Is Uber For Real ?
May 24, 2015, 1:04 am
#16
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,543
Tonight we attended a wedding and we did not want to be concerned with drinking alcohol and driving. Uber was perfect. We requested the Uber+ as we were ready to leave the wedding and we were picked up 4 minutes later and delivered safely home. I think it is a great service. Big fan of Uber+.
May 24, 2015, 11:36 am
#17
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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I like it for what I call niche rides. Example: a couple weeks ago I was at the BWI Hilton Garden Inn and I needed to get to the BWI Amtrak Station. The hotel shuttle ran on the half hour and only to the airport so I'd have had to leave earlier than I wanted to, ride to BWI wait on the BWI Bus to the Amtrak station and ride that. Instead, I took Uber.
I'll be in New York next month. I'll take a train to White Plains then I have to get to HPN for my flight. Uber will be great for that too. I like being able to track the car and I like the feedback system. Plus, earning SPG and Amex MR points is great too. It's definitely growing on me.
I'll be in New York next month. I'll take a train to White Plains then I have to get to HPN for my flight. Uber will be great for that too. I like being able to track the car and I like the feedback system. Plus, earning SPG and Amex MR points is great too. It's definitely growing on me.
May 28, 2015, 12:56 pm
#18
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: North Sentinel Island
Programs: UA Gold, BONVOY TIT
Posts: 777
I use Uber X in lieu of taxis whenever possible. It is cheaper and the drivers are better than Chicago cabs in my experience. Usually end up using it a few times a week (to Ohare, weekend nights when I wouldn't want to drive). The only issue is that you can't get one at Ohare on the way back into the city (although you can get a Lyft). But you can change your pickup to somewhere where you obviously aren't like the middle of an interstate, and the driver will call you. YMMV if they actually will pick you up.
May 29, 2015, 12:34 am
#19
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, SPG Plat, UA GS
Posts: 238
In DTLA, uber is for real. I've gone ahead and sold my car (as uber is by far the cheaper option) and for longer drives I can rent a car for the day.
I also use it regularly for work so that I don't have to drive a rental in an unfamiliar city... Couldn't be happier with the competition to cabs - which I've found to be dreadful on almost every experience I've ever had to take them.
I also use it regularly for work so that I don't have to drive a rental in an unfamiliar city... Couldn't be happier with the competition to cabs - which I've found to be dreadful on almost every experience I've ever had to take them.
Jun 1, 2015, 3:55 pm
#20
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Here's a random use of Uber that I did today. My car was parked .6 miles from my workplace and when I went to the lobby I realized it was pouring rain. I had no umbrella and didn't want to get my suit soaked, especially as I was going to be working at my second job tonight. So I pulled up the Uber app, a car was in front of my building in less than one minute and it dropped me right in front of my car. Total cost: $4.
Jun 15, 2015, 11:22 am
#21
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: UA Plat, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 677
I've only tried Uber Black once. Have not yet tried any other variants. See my other thread where I got some good info on tipping.
I'm thinking that Uber might be a great alternative every time I am tempted to ask someone I know (co-worker, SO, etc) for a ride. For me, that frequently involves my car being in the shop. The dealership has a shuttle, but it is a pain to schedule pick-ups from my office when I don't even know exactly when my car will be ready.
I look forward to trying out Uber X in particular for these situations.
I'm thinking that Uber might be a great alternative every time I am tempted to ask someone I know (co-worker, SO, etc) for a ride. For me, that frequently involves my car being in the shop. The dealership has a shuttle, but it is a pain to schedule pick-ups from my office when I don't even know exactly when my car will be ready.
I look forward to trying out Uber X in particular for these situations.
Jun 15, 2015, 1:20 pm
#22
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,262
I use UberX constantly. I have had fewer bad experienecs than with taxis and the bad experiences are minor and chalked up to lack of knowledge rather than ripoff.
I use UberX when traveling when I am familiar with the city. Many drivers are newer and depending on GPS alone can be a mistake in some large cities. In cities where I am not familiar with the layout, I use Uber Black.
I use UberX when traveling when I am familiar with the city. Many drivers are newer and depending on GPS alone can be a mistake in some large cities. In cities where I am not familiar with the layout, I use Uber Black.
