Why is Lyft more when I schedule it in advance?
Dec 10, 22, 1:41 pm
#1
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Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 2,095
Why is Lyft more when I schedule it in advance?
I regularly take Lyft to my local airport, and the fares are around $25 (but can be much higher at some times).
This morning, when I was looking to schedule a Lyft ride in advance (to be this afternoon), the scheduled-in-advance fare was $34. But getting a Lyft right then this morning was around $25, and now, when Im about to order a Lyft (at the time when I was looking to schedule it), its around $25.
So there would have been a $9 premium for scheduling it in advance.
Is this normal? Does Lyft just forecast demand when the scheduled rise would occur and charge based on its forecast, which may turn out to be inaccurate?
This morning, when I was looking to schedule a Lyft ride in advance (to be this afternoon), the scheduled-in-advance fare was $34. But getting a Lyft right then this morning was around $25, and now, when Im about to order a Lyft (at the time when I was looking to schedule it), its around $25.
So there would have been a $9 premium for scheduling it in advance.
Is this normal? Does Lyft just forecast demand when the scheduled rise would occur and charge based on its forecast, which may turn out to be inaccurate?
Dec 23, 22, 1:59 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
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This is what they want you to think. They will probably tell you this. The real answer is that most people scheduling a ride simply don't know better, so Lyft can pocket the difference. Also, they're probably hedging against a sudden driver shortage so that if there's a small dip in driver supply it makes up for it, and if fares increase beyond what they quoted you, they'll either rip you off with a higher fare, or they'll simply not get you a ride and tell you to go pound sand.
Dec 23, 22, 8:27 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
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it's fair, they don't know the demand is going to be and they are essentially promising they will have a car for you ... it costs more. Same with Uber. I have saved a ton of money with this ... comparing then to surge pricing that was in effect when I took the ride
Dec 23, 22, 8:34 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2012
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Lyft is not exactly the same as Uber for scheduled rides. Lyft will actually offer the scheduled rides to drivers ahead of time and drivers can claim those rides on a first come first served basis. Drivers can see the origin and destination as well as how much they'll be paid. Whereas Uber simply requests a ride around the time that you scheduled and you're at the mercy of the driver supply at that time.
Only when no one claims the ride will Lyft resort to doing the same thing as Uber where they request a ride around the scheduled time.
Lyft's system for this is opaque to riders.
Only when no one claims the ride will Lyft resort to doing the same thing as Uber where they request a ride around the scheduled time.
Lyft's system for this is opaque to riders.
