Uber Charter has expanded to a second regional market in August, moving into three of Florida’s major metro areas.
“We’re excited to announce the launch of Uber Charter in Miami, Orlando and Tampa Bay,” said Javi Correoso, Uber’s Head of Public Policy and Communications for the South. “Whether it’s for a wedding, theme park visit, trip to the beach, or even a work event, it’s about to get easier for Floridians to book a bus for their next group outing. Plus, we’ll always share pricing upfront so there won’t be any surprises.”
In July, the ride-share service first rolled out the service in Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metro areas.
Uber Charter says it will launch nationwide in the coming months.
Arrangements made in app
Uber is partnering with US Coachways to let consumers and enterprise customers seamlessly book one-way or round-trip, ad hoc or regularly scheduled transportation for groups of six or more, the company said in a statement.
The service lets customers request, book and pay in the Uber app.
Starting out, sprinter vans, mini buses, and other types of vehicles will be available for rent with a driver, though vehicle availability will vary based on supply in the market.
Riders can choose from a list of add-ons at the time of request: DVD player, outlets/USB ports, Wifi and alcohol consumption.
Pricing varies
Uber Charter pricing varies by marketplace conditions, but customers receive an upfront price. Trips require a 20% deposit. Riders can add and remove stops up to three days before a trip starts.
Uber Charter partner US Coachways will leverage its expansive network of vehicle partners to fulfill these rides. Its pricing has been described as competitive based on factors including seasonality and marketplace conditions, the company said.
Uber customers, who can access the new service by opening their Uber app and tapping the Charter icon, will be notified when the feature rolls out in their city.
The company is also introducing Uber Vouchers for Events, which lets users create custom codes with a maximum pricing limit. Users can cover the cost of rides for their event guests with vouchers.
The person hosting will enter the event details and the maximum amount they want to pay, then share the generated code with their guests, who will determine their own pickup and dropoff times and locations.