Londoners can now schedule Bolt rides in advance amid cold weather demand

Credit: Bolt

Bolt has announced that it has launched a scheduling feature that allows passengers to book rides up to three days in advance. The move comes as increased demand for ride-hailing services is anticipated during the coming winter season and the busy festive period.

The new scheduling feature provides passengers with the peace of mind that a driver will be there to pick them up at their specified time and location. To further enhance this convenience, drivers will wait for up to five minutes free of charge after arriving, and the price for the ride is locked in when the driver accepts the booking.

For passengers, this feature means they can plan their journeys with confidence, whether it’s for daily commutes, nights out, date nights, post-work rides, or special events. Passengers can select from a range of categories, including the everyday ‘Bolt,’ the spacious ‘XL,’ the luxurious ‘Exec’ and the recently launched ‘Black Cab’ category, which offers access to London’s bus lanes, ensuring a smooth journey.

For those being picked up from airports, the experience is even more seamless, with dedicated pick-up areas at all of London’s airports, supported by in-app walking directions from Arrivals.

Scheduled rides also benefit drivers, as passengers will pay a small surcharge to account for waiting time upon arrival, making it an opportunity for increased earnings. In addition, it allows both passengers and drivers to better plan their schedules around the scheduled rides.

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To book a scheduled ride, passengers simply need to tap the calendar icon in the Bolt app, provide the date, time, pick-up and drop-off locations, and choose their preferred ride category. Drivers can view all their scheduled ride requests through the Bolt Driver app. Passengers can cancel a scheduled ride at no extra cost up to one hour before the pick-up time, with a cancellation fee applied if cancelled after that point.

Deborah Meijer, Head of Operations for Bolt in London, said: “It’s safe to say that the cold and the dark are well on their way. This means that more and more Londoners are turning to the reliability and convenience of Bolt rides, especially during the festive season. I’m delighted to give our customers the ability to plan ahead so they can spend more time in the moment and less time stressing about their journey.”

Bolt Business, the corporate travel arm of the company, also offers early access to this feature. Clients have been using the scheduled rides feature for offsite meetings and airport transfers in the early hours for the past couple of months.

This new feature enhances Bolt’s offering in the UK capital, following the recent introduction of the ‘Pet’ category in September 2023. This category allows passengers to bring small to medium-sized pets into the car, with drivers having the option to accept or decline such requests. Bolt plans to extend the ability to schedule rides within the ‘Pet’ category in the near future, providing even more flexibility for pet owners.