Uber To Create Travel 'Superapp' By Adding Planes, Trains and Rental Cars

Uber announced Wednesday that it is adding trains, buses, planes and rental cars to its UK app this year. "The move is part of a pilot that could be expanded to other countries at a later date if it goes well," reports CNBC. From the report: While Uber won't provide these travel services itself, it will allow users to book them through its app following software integrations with platforms that sell tickets. The tech giant, which may take a cut on each booking, said it plans to announce various partners in the coming months. Uber said the integrations will help to boost app usage among its users in the U.K, who also have the choice of using apps like Bolt and Free Now. The U.K. is one of Uber's largest markets outside the U.S.

Jamie Heywood, Uber's boss in the U.K., said in a statement that Uber hopes to become "a one-stop-shop for all your travel needs." "You have been able to book rides, bikes, boat services and scooters on the Uber app for a number of years, so adding trains and coaches is a natural progression," he said. He added: "Later this year we plan to incorporate flights, and in the future hotels, by integrating leading partners into the Uber app to create a seamless door-to-door travel experience." Uber also plans to let people buy Eurostar train tickets through the app. Eurostar allows travelers to commute from London to Paris and other cities via the Channel Tunnel.

Planes, trains, and automobiles!

[Cyberax]

Yay!

Re:

[rudy_wayne]

Followed by lions and tigers and bears

Oh my.

Re:

[bobmagicii]

look forward to the lawsuit from kayak myself. should be at least mildly amusing.'

Wasn't this a movie?

[iamnotx0r]

Sorry, had to say it.

Re:

[quonset]

Sorry, had to say it.

Close, but no cigar. The editors could have used the perfect title but instead chose poorly.

You're looking for "Trains, Planes, and Automobiles"

Re: Wasn't this a movie?

[e3m4n]

Unfortunately we were unable to get John Candy to reprise the role.

Re:

[necro81]

Including the part where Uber strands you in a parking lot with keys for a car that doesn't exist.

And when confronted with this, Uber will simply smirk and reply: You're Fucked [youtube.com].

the logical conclusion

[Anonymouse Cowtard]

The only way this can end is with you sitting in a chair, near the end of your life, and Uber will be the only way you can move.

App is already annoying

[edi_guy]

I only use uber for the taxi service, but the dumb app is always trying to push the Food, Package, Grocery, Bike...Vaccine(?!) services and it gets in the way of what I am trying to accomplish. Occasionally I will flip to Lyft because of it

So 'no thank you' from this customer on adding all that extra junk to it.

Re:

[fahrbot-bot]

I only use uber for the taxi service, but the dumb app is always trying to push the Food, Package, Grocery, Bike...Vaccine(?!) ...

In DC they also offer hookers and blow. :-)

[ Which would orders of magnitude less disturbing than what Rep. Madison Cawthorn [cnn.com] (R-NC) said about GOP parties. /ew ]

Re:

[thegarbz]

It is one of only a handful of apps I've needed to ban from sending me notifications. Fuck Uber.

This is great news!

[rsilvergun]

If they're doing nonsense like this it means they're about to collapse. Good and good riddance. Now if we can just get a living wage for Taxi cab drivers and an end to abusive fake contractor relationships they're under.

Remember, shit flows both ways in an economy. Those desperate taxi drivers who can't make ends meet don't eat a bullet, they start gunning for your jobs. Sure, most don't make it, but your boss sees the ones that do and cuts your pay.

Re: This is great news!

[e3m4n]

Doesnt that vary by state? Uber drivers in my state say they make more than cabbies and they kinda like the hours. I know one husband who left a daily grind so he could uber and save on after-school care for the kids. He ubers during school and in the evenings. If he needs to attend a dinner function for his wife (she works in healthcare and sometimes has to go to dinner parties) its super easy to log off.

Re:

[drinkypoo]

This is not a new idea. I forget which automaker was going to be doing this, I want to say it was Renault for some reason, but I remember watching their CEO talking about their new mobility platform where you would be able to just ask for a trip from point A to B and it would figure out within your various parameters how to get you there, including everything from rental scooters to taking a train. I'm having trouble remembering the name or finding it again so I suspect it isn't doing that well :D

3rd party doesnt work well

[Slashythenkilly]

If youve ever booked a car, hotel room, concert venue, or other activity you most likely encountered the scenario where youve been charged but the reservation or tickets werent there and theres nothing that can be done about it. Uber isnt a reliable platform nor is its customer service team going to be able to handle travel issues.

Budget

[dohzer]

Can't wait to see what their budget version of Economy class will be like. Half the normal leg-room? Last second cancellations?