Uber Now Allows Ride Bookings 30 Days in Advance & Favorite Drivers

Uber is introducing a new capability this week that allows customers to book rides up to 30 days ahead of time and choose a preferred driver, as the ride-sharing service explores innovative strategies to gain customers amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

This new service, known as Uber Reserve, will become available within the app over the next week and is intended for individuals who wish to arrange a ride at least two hours in advance. Uber clarified that its existing “schedule a ride” function will remain available for bookings made within that two-hour window.

“Our service is fundamentally about saving people time, and we aimed to enhance this by developing mobility solutions that offer greater flexibility to align with their lifestyles,” explained Holley Beasley, an operations leader at Uber.

Users utilizing the Reserve feature will be presented with the total cost beforehand and will be connected with a driver prior to the scheduled departure. The company has also incorporated a “favorite driver” feature. Customers can now designate drivers as favorites within the app. When using the Reserve option, riders will be given the opportunity to select from their list of “favorite drivers,” who will be prioritized for the trip. Uber emphasized that drivers will not face any negative consequences for declining a ride request.

The ride-sharing platform has also included two additional benefits: an extended 15-minute wait time for riders who are delayed, and a punctuality guarantee that provides users with $50 in Uber Cash if their driver arrives even one minute late for a pre-scheduled ride. Uber confirmed to TechCrunch that this Uber Cash will be funded directly by Uber, and not deducted from the driver’s income.

Uber has also implemented safeguards for its drivers. Drivers will receive the full fare if a Reserve ride is canceled within one hour of the scheduled pickup time.

According to Geoff Tam-Scott, a product manager at Uber, the development of this feature began prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the company observed an increased usage of its existing ride scheduling function as the pandemic progressed. Tam-Scott added that by late spring, “the entire team was focused on accelerating the development of this feature.”

Uber Reserve will initially be available in 20 cities across the United States, starting with premium Uber Black and Black SUV ride options. The company plans to extend the feature to other ride types, such as Uber X, “comfort” and XL, before the end of the year. The initial launch locations include Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Charleston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, D.C., Fort-Myers / Naples, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Jersey, New York City, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Seattle.