would an uber be reliable to get me to the airport for 6.30am?

cofingalthetime · 2022-08-15T17:27:41+00:00

I can't book it now - i can book a taxi but that will be 50-60 pounds. An uber is showing up as 15 pounds. The trains don't start until 6.30 which is too late. Has anyone tried getting an uber that early. PS I'm a natural born worrier lol

happystrummer · 15/08/2022 18:31

Ive booked really early to get to airport. You can also prebook a uber on the app...

LightningAndRainbows · 15/08/2022 18:33

Depends where you live

ComtesseDeSpair · 15/08/2022 18:33

If you’re in a major city then I would pre book ahead giving you plenty of time in case they are late and it’s likely you’d be fine. If not, then I have never had a reliable experience of Uber early morning or late night outside London and a couple of other large cities.

I always stay at a cheap hotel near the airport the night before an early flight. I just figure the added cost in return for peace of mind into the cost of the trip. Is that an option?

mummyh2016 · 15/08/2022 18:33

Depends what area you're in but a price at 6.30pm probably won't be the same price at 5am. If you're new to uber the prices change depending on demand.

isthatwhatyoureallywanted · 15/08/2022 18:34

When are you going? If you're not going for a week or so, check at that sort of time each morning for the next few days to see what availability/wait times are like.

DancingBeanstalk · 15/08/2022 18:35

Uber prices change constantly.

So it’s probably not going to be £15 at 6.30am. It’ll be an inflated price but you won’t know how much until then.

ShopoholicIn · 15/08/2022 18:35

I once had to go to the airport and booked an uber for 45 minutes before my scheduled time.. it said the uber cab is near my house but it didn't move for 45 minutes. The cab driver won't answer my calls or messages. The local cab company couldn't find a cab in short span of time. I was lucky my friend agreed to drop me at last minute. Not saying this is a regular occurance but just sharing my experience. Also the price that finally get charged or when you have to travel could be different than what you are seeing now. Also had that happen once. Best of luck.

HSKAT · 15/08/2022 18:36

I wouldn't trust them.
Prebooked or at the time loads cancel or just don't turn up.

Bouledeneige · 15/08/2022 18:37

I personally wouldnt risk it. I live in London but there's less drivers and it's less reliable. What happens if you can't book one?

TinaTurtle · 15/08/2022 18:37

happystrummer · 15/08/2022 18:31

Ive booked really early to get to airport. You can also prebook a uber on the app...

You can schedule an Uber. This isn't the same as pre-booking. It simply means that the app will automatically kick off your search for an available car at the scheduled time. It doesn't book or in any way secure you a pick-up m, I'm afraid. I've learnt this to my cost!

You would be taking a risk relying on Uber.

youlightupmyday · 15/08/2022 18:40

No way would I use an Uber for an airport trip A local taxi firm will have set rates for airports and I would say they are cheaper and if not, definitely more reliable.

HSKAT · 15/08/2022 18:41

You can schedule an Uber. This isn't the same as pre-booking. It simply means that the app will automatically kick off your search for an available car at the scheduled time. It doesn't book or in any way secure you a pick-up m, I'm afraid. I've learnt this to my cost!

So this is why my 'prebooked' one didn't turn up as I thought they booked it 😂

Divebar2021 · 15/08/2022 18:42

I would find that too stressful. I don’t have tons of experience with Uber but I’ve had enough occasions of being cancelled at the last minute to feel it does not offer the level of security I want. I’d pay for a mini cab or stay in a hotel and suck up the cost. ( I’d also plan for a 3 hour window if it’s an international flight)

SummaLuvin · 15/08/2022 18:46

I've done this without a problem a few times, but more around 4am and at that time, especially weekends, there are loads of taxis expecting to take people home from nights out. Less sure at what it would be like 6:30.

sunsetsandsandybeaches · 15/08/2022 18:46

I wouldn't risk it. Either pay for a taxi or go and stay in a hotel the night before.

Original poster

cofingalthetime · 15/08/2022 18:47

Thanks everyone. It's a a big city but not London so probably not reliable. Trains start too late. Parking at the airport is looking the most likely, even though it's nearly 60 pound. Also just saw there is a train strike the day I come back so having the car at the airport will take the stress out of the return journey too. At least I can leave as early as I want in the car... thansk again glad I didn't go for the uber option. I guess I could try in the morning, and drive if it didn't turn up, but that might be stressful too.

OP posts:

balalake · 15/08/2022 18:48

Local minicab firm or I would stay in a hotel the night before.

LtJudyHopps · 15/08/2022 19:13

If you decide to drive and park on the day you will pay a fortune for parking. Much better & more cost effective to pre-book airport parking.

lastminutedotcom22 · 16/08/2022 08:20

I personally wouldn't but then I'm the sort the worries about traffic so I drive the night before and pay to park and have a hotel they always have deals online so it's basically like paying for one or the other

This follows a bad experience about 15 years ago me and my partner were going to Turkey with his cousin and girlfriend and we drove separately as coming from different parts of the uk to the airport.

We got there no problems they got held up in traffic jams and basically missed the flight and had to wait 3 days to get another flight ✈️ paid for the extra one way flight and lost 3-4 days of a 10 day holiday so after that escapade I'd never risk it x

rookiemere · 16/08/2022 08:33

I wouldn't risk the Uber so I'm glad you're not.
Shop around for parking though and you might be able to cut back the price of that.

Getoff · 16/08/2022 08:40

My ex DW lives in London just outside zone 1. In early July at 1pm on a Friday she tried to book an uber to take her to the station to catch a train to the airport. An hour later she was still waiting for one. I had to drive her to the station.

rookiemere · 16/08/2022 08:46

I'd also avoid meet and greet or valet parking at airport.

Work mate had bad experience where nobody turned up and eventually they had to park elsewhere and couldn't get a refund as apparently it's not guaranteed that the person shows up .

WinterMusings · 16/08/2022 08:52

Look at the prices of 'stay & park' (hotel & parking).

KrisAkabusi · 16/08/2022 08:53

I would, and have done several times, in various cities. But I don't leave it until the last minute. Set your alarm for the time you would need to leave THE DAY BEFORE. See if there's many nearby cars on the app. If so, great, get up next day and order one. If not, try other taxi options.

Youaremysunshine14 · 16/08/2022 08:54

Getoff · 16/08/2022 08:40

My ex DW lives in London just outside zone 1. In early July at 1pm on a Friday she tried to book an uber to take her to the station to catch a train to the airport. An hour later she was still waiting for one. I had to drive her to the station.

We live in north London and there are noticeably fewer Ubers available when you search for one. I think lots of the drivers found different jobs when they couldn't work during the height of the pandemic and people WFH means there is less call for them. I wouldn't reply upon one to do an airport run, whereas I previously have.