Uber gives set price for trip in new deal

UBER passengers in Cairns can now see exactly how much their trip will cost them as the rideshare company introduces a new pricing structure.

A spokeswoman for Uber said the new pricing guarantee started yesterday and was designed to make pricing simpler and give riders “more control and certainty”.

The structure has been introduced into Cairns, Brisbane, Bunbury, Busselton, Byron Bay, Canberra, Gold Coast, Hobart, Launceston, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Townsville.

Knowing the cost of your trip before you book will now be the norm across Australia and New Zealand.

“Upfront fares mean that riders know the exact cost of a trip before requesting a ride, the same way they do when booking a flight, hotel or train ticket,” the spokeswoman said.

“The goal of upfront fares is to make pricing simpler while giving riders more control and certainty, and ultimately increasing trips.

“Until now, riders in Brisbane, Bunbury, Busselton, Byron Bay, Cairns, Canberra, Gold Coast, Hobart, Launceston, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Townsville have only been able to get an estimated fare.

“Upfront fares are calculated using the expected time and distance of the trip and local traffic conditions, as well as how many riders and nearby drivers are using Uber at that moment. “And when fares go up due to increased demand, instead of surge lightning bolts and pop-up screens, riders are given the actual fare before they request their ride.

“Upfront fares have been rolled out to dozens of cities around the world, giving riders control and certainty over the cost of a ride.”

Riders who need to make a few stops on their journey can add up to three destinations when they request a ride and still receive an exact price.