Using Uber while abroad
#106




Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CGK/LAX
Programs: KF,JMB, OZ, SPG,AA,UA,AS
Posts: 1,170
Last month I used Uber in Singapore and Surabaya. Probably 10 rides in each city. The rides in Singapore were all good. In Surabaya, most of my rides were good, however, if you don't speak Indonesian, I would imagine it would be hard since all of my drivers required phone calls to guide them to my locations (maybe a map issue.)
I had one concerning issue with a driver in Surabaya. I decided to take Uber one afternoon and I was picked up by a driver who seemed like a nice guy. I was sitting in the back and wasn't paying much attention to the ride. After about five minutes in the car I noticed that he was struggling to keep his eyes open. I asked him if he was tired, and he said "no." I then asked him how long he had been driving for without time off, he told me he had been driving for 20-hours straight, which I believed by looking at him. Does anyone know if the Uber app locks drivers out after a certain amount of time driving?
I had one concerning issue with a driver in Surabaya. I decided to take Uber one afternoon and I was picked up by a driver who seemed like a nice guy. I was sitting in the back and wasn't paying much attention to the ride. After about five minutes in the car I noticed that he was struggling to keep his eyes open. I asked him if he was tired, and he said "no." I then asked him how long he had been driving for without time off, he told me he had been driving for 20-hours straight, which I believed by looking at him. Does anyone know if the Uber app locks drivers out after a certain amount of time driving?
#107
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,337
London
I got picked up by UberX at LHR T3 on a Monday evening 7pm and went to Park Lane. It cost 32 which is a fair bit cheaper than a taxi. And I sat in the front seat and chatted with the driver while we listened to some good Punjabi music on the radio. ^
#108


Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 1,483
Last month I used Uber in Singapore and Surabaya. Probably 10 rides in each city. The rides in Singapore were all good. In Surabaya, most of my rides were good, however, if you don't speak Indonesian, I would imagine it would be hard since all of my drivers required phone calls to guide them to my locations (maybe a map issue.)
I had one concerning issue with a driver in Surabaya. I decided to take Uber one afternoon and I was picked up by a driver who seemed like a nice guy. I was sitting in the back and wasn't paying much attention to the ride. After about five minutes in the car I noticed that he was struggling to keep his eyes open. I asked him if he was tired, and he said "no." I then asked him how long he had been driving for without time off, he told me he had been driving for 20-hours straight, which I believed by looking at him. Does anyone know if the Uber app locks drivers out after a certain amount of time driving?
I had one concerning issue with a driver in Surabaya. I decided to take Uber one afternoon and I was picked up by a driver who seemed like a nice guy. I was sitting in the back and wasn't paying much attention to the ride. After about five minutes in the car I noticed that he was struggling to keep his eyes open. I asked him if he was tired, and he said "no." I then asked him how long he had been driving for without time off, he told me he had been driving for 20-hours straight, which I believed by looking at him. Does anyone know if the Uber app locks drivers out after a certain amount of time driving?
#109




Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: ASIA
Programs: TK Elite, ALL Plus Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,536
Last month I used Uber in Singapore and Surabaya. Probably 10 rides in each city. The rides in Singapore were all good. In Surabaya, most of my rides were good, however, if you don't speak Indonesian, I would imagine it would be hard since all of my drivers required phone calls to guide them to my locations (maybe a map issue.)
I had one concerning issue with a driver in Surabaya. I decided to take Uber one afternoon and I was picked up by a driver who seemed like a nice guy. I was sitting in the back and wasn't paying much attention to the ride. After about five minutes in the car I noticed that he was struggling to keep his eyes open. I asked him if he was tired, and he said "no." I then asked him how long he had been driving for without time off, he told me he had been driving for 20-hours straight, which I believed by looking at him. Does anyone know if the Uber app locks drivers out after a certain amount of time driving?
I had one concerning issue with a driver in Surabaya. I decided to take Uber one afternoon and I was picked up by a driver who seemed like a nice guy. I was sitting in the back and wasn't paying much attention to the ride. After about five minutes in the car I noticed that he was struggling to keep his eyes open. I asked him if he was tired, and he said "no." I then asked him how long he had been driving for without time off, he told me he had been driving for 20-hours straight, which I believed by looking at him. Does anyone know if the Uber app locks drivers out after a certain amount of time driving?
#110
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,337
Wow. I would have switched seats with him and told him to take a quick nap til we reached the airport.
#111




Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: ASIA
Programs: TK Elite, ALL Plus Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,536
#112
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: DCA - PDX - LAX
Programs: AA Gold, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, AS 75k
Posts: 856
I have used Uber abroad no problem but I have t-mobile so free data and text as well as cheap calls.
It should be noted that Uber is not always the best option. I tried it in Bali and the prices were not only higher than Bluebird, but also not as prevalent.
It should be noted that Uber is not always the best option. I tried it in Bali and the prices were not only higher than Bluebird, but also not as prevalent.
#113




Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FLL MIA PBI
Posts: 46
Sydney, Australia
2 weeks ago I was in Sydney, Australia and could not find the pick-up area where Uber drivers drive into at the Domestic Terminal. I was able to contact the driver who, himself had a hard time giving me the directions so he canceled the pick up
Does anyone know where exactly the pick up area is in Sydney Airport Domestic Terminal from today until July 19?
As of July 19, these will be the pick-up locations...
http://www.ausbt.com.au/sydney-airpo...one-on-july-19
Cheers
Does anyone know where exactly the pick up area is in Sydney Airport Domestic Terminal from today until July 19?
As of July 19, these will be the pick-up locations...
http://www.ausbt.com.au/sydney-airpo...one-on-july-19
Cheers
Last edited by Panam; Jun 12, 2016 at 6:51 am Reason: added title
#114
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1
Uber in Xian, China
I'll be in Xi'an China next week and count on using Uber to get me from the airport to the hotel or vice versa. To get a sense of how easy it is to get a car at the Xian airport, I simulated a ride request. However, the Uber app did not seem to respond to addresses written in English. It kept saying that there is no such place, when I tried to put in the Crowne Plaza hotel as the pick up point and the Xian Airport as destination. What is going on? A friend of mine theorized that I have to put in the address in Chinese characters to be able to use Uber in China. Is it true?
#115
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,337
I'll be in Xi'an China next week and count on using Uber to get me from the airport to the hotel or vice versa. To get a sense of how easy it is to get a car at the Xian airport, I simulated a ride request. However, the Uber app did not seem to respond to addresses written in English. It kept saying that there is no such place, when I tried to put in the Crowne Plaza hotel as the pick up point and the Xian Airport as destination. What is going on? A friend of mine theorized that I have to put in the address in Chinese characters to be able to use Uber in China. Is it true?
#116
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,302
I'll be in Xi'an China next week and count on using Uber to get me from the airport to the hotel or vice versa. To get a sense of how easy it is to get a car at the Xian airport, I simulated a ride request. However, the Uber app did not seem to respond to addresses written in English. It kept saying that there is no such place, when I tried to put in the Crowne Plaza hotel as the pick up point and the Xian Airport as destination. What is going on? A friend of mine theorized that I have to put in the address in Chinese characters to be able to use Uber in China. Is it true?
#117




Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Seat 21C on UA
Posts: 988
I often type addresses in English or pinyin, and don't encounter many problems. But, assuming you don't speak much Chinese, trying to get an Uber at any airport in China strikes me as a pretty bad idea (i.e. how were you planning on advising the driver to find YOU in a sea of 1000 people?). Going back to the airport is a lot easier because hotel staff can usually help make things happen.
#119
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,856
My brother and his wife were just in Hong Kong. They needed a cab from the Peak back to the Conrad and a cab wanted the equivalent of $40 USD. They instead used an Uber for $9.50.
#120




Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Seat 21C on UA
Posts: 988




