Uber wants to make your airport trips less stressful

With Londoners planning Easter breaks, Uber has announced three new features that should make airport pick-ups and drop-offs that bit less stressful.

The most interesting of these is the introduction of step-by-step directions to help holidaymakers go from their gate to the pick-up location. The instructions come complete with pictures for travellers to compare to what they can see in front of them.

This will be supported by 30-plus airports worldwide. While the company hasn’t yet released a full list, the cities covered includ London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, New York, San Francisco, Sao Paulo and Mexico City. More will apparently follow in “the coming months”.

Another feature — Walking ETAs — has a wider range from day one, with “more than 400 airports” currently supported. This is exactly what it sounds like: the app will estimate how long it’ll take you to work your way from the plane to the baggage claim at any given airport.

That means you won’t have to guess when to tap confirm in the Uber app. It should also mean drivers spend less time waiting around, reducing airport congestion.

The final improvement for holidaymakers is a change of policy rather than a new feature. Previously, riders could book their Uber up to 30 days in advance, and that’s been tripled to 90. The idea here is that you can book your flight and Uber at the same time, meaning that there won’t be any unexpected fare surprises or delays leaving the airport.

The three things combined are an attempt to make the Uber experience “feel effortless”, says Jen You, Uber’s head of product for rides.

“With travel roaring back, we’ve been innovating on ways to redesign your airport experience from beginning to end, so that you’re not just getting to and from the airport, but also getting through it with less stress,” she said.