Well now New Yorkers can conveniently charter vehicles big enough to transport their entire groups with just a few quick taps.
On Thursday, Uber launched its new group transportation feature, Uber Charter, in the New York and New Jersey metro areas, allowing customers to book various vans and buses directly through the Uber app.
The service is available for trips starting in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Westchester County, Nassau County and Suffolk County in New York, as well as in northern and central New Jersey.
The vehicles, which include a wide range of buses and vans, are provided through a partnership with U.S. Coachways and can accommodate anywhere from six to 55 passengers.
All trips must be booked at least three days in advance, with the price varying based on the number of passengers, type of vehicle and trip distance.
Pricing is displayed upfront and includes a $25 Uber Charter booking fee, though the company warns that additional fees and charges may occur depending on the vendor's fuel, tolls, parking and overages policy.
To book a trip, customers tap the "Charter" button in their Uber app, select "New Trip," and then input the event type, trip type, vehicle type, number of passengers and pick-up and drop-off locations.
Riders can also choose from a list of add-ons, including DVD players, outlets/USB ports, Wifi and alcohol consumption, if all passengers are of legal age.
Once users review their trip details, they click "Confirm booking" and are all set to ride.
Uber Charter is also available in Miami, Orlando and Tampa Bay, Florida, as well as Dallas and Houston, Texas, with plans to expand to additional markets in the coming months.
NEW UBER FEATURES
Uber Charter is just one of the various new features the company announced earlier their year for both its e-hail and delivery services.
In May, the company announced the launch of Uber Travel, which allows users to reserve rides for each leg of their vacation itinerary in one convenient location.
"Just connect your Gmail account, and we'll do the rest, organizing your hotel, flight and restaurant reservations all in one place for a stress-free travel experience," said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.
Customers who use the new Uber Travel feature, which is now available in the United States, receive 10% back in Uber Cash on each ride they book.
Uber also unveiled a new Vouchers for Events feature, which allows customers to create unique promotional codes that can be distributed to event attendees in order to cover their trips.
"Simply enter your event details, the maximum amount that you want to cover, and share your unique code with your guests. Guests will determine their own pickup and drop-off at a time and location that works best for them, and you'll avoid overpaying for unused seats," Khosrowshahi said.
Uber Comfort Electric, a premium version of the Uber Green feature, allows customers to request high-end electric vehicles, like Teslas and Polestars, so they can ride comfortably knowing they're helping to combat climate change.
The Comfort Electric feature is currently available in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Portland, Denver, Seattle, Austin, Baltimore and Philadelphia, with plans to expand to additional U.S. cities in the coming months.
In the world of Uber Eats, the company announced a new Voice Ordering feature, which allows users to quickly order their favorite meals through the app using nothing but voice commands.
Uber Eats at Stadiums allows event attendees to place orders at their favorite concession stands through the Uber Eats app and then skip the line to pick up their meal once it's ready.
The feature is already available at various baseball stadiums throughout the country, including Yankee Stadium.
©2022 Staten Island Advance, Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
