Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
67,525
37,827



uber-app-icon-250x248.jpg
Uber yesterday introduced a new ride-hailing feature in its mobile app that lets users request a ride for a friend or family member in a different location.

Uber announced the news in a blog post on its website, suggesting the feature would let users "request a ride for a loved one" such as a senior with limited mobility who doesn't have an Uber account or a smartphone.
Now, when you set the pickup away from your current location, we'll automatically ask whether the ride is for a family member or friend. You can then select the rider from your address book, set their destination, and request the ride on their behalf.
Once the ride is on its way, the loved one receives a text message with the driver's details and a link to track their route. The feature also includes an option for the rider to contact the driver directly, and vice versa.

The feature is available now in over 30 countries, with more coming soon, according to Uber. The Uber app is a free download for iPhone available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Uber Users Can Now 'Request a Ride for a Loved One'
 
  • Like
Reactions: jjm3
As someone who's often having to order an Uber for his grandma, I'm excited for this feature. Up to this point, I'd have to constantly sign out of my account and sign in as her, to request an Uber ride, so I'm curious to see how this new feature will make it more convenient for me.
 
Last edited:
Slightly unfortunate phrasing. Sounds a bit like Uber Hearses.
Actually when I read it first I thought it said 'request a ride from a loved one' implying something else entirely. Thinking it through, that can't work, nor would I pay Uber for it.
 
I'm actually confused having only taken uber when with someone who ordered it, that you couldn't already do this! I would have put in this features years ago, knowing that people who order taxis are 50% of the time not the people riding them. Call it oversight but for these companies not to see this as an essential features calls into question their business intelligence.
 
I'm actually confused having only taken uber when with someone who ordered it, that you couldn't already do this! I would have put in this features years ago, knowing that people who order taxis are 50% of the time not the people riding them. Call it oversight but for these companies not to see this as an essential features calls into question their business intelligence.

You could always do it by calling or texting the driver before pickup to let them know the passenger isn't you.

This move would appear to be either aimed at removing that tiny bit of potential awkwardness, or just getting user data on those passengers to spam/track them.
 
Not a big change, I've done this in the past by just entering in whatever pickup address they were at. This just cuts me out of the communication chain. They've never had a requirement to "come to your current location" though, I've had them pick things up from stores and bring drop them off like a courier before too.

edit: I learned something from an Uber driver yesterday. I received two calls back to back with the "this is your Uber driver confirming your...". That seemed confusing so I asked my driver when he picked me up why the two calls and he said the prior driver transferred me. He then asked "did the first driver ask where you were going?" to which I said yes. Turns out this is a slightly scummy trick some of the drivers pull, they want longer fares rather than short runs but Uber won't tell them the destination before they accept the rider to prevent them from screening out a significant portion of the user base. Drivers will call you before they officially accept in the driver app and ask you where you are going, if it's a short run they will transfer immediately so they don't get dinged for canceling a customer (which would happen if they accepted the ride to find out the destination first) and you are pushed onto the next driver (who may do the same thing). This is evidently pervasive and well known amongst the drivers. Time for Uber to use the big data they like so much to identify the culprits and weed out this behavior making for a terrible user experience. Personally I'd like the option to just flag "don't call me, I put all the data in the app," I know a lot of the drivers are trying to improve my experience by calling me and letting me know they are coming and how long - or at airports to figure out if people put in floors and door number correctly - but to me it's redundant (and I'm well aware of how to use the service at airports), I'm using an app rather than calling a car service because I don't need the hand holding.
 
Last edited:
I'm actually confused having only taken uber when with someone who ordered it, that you couldn't already do this! I would have put in this features years ago, knowing that people who order taxis are 50% of the time not the people riding them. Call it oversight but for these companies not to see this as an essential features calls into question their business intelligence.
Because usually you need a taxi valet due to difficulties in hailing cabs. This difficulty is negated by having the ridesharing app on your phone, and pushing a button which directs the driver to your current location based in GPS readings.

Used Lyft while in vacation and talk about easy! No waits longer than 5 minutes and I could watch the driver approach via the live map on my phone. No money needed to change hands, it was all handled via Apple Pay. After my ride was complete and I had left the vehicle, I was offered the chance to rate and tip my driver.
 
I like Uber but their app is a mess, super big and they never tell us new features on the update notes -.-
 
great news for escorts!
My thoughts exactly!

It could be used as a hooker delivery service similar to how Uber Eats works! Then you'll know exactly when they'll arrive at your location! Then when you're done with your bidness, you can send them away using the app as well!

Uber could make a separate app just for this and call it Huker!
 
Well this is good for me. I have cousins who are constantly asking me for uber rides and hounding me about "how long" etc. I can now request an uber ride for them without having to explain to the uber driver that it's not for me don't call me when you get there lol. But now I know I'm gonna get asked for rides all the time.
 
You could always do it by calling or texting the driver before pickup to let them know the passenger isn't you.

This move would appear to be either aimed at removing that tiny bit of potential awkwardness, or just getting user data on those passengers to spam/track them.
I've don't this and sometimes the uber driver won't see the text or can't pick up the phobe before they pick the person to know that it's not actually me requesting the uber ride.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.