracing travel, with the total number of Uber airport trips in Australia increasing by 146% since the start of the year. While Adelaide (154%) and Melbourne (141%) have seen significant growth in airport trips this year, Perth has seen the greatest increase with airport trips increasing twofold (198%) since January, or 138% since its borders reopened in March this year.
In response to the rising demand, riders will now be able to take full advantage of new Uber innovations while they explore neighbouring states and reunite with loved ones at home this summer.
Before your trip
For those wanting a stress free and premium airport pickup, Uber today launches its most intuitive ride yet across Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney airports. Uber Reserve Airport Pickups enables riders to schedule a trip up to 30 days in advance from their destination airport, with flight tracking technology to ensure a ride is ready and waiting, whether their flight is early, on time or delayed. For added comfort, the innovative feature is launching exclusively with Uber’s most premium ride, Uber Premier. The fare already includes up to 60 minutes wait time, so riders won’t have to pay any additional charge to the upfront price if they need this time after landing.
For the travel organisation enthusiasts, Uber Travel launches today, enabling riders to see all legs of their travel itinerary such as flights, hotels and rides in one place. Linking your travel plans from Google and Microsoft email accounts, Uber Travel enables riders to consolidate and organise the disparate and disjointed confirmations they receive into easily retrievable and useful travel itineraries. Aussies can reserve rides in advance through the feature and, for a limited time, receive 10% back in Uber credit.*
During your travels
Following its acquisition of peer-to-peer car-sharing network Car Next Door earlier this year, earlier this month Uber re-launched the business as Uber Carshare and seamlessly integrated the service within its suite of mobility products. As Aussies head on road trips and adventures across the summer holidays, via the Uber Carshare app, they can hire a car by the hour, day, week or longer, with the Uber ease and flexibility they may already be familiar with.
And on your return journey home
In addition to using Uber Reserve Airport Pickups for the journey home, travellers returning to Melbourne airport can also take full advantage of Uber’s dedicated airport pickup zone to catch a ride on demand. With an innovative PIN feature, driver-partners are at the Uber pick-up zone for riders when they exit the terminal. Riders simply request a ride in the Uber app, and then give their driver-partner a PIN before hopping in, with the technology offering a smoother experience for riders and drivers. Following the success of Melbourne Airport, where we’ve seen a reduction in wait times by 50% since launching last year, we’re currently focussing on ways to bring this innovative experience to other airports across Australia soon.
After a couple of challenging summers for Australian travel, we’re excited to help Aussies get back out there this summer, and provide a more seamless door-to-door travel experience with the launch of these new features.
From the moment you book your outbound flight to the moment you return home, our vision is to become a one-stop shop for every travel need, by integrating that Uber ease and convenience that Aussies know and love.
Margarita Peker, Head of Rider Operations ANZ
Uber airport trips data:
Uber airport trips growth compared via number of trips at the start of the year (Jan 2022) to Oct 2022. City airport trips data as followed:
- Adelaide = 179%
- Brisbane = 169%
- Cairns = 64%
- Darwin = 167%
- Gold Coast = 34%
- Hobart = 8%
- Melbourne = 171%
- Perth = 152% (since March when borders opened)
- Sydney = 156%
1 in 6 Uber airport drop-off trips are reserved in advance
Uber Reserve Airport Pickups
Available at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Gold Coast and Perth airports from Monday 21st November.
Features:
- Early booking: Book your ride up to 30 days in advance so you know you’re set once you land.
- Flight tracking: The integration automatically adjusts your reservation time based on flight information, and notifies the driver-partner so they can be ready and waiting at the airport when your flight lands, whether it’s on time, early or delayed.
- 60 minutes of wait time: If you aren’t ready to get in your ride the moment you land, your driver will wait up to 60 minutes, included in your fare.
- Convenient pickup: When you’re ready to go, let the driver-partner know by selecting ‘Yes, pick me up’ in the pre-trip screen, and they will pick you up kerbside, so you can step out of the terminal and into your ride.
How it works:
- Open your Uber app and tap Reserve on the homescreen. Then tap, ‘Reserve a Ride’ and enter the airport where you’ll be arriving as your pickup location as well as your destination.
- You’ll see the benefits of using Reserve including flight tracking, so tap ‘Let’s go’ and enter your flight arrival date, and flight number.
- Then, select Uber Premier, and your ride is reserved. You’ll be able to connect with your driver-partner when you land, be picked up kerbside, and if you need some extra time, you’ll have up to 60 minutes of included wait time.
Uber Travel
Available in every Australian state and territory from Monday 28th November.
Features:
- Imports upcoming trip plans from Gmail, Outlook or Hotmail into the Uber app
- Enables riders to see all the legs of their itinerary (flights, hotels, rides) in one place
- Riders can also reserve rides in advance and receive 10% back in Uber credits* (see offer T&Cs below)
How it works:
- 1. Open the Uber app and tap ‘Travel,’ followed by “Get Started”, then ‘Sign in with Google’ or ‘Sign in with Microsoft’ and then select your Gmail or Microsoft account.
- 2. Opt-in to give Uber-AwardWallet permission to see your email messages and settings. Google users, check the permissions box and Microsoft users tap ‘Allow’ to continue.
- 3. You’ll soon see all of your upcoming trips appear right in the Uber app.
Uber Travel 10% Uber Credit (*):
Offer eligible only for Uber Reserve rides booked through Uber Travel.
Offer valid to 11:59pm (AEDT) on 31 January 2023. Uber credits will apply to your account within 30 days from your completed trip date and expire 90 days from the issue date. Uber credits are funds on your Uber account that can be used for rides on the Uber app or orders on the Uber Eats app. Uber reserves the right to vary, cancel or suspend this offer at any time.
Uber Carshare
Officially part of Uber’s product offering from Tuesday 8th November. More information here.
Features:
● It’s flexible: you can book by the hour, day or however long you need
● It’s convenient: there are thousands of cars in neighbourhoods and cities across Australia. It’s likely that a car, van or ute is only a short distance away.
● It’s simple: you can book and pickup with the app, with contactless key collection with Instant Keys cars
How it works:
1. Sign up to Uber Carshare online, or by downloading the Uber Carshare app. It’s free, only takes a few minutes to apply and once you’re verified you’ll be able to borrow from a fleet of over 3000 cars, vans and utes across Australia.
2. To book just visit the search page online or via the app, search for available cars that match your needs and dates, and book instantly. You don’t need to wait for the owner to confirm. Your trip can be as short as an hour, and increase in increments of 15 minutes for up to 60 days.
3. Log in to the app 15 minutes before your trip starts. Uber Carshare will walk you step-by-step through your whole trip.
4. Get the keys and find the car
– If you’re borrowing an Instant Keys car: To get the approximate location before your trip starts, select the trip from the Trips page in the app. The car’s ideal parking address is shown so you can head to the right area. 15 minutes before your trip starts, select ‘Pickup instructions’ on the trip page. You’ll see step-by-step instructions on picking up the car, including the current location.
– If you’re borrowing a Key Handover car: You’ll need to meet the owner to pick up the keys. The app will give you instructions to get in touch with the owner and arrange to meet. The owner will be able to let you know where the car is currently parked.
5. Check the car and take photos: Before you drive, do a quick check of the car. Take photos of all surfaces of the car and the car’s interior and upload them through the app. You’ll take photos again when you return the car. If you can’t upload the photos as you take them, make sure you upload them within 48 hours of your trip ending.
6. Return the car clean and tidy, ready for the next driver! If anything goes wrong, let the owner know.
For more information, please visit UberCarShare
