UberPool and Luggage
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: AA ExecPl, AT Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, National
Posts: 2,433
UberPool and Luggage
I've used UberPool a couple of times and so far it's been fine. Does anyone have experience with using UberPool to or from the airport and having luggage? Sometimes my luggage takes up most of the trunk - if the matched up passenger has luggage too, it might not all fit.
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I guess that's up to the driver. If I were the driver, I would split the trunk space 50/50 and whoever has more than their allotted space gets to sit with it on your lap.
Not sure using Pool is the smartest idea from an airport when you have a goodly amount of luggage.
Not sure using Pool is the smartest idea from an airport when you have a goodly amount of luggage.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
I once was 30 seconds away from missing a flight due to a terrible UberPool experience. Don't ever take it *to* the airport. (The driver drove me around for an hour in rush hour traffic in San Francisco, looking for the match. I was about an hour late to the airport.)
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,481
The Uber FAQ says you can bring luggage on UberPool rides but should leave enough room for another passenger.
So if your luggage is likely to fill the whole trunk, taking UberPool isn't a great idea. But if you have just one or two bags, then it's probably fine.
So if your luggage is likely to fill the whole trunk, taking UberPool isn't a great idea. But if you have just one or two bags, then it's probably fine.
#6
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 6
I think so too!
#7
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: LA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, Delta Platinum Medallion, AAdvantage Platinum Pro
Posts: 600
Are you saying the Uber driver got lost on the way to finding the other passenger(s)? Because that's not the issue of uberPOOL. That's just a bad driver.
#8
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
No, there was traffic, the passenger wasn't where he said it'd be. Just going one block in that traffic takes 15min. It's Uber's fault for poorly matching me with someone out of the way (1hr out of the way with traffic) when I was picking up from right next to the freeway and 15min away from the airport.
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,481
No, there was traffic, the passenger wasn't where he said it'd be. Just going one block in that traffic takes 15min. It's Uber's fault for poorly matching me with someone out of the way (1hr out of the way with traffic) when I was picking up from right next to the freeway and 15min away from the airport.
The first time UberPool matched me with another pax it more than doubled my typical travel time and cost $5 more than the average UberX fare I've seen on that route. We had to double back and wait for the other passenger to come out of his building, and had to take all local streets rather than the highway to drop him off.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,617
At least UberPool quotes a fixed fare at booking now. When it first launched in NYC, it was just a variable %-off discount (often as little as 20-25% off the regular UberX fare) but if you were the first to pick up and/or last to drop off they would charge you the extra time/distance charges required for fetching/dropping the other pax.
The first time UberPool matched me with another pax it more than doubled my typical travel time and cost $5 more than the average UberX fare I've seen on that route. We had to double back and wait for the other passenger to come out of his building, and had to take all local streets rather than the highway to drop him off.
The first time UberPool matched me with another pax it more than doubled my typical travel time and cost $5 more than the average UberX fare I've seen on that route. We had to double back and wait for the other passenger to come out of his building, and had to take all local streets rather than the highway to drop him off.
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,481
In NYC it's now a flat rate as well, and it's usually 20-25% cheaper than the regular UberX rate. But when it first launched in NYC, it was just a % discount and they calculated the actual time/mileage charges, which was idiotic.
#12
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: LAX
Programs: WN A-List
Posts: 1,020
Don't take it to the airport unless you have hours to spare. The second passenger can take the driver in the wrong direction (away from the airport) as well as require them pick up, and drop off, more than one passenger along the route to the airport. All of that headache to save a few bucks over UberX is not worth it.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: AA ExecPl, AT Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, National
Posts: 2,433
Don't take it to the airport unless you have hours to spare. The second passenger can take the driver in the wrong direction (away from the airport) as well as require them pick up, and drop off, more than one passenger along the route to the airport. All of that headache to save a few bucks over UberX is not worth it.
(Though I definitely agree that I wouldn't try it when I was running short on time.)
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,506
Pool in my area seems pretty well programmed not to go very far off-route. My SFO experiences have been good. (Once I had a DL employee deciding to pick up a ride on the way to work, and he was thrilled to find out that ride 1 was taking him right to work.)
I would not suggest pool unless (1) having some spare time, and (2) you have nothing more than a carry-on roller.
I would not suggest pool unless (1) having some spare time, and (2) you have nothing more than a carry-on roller.