Retail consultants, online agents, booking websites and even pick-up companies have a new competitor and apparently it’s coming from the ride-sharing app, Uber.
Over the Christmas holidays while most people were off spending quality time with their family and friends, the company reportedly filed for and received approval to launch an online travel portal called ‘Uber Travel’.
According to the license filed, Uber Travel will operate much like current online booking sites but with a focus on its pick up system.
The website will allow users to book accommodation (from hoteliers or Airbnb), flights and other transportation, specifically Uber pickups.
Similarly to some existing travel services, the Uber travel business will offer its customers real-time updates such as flight delays or pick-up issues. There’ll also be updates with information on best times to book an Uber driver, weather changes and more.
Fortune, the publication to first report on the new online company, said the ‘core goal’ of Uber Travel will be to keep travellers updated via mobile and make booking holidays as easy as possible by remembering preferences such as window or aisle.
Meanwhile, Uber – the app – received a fair bit of backlash over New Year’s Day for reportedly hiking up its prices by three times the normal rate.
The company is known for operating under a surge pricing system, which sees fares increase during peak periods.
This included New Year’s when customers say they were forced to pay almost three times the amount of their usual fare.
Uber claims only around 10 percent of its bookings from 5.00pm on New Year’s Eve to 5.00am the following morning experienced such a high price surge, while 70 percent received no surge at all.
