You’ll soon be able to book flights through Uber, if you’re in the UK.
Announced on Wednesday, the ridesharing company is sticking to its « Amazon and Google of transportation« goals by adding flight bookings to the app’s Uber Travel feature. Launching first in the UK this summer, the feature means users can buy domestic and international flights within the app, powered by travel agent Hopper.
To book a flight, you’ll be able to type in your desired origin and destination with dates, check your options, then book and pay within the app. You can also pick your seats if you’re flying with a major carrier, but whether that’ll cost you extra remains to be seen. Uber said its in-app flight booking will come with extra offerings including « Price Freeze, Flight Disruption Guarantee, Cancel For Any Reason, Change for Any Reason, and VIP support. »
It’s the latest addition to Uber Travel, the app’s section that lets you book airport transfers, hotels, coaches, trains, and other travel elements, which are then grouped into trips and connected with your Gmail or Outlook account. The transfer feature is particularly smart, as the company will adjust your pickup time if your flight is delayed or early, using a flight tracker, and will give you actual directions to the pickup zone itself.
« The addition of flights to the Uber app is a big win for UK consumers who are looking for an easier way to book travel, » said Frederic Lalonde, CEO and co-founder of Hopper, in a press statement. « This new partnership will offer Uber users choice, transparency and flexibility when booking flights, all in the same place they are already booking their other transportation.”
For users in the UK, the app already lets you book Heathrow Express airport train tickets, trains across the National Rail network, Eurostar trains, National Express coaches, as well as their London offering, Uber Boat.
Flight bookings will come to the Uber app for UK users in summer 2023. Beyond that, Uber is yet to announce a global rollout. And beyond that, whether this has anything to do with the company’s lofty pitch for Uber Air flying taxis and skyports in the future remains to be seen.
