Uber expands ‘Reserve’ feature to include budget-friendly rides

Uber has announced that it has expanded its popular ‘Reserve’ feature to the most budget-friendly products on the app: UberX and XL.

The popular ride-hailing app launched ‘Reserve’ for Exec and Lux rides in luxury vehicles in May 2021, allowing customers to request bookings with Uber up to 30 days in advance. However, as cities open back up post-pandemic, the service is being expanded to include the app’s most affordable cars, with X and XL vehicles all now available on ‘Reserve’.

Available now in London, Manchester and Bristol, ‘Reserve’ aims to offer even greater peace of mind to Uber customers who are making important journeys – such as trips to the airport, the train station, events and work meetings – as users can plan their travel fully in advance, reducing anxiety and increasing confidence at a time when travel is already complicated enough.

Drivers using Uber Reserve will be required to be online 40 minutes prior to the trip to ensure that riders and drivers can seamlessly connect beforehand, with drivers assigned up to seven days in advance. Drivers will arrive five minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time and will wait for up to five minutes after the pick-up time.

‘Reserve’ trips can be booked with a minimum of two hours’ advance notice and can be cancelled free of charge, as long as the trip is 60 minutes or more away. If a rider cancels less than one hour in advance, they will be required to pay the trip minimum fare to the selected driver. The feature also offers drivers the chance to earn more and exercise further control over their schedule, supplementing on-demand trips with those booked further in advance.

The trips come with a reservation fee of between £3- £5 and a minimum fare of £30 in London, £16 in Manchester and £17 in the South West, with the price shown upfront before booking. Passengers who have particularly enjoyed their journey can add a driver to their favourites list, and their preferred drivers will be offered for future ‘Reserve’ trips in the first instance.

Ash Kebriti, General Manager for the UK & Ireland at Uber, said: “As the world returns to normal, we’re looking for ways to make everyday life easier for our customers. After seeing Reserve’s popularity among customers taking trips in luxury vehicles, we wanted to expand the service to the most affordable products on the app, giving more of our passengers peace of mind by allowing them to plan and confirm their important trips in advance.”