Uber launches ride request feature for family and friends

Last Wednesday (1), Uber announced a new function for users who usually request rides for their family and friends. Source U-Guest makes it possible to enter a third party’s name and phone number when requesting travel.

The innovation is currently available to more than 30 million users of the app in Brazil. Previously, the functionality was tested for about 10 months in the cities of Fortaleza (CE), Natal (RN), Recife (PE), São Luís (MA), and São Paulo inland and on the coast.

How to use Uber’s U-Guest

To use the U-Guest feature, simply follow these steps:

• Open the Uber app on your mobile;
• In the Races menu (“Where To”), tap “Switch User” at the top of the screen;
• Then tap on the “Add New Contact” option;
• Tap on “Start” on the next screen;
• Search for agenda-related information or manually enter guest data;
• Finally, select the race’s departure address and destination.

With the new functionality, the Uber driver receives the guest’s data directly while accepting the ride. Making requests more transparent, the driver can see on the user details screen that it is a U-Guest ride.

On the other hand, the guest receives the boarding information (driver name, make, model, color and license plate) on his mobile phone. Trips in this mode can be paid for by the passenger in cash or with the card of the account holder requesting the trip.

facilitating communication

The U-Guest function simplifies communication for both drivers and guest passengers. Thus, the account holder does not need to mediate messages containing information between the Uber partner and a friend or family member.

“We know that people today are already requesting trips to friends and family for a wide variety of reasons: it could be that the person didn’t have a cell phone at the time, didn’t have the app installed, or wasn’t familiar with the technology,” said Leandro Baiochi, Uber’s senior manager of Operations and Logistics.

The purpose of the resource for the administrator is to allow the main user to inform this data through the application itself. In addition, the driver “has peace of mind that the journey will be made by the person he sees on the offer card”.