While it was back for a few months in March, due to the dynamic nature of the global pandemic, Uber Pool went into hiatus yet again with respect to various states lockdowns. Don’t call it a comeback, but Uber Pool has made its glorious return to your app yet again, fueling up just in time for the holidays with what’s easily the most affordable way to really get around Australia’s cities. The return of Uber Pool also brings with it a few substantial changes to the way the service works, in addition to brand new services areas extending to 6 more Australian cities in addition to the original service areas of Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Adelaide.
Now Uber Pool is available in Canberra, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Newcastle, and Sunshine Coast, representing up to a 30% saving on solo Uber trips by sharing the cost between riders heading to the same general area.
That’s not the only change though. Now Uber Pool has enough scope to offer a door-to-door service, so you won’t have to be waiting for the app to tell you to walk to any designated pickup spot. This means you should really have to factor in an extra 10 minutes or so to your usual trip, given it cuts out the waiting and walking typically associated with Uber Pool 1.0. We’ve updated the Uber Pool steps below to reflect this.
The return of Uber Pool is in addition to another new product being introduced by the service, dubbed “Uber Reserve”. It’s exactly how it sounds, allowing riders to pre-plan rides up to 30 days in advance in most major cities by simply selecting the ‘Reserve’ option when they go order an Uber. This allows you to pre-book an UberX, XL, or Comfort ride with a locked-in upfront price, which is a great idea in case you’re expecting any last-minute surge charges on the day you want to make the trip.
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Uber Pool will otherwise run exactly how it first launched in 2018, offering a game-changing option that’s easily the most affordable non-public-transport way to get from point A to point B. Then you’ve got the efficiency of it all, with Uber Pool Australia not only helping cut congestion on the road, but also working towards reducing emissions over time.
As with ordering any Uber right now, passengers will be asked to confirm that they are feeling well and have taken all the necessary hygiene precautions before requesting a car.
If a year of absence has caused you to completely forget that Uber Pool Australia was ever a thing, here’s a refresher on how it works:
- Select Uber Pool when requesting a ride and enter your destination accordingly.
- After a few minutes, Uber Pool matches you up with other riders heading in the same direction.
- Save a few bucks by sharing the cost with other passengers.
Cheap rides home and more money to spend at your destination. What’s not to love?
Looking for somewhere to catch an Uber Pool to? Check out the best new restaurants in Sydney or the best new bars in Sydney. If you’re in Melbourne, check out the best new restaurants in Melbourne. And if you’re way down south, check out the best restaurants in Hobart.
