Business Insider visits ride-hailing platforms Uber andliftAs for drivers, some say being picky about passengers helps them make money, but others say sometimes it’s better to be less picky.
Kane is 36 years old and ahoustonHe drives four to five hours a day for Uber and Lyft in the area, in addition to his full-time analyst job, as extra money. He said that although he will almost always choose a ride as long as someone asks for it, he would prefer rides that cost at least 80 cents to $1 per mile. He also avoids driving too far from the Houston area, fearing not having to return. He also said that trips to or from the airport would be prioritized as passengers are more likely to tip.
Bill, 70, is a part-time Uber driver in North Carolina. He said he does not accept rides easily, accepting less than 10% of the rides and canceling more than 30% of the rides. He also avoids traveling to remote areas where he does not get frequent customers. To avoid these requests, he would ask about the destination when asking for the pick-up time, and would find excuses if he wanted to go out of town.
Although this practice of defrauding travelers does carry the risk of getting your account banned, Bill said that has not happened to him yet.
Fred, 40, isVirginiaHe drives for Uber. His strategy is to accept almost all rides, and his career ride rate is around 84%. He said that doing so helps him maintain his Uber “Diamond status” and allows him to save money at specific gas stations through the rewards system. For fuel costs, you can also get assistance from the customer service hotline.
He said that when he calls customer service, he gets an immediate and professional response, but if drivers don’t care about these benefits, he can understand why some people refuse to take orders.
United States(TagstoTranslate)Houston(T)Virginia(T)Lift