On a recent trip to Manhattan by way of Newark, I encountered a new cancellation scheme some Uber drivers are employing to preserve their rating at the disparagement of their riders. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for...
The Kind Uber Driver
Hats off to DaVante Williams, the kind Uber driver who went above and beyond his call of duty to help his young passenger after a freak winter storm snarled traffic for hours. DaVante Williams, The Kind Uber Driver By...
My Experience Using Uber In Brazil
I’ve traveled to São Paulo twice this year and used Uber heavily for both visits. In short, Uber is safe, clean, and cheap in Brazil, and therefore highly recommended. Guide: Uber In Brazil As you exit Guarulhos (GRU) airport...
When Uber Drivers Drive Under The Speed Limit, Do You Speak Up?
Do you ever question your Uber driver for driving under the speed limit? What is the line between cautious and too slow? I was recently on a fairly long (100km) Uber journey in a place in which the speed...
Uber Scheduled Rides Disappoint, Cost More
Uber is often my ride of choice to the airport. Readers have asked, “is it cheaper to book Uber in advance?” For specific departure times, I prefer to schedule the Uber to arrive when I need it, but it...
Horrible: Uber Driver Attacked By Vicious Female Trio
Profanity. Racial slurs. Assault. Pepper spray. All in one Uber ride? For what? Asking a passenger to wear a mask. Uber Driver Viciously Attacked By Three Women In San Francisco For, Subhakar Khadka, this nightmare became a reality earlier this...
Uber’s Aggressive Campaigning In California
Today is election day in the United States. In a country with deep internal division, there’s more on the ballot than choosing the next President. In California, Uber and Lyft are hoping voters will approve Prop 22, a controversial...
$143 For A Two-Mile Uber Ride…
Beware: surge pricing on Uber can rise to absurd levels during peaks of extreme demand. One young man found out the hard way. Horror Story: 23X Surge Pricing On Uber Matt Bennett, a teenage plumbing apprentice, was returning from...
A Day Of Reckoning For Uber And Lyft In California
Uber and Lyft have threatened to shut down within days after a court ordered them to immediately reclassify their independent contractors as employees. Will Uber + Lyft Shut Down In California? On Monday, Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman ruled...
Riders, Drivers Pay For Uber’s Bad Tech
Uber has several technical issues that cause issues for riders and drivers. These cost both sides of the equation money yet Uber hasn’t or won’t fix the app. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit...
Uber Charges More When Your Battery Is Low?!
Does Uber charge you more if the battery on your mobile phone is low? NPR interviewed Keith Chen on its Hidden Brain program, who is head of “economic research” at Uber. He said: When your phone is down to five...
Uber Copter Will Compete With BLADE For Manhattan – JFK Traffic
Uber will offer helicopter service between Lower Manhattan and New York JFK starting this summer. The ride-sharing service plans to take on BLADE, which currently offers helicopter service between all three New York airports (JFK, LGA, and EWR) and...
Uber Banning US, Canadian Riders With Low Scores
Uber has expanded its program to boot US and Canadian riders from their app who have substandard star ratings as they have in other countries. On the surface, this plan makes sense but it’s imperfect and may not work...
How Uber And Lyft Drivers Game The System
Uber and Lyft drivers are creating artificial surge pricing in Washington, DC to drive up fares. They insist this is necessary to “flight back” against years of declining pay. Here’s how the trick goes down. The lot outside Reagan...
Why I’ll Stick To Taxis And Avoid Uber In Germany
Uber is back across Germany…but be careful, as the drivers are not exactly well-experienced. I was recently in Germany with my business partner. We landed in Frankfurt and needed to get to Mainz. When I travel alone, I take...
Uber Punitive Star System Bad for Drivers and Passengers
Uber’s star rating system allows passengers and drivers to rate each other anonymously. In some countries, Uber is barring riders from the app for having a four-star rating and that has me scared. If you are considering booking travel or signing...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 15, 2018
Greetings from Los Angeles. It is good to be home after two nearly weeks in Europe. I had a fabulous trip (hope you have been enjoy the Italy road trip report), but there is no place like home…especially after...
Why is My Uber Rating Dropping?
Here’s the paradox of tipping coming to Uber: I now tip far more generously than before, but my rating is dropping. Honestly, I care much more about any secret comments on my Hyatt or United profile than what my...
Pilot Stranded Miles Away from Airport by Angry Lyft Driver
It happens often, but it is not always captured on video. An airline pilot was ditched in a grocery store parking lot seven miles from Los Angeles International Airport. Why? His Lyft driver had no desire to travel to...
The Most Incredible Uber Driver. Ever.
I’m finally on the road again…and had to get from my office to LAX earlier this morning. That’s typically a one hour drive in morning rush hour. Small problem: I cut things too close and found myself 40 minutes...
