Uber rolls out new in-app features, plus Flying Blue partnership
Ahead of the start of the Paris Olympics, Uber unveiled a series of new features, products and partnerships Tuesday, including a Flying Blue promotion that gives passengers the chance to earn miles throughout France and the Netherlands.
Eligible riders can earn 1 Flying Blue mile for every euro ($1.09) spent on Ubers. Customers who take four or more trips per month can earn 2 miles for every euro they spend. The promo is only for passengers in France and the Netherlands, including tourists.
“This is a multiyear partnership with Flying Blue,” an Uber spokesperson said. “Our focus for now is on rides taken in France and the Netherlands.”
Riders can participate in the promo by linking their Uber and Flying Blue accounts in their Uber app settings.
In addition to the Flying Blue promo, Uber announced a new search feature, City Insights, for riders to explore Uber offerings in 10,000+ cities worldwide (more details will be available upon the product’s official launch). Open your Uber app, tap “Where to?” and select “Search in a different city” to browse through the different experiences that will be available. Additionally, you will be able to track wait times and estimated ride costs with City Insights.
“At initial launch, riders will be able to explore average wait times and prices in 10,000+ cities throughout the world,” said an Uber spokesperson.
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Although passengers could reserve rides within the regular Uber app interface, they can now do so through City Insights, too.
“With this feature, riders have the option to use Uber Reserve to book rides in advance from any point within the city,” said an Uber spokesperson. “With this feature, riders can also use Uber Reserve to schedule an airport pickup.”
Paris airports will undoubtedly be busy in the days leading up to and during the Olympics. City Insights (as well as the app’s Uber Reserve function) gives you the ability to reserve rides at airports around the world, including:
- New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- New York City’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Melbourne Airport (MEL)
- Sydney Airport (SYD)
- Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
- Nice Cote d’Azur Airport (NCE)
- Paris-Orly Airport (ORY)
- Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO)
- London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)
Uber also expanded two Paris-specific activations, including Uber Bubbles, the first Champagne tour (launched in partnership with ritzy Champagne houses Perrier-Jouet and G.H. Mumm) that you can book in-app. For 200 euros ($218), guests will be whisked away in an Uber Bubbles-branded Tesla to two wine tastings and lunch.
If you want to sail down the Seine in style this summer, consider booking an Uber Boat, which lets you prebook a free private river cruise directly on the Uber app. Cruises are available every day between 3 and 10 p.m., last one hour and depart every 20 minutes from the Pont Marie bridge in central Paris. Uber Boat will be bookable in the City of Light from July 12 through 18, as well as from July 28 through Aug. 3.
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