As residents of certain cities know all too well, getting to the airport is often either a convoluted or expensive undertaking. In New York, getting to JFK from downtown Manhattan often takes several transfers on the subway before reaching the final stretch of the AirTrain, while hailing a ride can cost up to $100 during periods of heavy traffic.
One study by Frommer's recently identified Newark Liberty and LaGuardia airports in New York and LAX in Los Angeles as the airports with the worst congestion in the country.
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On top of the regular ride-hailing service, Uber (UBER) and Lyft (LYFT) both have features that allow visitors to schedule airport pick-ups for both individuals and groups ahead of time.
Uber announces new shuttle, delivery and grocery pick-ups
While this was formerly reserved for those traveling alone or scheduling a ride for several people, Uber just announced that it now has an option for those who want to share a ride to the airport with others to bring down costs. The new Uber Shuttle is being positioned as airport transportation for "a fraction of the price of UberX."
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Along with airport drop-offs, Uber Shuttle will also be scheduled for large concerts at certain Live Nation locations. In the summer, Uber will start testing the feature by shuttling fans in Chicago, Charlotte, and Pittsburgh between the venue and the city’s downtown before expanding it to airports later in the year. Users will be able to log into the Uber app and see times at which the shuttle is running to and from the airport. If there is available space, one will be able to reserve a spot directly through the platform.
“We’ll be piloting the shuttle for airports by working with our airport partners to provide convenient shuttle services multiple times each day straight from downtown locations all the way to the airport curbside,” Uber Shuttle General Manager Anthony Le Roux said at Uber’s Go-Get product launch event in New York. “Just wait at your destination and scroll down to select the shuttle. Once selected, you'll choose from the available routes and you'll see the appropriate price there.”
Other new products announced by Uber on May 15 include being able to schedule the current UberX Share up to 30 days ahead of time in order to lock in a price and a partnership with Costco (COST) in which one can order groceries from the wholesaler directly through Uber Eats.
'Discover recommendations from friends and foodies alike'
It is also promising users more carefully curated Uber Eats lists in which one can connect with friends to see places they recommend in a given city.
"A new feature that lets you discover recommendations from friends and foodies alike, Lists makes it easy to explore a new city or switch up your go-tos," Uber says of the Uber Eats Lists feature. "Whether you've just touched down in a new city and looking for local hidden gems or need some new inspiration for dinner in your hometown, Lists is the ultimate way to find and share curated dishes and spots.”
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