Uber Launches More Affordable Shuttle Option for Airport Travel and Events

Uber is rolling out a new rideshare option that it says will provide guests with less expensive rides to the airport and other major events late this summer.

Uber Shuttles got its official launch this week as part of the company’s product event in New York. Shuttles allows users to book up to five seats for rides from one central location to the airport, or another big event like a sports game or concert.

The rides will be buses operated by local shuttle companies that Uber has partnered with.

How it works is users will enter their destination on the app and select the Shuttle option. They’ll then be able to select their route and pick-up timing and then tap request. Uber will confirm the reservation and send the driver and bus details 25 minutes before pickup.

Drivers and vehicles from those local shuttle companies will be dispatched to the pickup area. From there, users will have a QR code from Uber scanned by the driver, board, and then be brought to the designated drop-off point.

Users who are dropped off a ways away from their destination will be given walking directions to their final point in the app. 

The positive for consumers is that it’s comparably cheaper than a regular Uber, there is no surge pricing, and reservations can be made up to a week in advance. Guests will also be able to track their shuttle in the Uber app, the same feature that’s available for UberX and other Uber options, and tipping and rating will also operate the same as the regular Ubers.

The negative is that Shuttle is not a door-to-door product, so the pickup and drop-off points aren’t flexible—Uber says it has specific lines that it follows, and those pickup or drop-off points need to be near those areas. Shuttle will only operate from 6:00 am to 10:00 am and from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm local time, too. 

Shuttle has been tested in a few international cities, including Mexico City, and is expected to launch in a few North American cities this summer—Chicago, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, and Miami are all expected to get the option sometime soon. Uber said it will add other cities over the coming months.

The company has also partnered with Live Nation amphitheaters, to launch Shuttle to select venues across the country, including Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins.