Uber users can now reserve a car ride in a premium car up to 30 days in advance in some of the major UK cities. The option is live in Manchester, London, Bristol, and Bath, following a rollout in the United States.
Uber’s Advance Reserve
You can book a ride up to two hours before you need it with the service called Uber Reserve. Drivers will arrive 15 minutes before the pickup time and wait for up to 15 minutes afterward, according to Engadget.
Uber Exec and Lux drivers are eligible for Uber Reserve and they will be assigned to rides up to seven days in advance. You will be able to add a driver you like to a favorites list and Uber will try to match you with your preferred drivers.
Also Read: Uber Willing to Follow UK’s Minimum Wage Policy for Drivers with Holiday Pay and Pension
However, you will need to pay extra for the service.
There is a reservation fee of £5 or $7, and a minimum ride cost that varies per city, though it is free to cancel at least an hour before the pickup time. You will still be able to reserve a ride in a standard car through UberX.
The idea behind Uber Reserve is to give business travelers and those making essential journeys peace of mind that there will be a car waiting for them when they need it. Uber also stated that it would bring Reserve to airports with flight tracking, and up to 60 minutes of wait time.
Uber UK Hires More Drivers
After months of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, Uber is now planning to hire 20,000 more drivers in the United Kingdom to help fill swelling demand for rides as the country’s restrictions ease, ABC News reported.
Uber, a San Francisco-based ride hailing company, stated on Apr. 29 that it aims to sign up the additional drivers by the end of 2021, adding to the 70,000 it already has in the UK.
Uber said that UK trips have increased by 50% since Apr. 12, when British pubs and restaurants were allowed to reopen to serve outdoor meals and drinks as part of the government’s plan to relax COVID-19 rules. The remaining restrictions are expected to be lifted by June 21, if virus cases do not increase again.
Uber’s recruitment drive in the UK underscores a wider bounce-back for the company after demand bottomed out in 2020 during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.
The company has already said that it is offering sign-up bonuses and other incentives to US drivers after total monthly bookings, including food delivery and passenger service, hit an all-time high in March.
Furthermore, Uber added that the new UK drivers will be entitled to benefits like holiday pay and pensions, which it started offering after the UK Supreme Court recently ruled that Uber drivers should be classed as workers, not self-employed, and have rights to such benefits.
Aside from hiring more drivers, Uber also plans to build electric vehicles together with the startup Arrival, as per Reuters.
The electronic vehicles are expected to hit the UK highway in 2023, as part of Uber’s plan to reduce carbon emissions in the city.
Related Article: Uber Partners Up With UK’s Arrival, to Use Electronic Vehicles For Ride-Hailing Purposes
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Written by Sophie Webster
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