Jun 15, 2015, 3:15 pm
#23
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Hyatt Glb, MR Plat
Posts: 2,577
I've probably had over 1000 Uber rides over the years, even in Taipei and Warsaw (yes, Warsaw). Not only is it cheaper than taxis (holds true in cheap cab cities too surprisingly like Taipei and Warsaw) but no haggling by the driver of trying to make you pay in cash and tip them. Yes, of course there are the occasional bad apples but taxi drivers are just unpleasant way more often than the ocassional Uber hiccup. In most cases if feels like cab drivers are out there to simply rip you off. I hope Uber destroys the taxi industry.
Jun 15, 2015, 9:30 pm
#24
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98 degrees in Downtown Raleigh today and I wanted to go to lunch at one of my favorite spots, just over 1 mile away. Uber was $4 each way and I got the sandwich I was craving ^
Jun 20, 2015, 4:21 pm
#25
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 342
Uber is the greatest thing in the world, especially here in Cape Town. Taxis cost way less, AND you know who is picking you up (license plate+mug shot), so if you forget something (like your iphone) you immediately know who you can call, both parties have a clear understanding of the route and destination, drivers take exponentially more ownership for their actions, cars are comfortable clean and reliable. oh and fares are cheap cheap cheap and you don't have to worry about getting ripped off on short trips. uber's for real. get used to it. cartels gotta go.
Jun 21, 2015, 8:47 am
#26
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 404
Used them a few times abroad. Here in Vancouver they are totally illegal. Decent experience each time I used them but people should not be confused. They offer some nice features and sometimes good pricing but imho the company is totally evil. Surge pricing for instance is not in the consumers best interest. So many ways that can be abused if it becomes the standard.
What I'd like to see is taxi co's step up their game in response and Uber treating their employees like employees, stop lying about what the company really is and for them to work with regulators to manage this industry without killing the best features Uber has to offer.
What I'd like to see is taxi co's step up their game in response and Uber treating their employees like employees, stop lying about what the company really is and for them to work with regulators to manage this industry without killing the best features Uber has to offer.
Last edited by trajanc; Jun 21, 2015 at 10:10 am
Jun 22, 2015, 5:01 am
#27
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: LHR
Programs: HH D,CC,SPG,AZ: Gold;BA Silver, TK Elite
Posts: 809
I use them a lot in London or Paris, every single time the trip is better than taking a cab: nicer and more polite drivers, cleaner cars, and no strange detours done to gain more money
Jun 22, 2015, 6:20 am
#28
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 342
Used them a few times abroad. Here in Vancouver they are totally illegal. Decent experience each time I used them but people should not be confused. They offer some nice features and sometimes good pricing but imho the company is totally evil. Surge pricing for instance is not in the consumers best interest. So many ways that can be abused if it becomes the standard.
What I'd like to see is taxi co's step up their game in response and Uber treating their employees like employees, stop lying about what the company really is and for them to work with regulators to manage this industry without killing the best features Uber has to offer.
i seriously do not work for uber btw...i'm just so sick and tired of the cartels in places like calgary and vancouver, and a media and political establishment too terrified to take these chumps on.
Jun 22, 2015, 6:50 am
#29
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MRY/SFO/SJC
Programs: AS MVP, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 7,784
My first Über experience was in San Francisco a year and a half ago, my second was two weeks ago in Copenhagen, and last week 5 or so rides in NYC.
I love setting my destination and being able to follow along online, knowing and seeing I'm not being "taken for a ride".
I love being able to estimate time and fare. No haggling, and no awkward tip calculation.
I love having a photo of my driver and the license plate of the car.
All that, on top of polite drivers and clean cars. If average taxis provided that kind of stress-free experience, I wouldn't avoid them like the plague.
I love setting my destination and being able to follow along online, knowing and seeing I'm not being "taken for a ride".
I love being able to estimate time and fare. No haggling, and no awkward tip calculation.
I love having a photo of my driver and the license plate of the car.
All that, on top of polite drivers and clean cars. If average taxis provided that kind of stress-free experience, I wouldn't avoid them like the plague.
Jun 22, 2015, 9:26 am
#30
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 342
I've probably had over 1000 Uber rides over the years, even in Taipei and Warsaw (yes, Warsaw). Not only is it cheaper than taxis (holds true in cheap cab cities too surprisingly like Taipei and Warsaw) but no haggling by the driver of trying to make you pay in cash and tip them. Yes, of course there are the occasional bad apples but taxi drivers are just unpleasant way more often than the ocassional Uber hiccup. In most cases if feels like cab drivers are out there to simply rip you off. I hope Uber destroys the taxi industry.