Using Didi for first time
Nov 16, 2017, 9:36 am
#32
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: USA
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy BS, Hertz & Avis Pres
Posts: 653
Agree that the calling adds confusion and some uncertainty, but FWIW, I speak no Chinese and had no trouble in either SH or BJ ignoring the call and using the Didi English-language message suggestions ("I am at my pin location, please pick me up now" eg) to communicate with drivers.
Nov 19, 2017, 4:34 pm
#33
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MM, SQ KrisFlyer, SPG/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,232
AFAIK there is no designated area for didi drivers parking on airport property. You would have to contact them and give them instructions so they can swoop in. Maybe go to the hotel in the middle of the terminals, DaZhong hotel, and wait there or ask the desk clerk for assistance with this.
Five minutes later, a guy walks up with our chat open on his phone and identifies himself as the driver. We walk over to his Roewe 550 Plug-in Hybrid and he drives me to the Le Meridien. Easy Peasy.
At least for foreigners, easy destinations such as hotel, train stations and malls work best with the app. If a lot of people go there, chances are that DiDi has it in its database.
Nov 19, 2017, 4:36 pm
#34
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MM, SQ KrisFlyer, SPG/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,232
Nov 19, 2017, 4:39 pm
#35
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MM, SQ KrisFlyer, SPG/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,232
I was able to sign up using Project Fi from my desk at home (San Francisco). Funny that the confirmation text came from a 408 number...
Dec 31, 2017, 12:53 am
#36
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Diego US and Brisbane AU
Programs: AA EXP/2MM - DL PM - OZ Diamond - Bonvoy LTT - Hyatt Glob - IHG Plat - National EE - Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,315
Did you get this to work to actually do a transaction or receive / send money?
Though you can add it I think with the new restrictions in China around currency, unless you have a valid China based bank account your account isn't really active. Both my US and Chinese phone have wallet active but I can't receive nor send anything.
If you can secure a Chinese bank account then everything is possible, the first step is finding a bank that will give you an account with just your passport. I hear most now require forms of residency.
Though you can add it I think with the new restrictions in China around currency, unless you have a valid China based bank account your account isn't really active. Both my US and Chinese phone have wallet active but I can't receive nor send anything.
If you can secure a Chinese bank account then everything is possible, the first step is finding a bank that will give you an account with just your passport. I hear most now require forms of residency.
Jan 3, 2018, 10:12 am
#37
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: USA
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy BS, Hertz & Avis Pres
Posts: 653
I signed up for Didi from the US, and used a US debit card to sign up, in October. This is on their English-language app, which worked really well in SH and BJ in October.
Jan 10, 2018, 12:58 am
#38
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: 42.1% in PDX , 49.9% in PVG & 8% in the air somewhere
Programs: Marriott Ambassador Elite, UA 1K, AS MVP GLD 75K, DL Pt
Posts: 1,086
I'm going to bite the bullet this year and get a local bank account to link to Alipay and go fully local this year, done with cash and US CC are useless at anything but the biggest places. China is moving far faster than US to cashless and Visa and MC should be worried, LOL
Feb 11, 2018, 11:11 am
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,967
1. Uber doesn’t exist or work in Shanghai
2. Didi is the Uber of Shanghai but the cost and/or convenience delta from using a taxi is minimal
so it looks like I’ll be using taxis to get around to the bund and museums. I just hope I can easily hail one.
Feb 11, 2018, 7:06 pm
#40
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: China and Canada
Posts: 1,886
I just read through this thread. I’ve cone up with the following conclusions:
1. Uber doesn’t exist or work in Shanghai
2. Didi is the Uber of Shanghai but the cost and/or convenience delta from using a taxi is minimal
so it looks like I’ll be using taxis to get around to the bund and museums. I just hope I can easily hail one.
Feb 12, 2018, 8:39 am
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,967
ETA: I just downloaded the app, saved my Citi MC info in my wallet and appear to be good to go. I was able to get a FYI quote from PVG to the HIlton and it came back at 205 yuan which translated into $32. This was for an "express" car not luxury. Uber X equivalent perhaps? Is this moreorless the same price a taxi would charge me? If so I'll take the taxi rather than worry about a driver calling me and becoming frustrated since we can't understand each other.
Last edited by enviroian; Feb 12, 2018 at 9:40 am
Jun 12, 2018, 2:59 pm
#43
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: CX MPC DM
Posts: 416
My last trip in Shenzhen, I started using Didi more frequently instead of a taxi to go from my hotel to the office. It seems to me that the younger drivers tend to notice that I am using a foreign language version and use the Didi messaging to confirm the trip. The older drivers tend to call. I think the need to call is more out of habit or just being skeptical to confirm the pickup. At my hotel I was able to hand the phone over to staff if I got a call from the Didi driver. Anyway, none of this is scientific just purely anecdotal. Typical price for an express car is a few RMB more on short trips. Definitely cheaper on longer trips. My daily trip to the office is short, I could walk it but I don't want to suffer the flop sweat in the 95% humidity.
Jun 13, 2018, 5:09 pm
#45
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
