You would think scheduling an airport ride in advance via Uber is the responsible, stress-free way to travel, especially with your family in tow. Lock in a car type, set the time, and breathe easy, right? Wrong. After yet another last-minute cancellation at the exact moment the driver was supposed to arrive, I finally gave up. I no longer schedule rides ahead of time. Not only do they cost more, they are just not reliable.
And apparently, I am not the only one frustrated by this.
A recent thread on Threads (embedded below) was full of travelers sharing almost identical experiences with scheduled rides, especially Uber airport pickups. Reading through it made my blood boil and made me realize it is not the Uber drivers’ fault. It is Uber’s. Drivers cancel, passengers get charged, and the promised “peace of mind” never shows up.
View on Threads
One person shared that a driver canceled and they were charged $9. Then the next driver asked them to cancel, which triggered yet another fee. Others said drivers often call to ask where the trip is going and cancel if it crosses state lines, like from New Jersey to New York. Even “reserved” rides do not seem immune. One commenter summed it up perfectly: “I will never rely on Uber for an airport ride again.” I hear that.
Another traveler described their standby airport pickup turning into a joke. The driver was supposedly ready yet stayed 40 minutes away, and even after waiting still was not close. They canceled, called another ride, and got picked up within five minutes. That was the moment they decided to stop scheduling ahead.
Some travelers shared even worse stories. One family in Sydney had five Uber cancellations in a row for a scheduled airport ride. They said it felt like the scheduling system exists just to keep passengers waiting until a driver might accept. That is infuriating and stressful when you are racing to catch a flight.
Even drivers weighed in. Scheduled rides can be tricky for them too. They must arrive early and wait, often looping around busy pickup zones. If they go offline or accept another ride, the system automatically cancels the scheduled trip. The “guarantee” passengers think they are paying for does not really exist.
Add in extra scheduling fees, often $10 to $20, and it starts to feel like a bad deal. You pay more, wait longer, and still risk being stranded.
Some travelers now stick to traditional car services for important trips. Yes, they cost more, but as one commenter said: “The cost of missing an important connection is incalculable.”
After reading hundreds of similar stories and living through a few myself, I have changed my travel habits. If I really need a ride, I will book a more reliable car service like Blacklane (a former sponsor). If that is too expensive, I check Uber and Lyft the day before my trip, around the same time I plan on departing, to see what traffic is like and what the cost will be. Then I request rides when I am ready. I will also use a taxi if I feel the rideshare companies are overcharging or if the wait is too long.
Judging by the thousands of likes, replies, and shared frustrations in that thread, I am clearly not alone. How about you? What’s been your experience scheduling an Uber or Lyft?
