After a busy travel day, all anybody wants is to get to their destination, whether that be their cozy hotel, stunning resort, or their very own bed. It’s become a communal experience to step off the plane, weave through the terminal, switch off airplane mode, and then immediately enter the chaos of finding the right rideshare pickup zone.
But things like dead phones, spotty service, limiting roaming charges and confusing pickup locations can all provide barriers that stand between travelers and their dream destinations.
Luckily, there’s good news on the horizon as we enter the chaos of the holiday travel season: Uber has just announced an innovative new tool that will eliminate all of these aforementioned headaches. And New Yorkers get to try it first.
LaGuardia’s Terminal C will soon host Uber’s first-ever kiosk, offering travelers a simple, phone-free way to request a ride. Built to mirror the familiar app experience, the kiosk provides an intuitive interface that accommodates all travelers. It’s a small but meaningful step toward more accessible, frictionless travel.
It’s a seamless process. Riders can use the kiosks the same way they use the Uber mobile app, and are also greeted with a variety of options including standard and XL rides, with all fare amounts shown. The kiosk dispenses paper receipts that contain their ride information. After that, all they’ll have to do is head to the pickup location and let their trip commence, or come to an end.
LaGuardia is just the launchpad—quite literally—for Uber’s new kiosk experiment, but it’s far from the final stop. The company is gearing up to expand the program, bringing similar kiosks to other airports and even hotels in the coming months. Today it’s a New York exclusive, but not for long.
With more seamless transportation, New Yorkers can move through the holiday travel season a little smoother. Happy holidays and happy traveling, everyone!