This revolutionary ride-hailing service is one of the many conveniences of living in a hyperconnected world. Here are some tips to get maximum value with Uber.

Avoid surge pricing

Surge pricing (much higher than normal Uber rates) happens when there is an unusually high demand, like if the bus system suddenly goes on strike or when going to and from a big concert. If you’re in a safe area, it pays to take a short walk away from the pickup hotspot: the fare could drop dramatically because you’re out of the surging zone. Another benefit of a short walk is that it will be easier for your driver to get to you, and you’ll be easier to spot. The cell network will also be under less pressure.

Score discounted rides

It pays to invite your friends to use Uber. If someone joins Uber and uses your discount code, they get a discount on the fare and it improves your status on the app. Your invite code is found in the menu under Free Rides. There’s more: If enough people sign up with your invite code, you will qualify for a discounted ride. Get a friend to sign up and book the ride to the party with their discounted fare, then you can pay for the ride back with your discounted fare. Rinse and repeat until you run out of friends.

Pick up friends

If your friends live along the route to the party, you can easily set multiple pick-ups for your Uber ride to get everyone sorted out with a ride. When you’re in the app, tap the Where To bar in the usual way, then use the + button to add up to three other addresses where you would like to collect someone. You then split the fare when each person is picked up. For more accurate cost sharing, each person only pays for their portion of the fare, based on the distance they’ve travelled.

Schedule a pickup

You can book a ride in advance by scheduling a pickup time. Book a ride in the normal way, but after setting your destination and your vehicle option, hit the clock symbol to set a time delay between 15 minutes and 30 days. It’s a great workaround for the pickup problems you run into at big events when there is a sudden demand – at the end of a concert, for example. This way you can fix the pickup point and just meet your driver there at the specified time. This is especially useful if you’re booking a ride for someone else.

Share your whereabouts

Keep your loved ones informed about your Uber trips by setting them as trusted contacts in the app settings. You will then be prompted to let others know when you’re catching a ride, or you can set this to inform them automatically or to share your live location, which updates as you travel. It’s the perfect safety feature for keeping track of your nearest and dearest, and for monitoring friends from out of town.

Words: Lindsey Schutters | Photography: Unsplash