Uber takes to the skies with flight bookings in-app

Uber has announced a new UK feature which allows users to book flights directly in the Uber app. The new product will be available to all UK users this summer.

Uber’s new flight booking functionality is powered by online travel agent Hopper, who will take UK app users to new heights by allowing domestic and international flights to be booked from the Uber app. The new functionality strengthens Uber’s ambition to create a seamless door-to-door travel solution. Flights on Uber join existing transport options including Uber Rides, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, train journeys across the National Rail network, Eurostar and coach travel with National Express and megabus, as Uber continues to reimagine the way we travel.

Through working with Hopper, Uber can offer customers multiple unique peace of mind products to help make air travel stress-free, including Price Freeze, Flight Disruption Guarantee, Cancel For Any Reason, Change for Any Reason and VIP support.

Uber already helps facilitate the first and last legs of many international trips. The boom of post-pandemic tourism coupled with new product updates including the launch of Uber Reserve has further accelerated the role Uber plays in helping travellers to get to and from the airport. Uber recently integrated bookings with Heathrow Express, allowing for seamless booking through the airport shuttle service, with journeys to the airport taking 15 minutes.

Andrew Brem, General Manager at Uber UKsaid “We’re incredibly pleased to introduce flight bookings as the latest addition to Uber’s suite of travel booking options. Perfect for business travellers and tourists alike, our new functionality will make the booking and managing of air travel simple and stress-free, with the booking process taking as little as one minute in the Uber app. Over the last 12 months with the addition of rail, coach and now flight bookings, Uber is truly a one-stop travel solution.”

“Through our B2B initiative, Hopper Cloud, we can seamlessly integrate both our travel inventory and fintech products into the Uber ecosystem,” said Frederic Lalonde, CEO and Co-Founder of Hopper. “The addition of flights to the Uber app is a big win for UK consumers who are looking for an easier way to book travel. This new partnership will offer Uber users choice, transparency and flexibility when booking flights, all in the same place they are already booking their other transportation.”

To book a flight, Uber app users simply need to enter their travel details, including where they will be travelling to and from along with dates. Customers will then be able to select their departing flight and returning flight if a round trip. With major carriers, users will be able to select seats in the app and then pay, just as they would for any Uber service.

Uber’s new functionality will allow for a true door-to-door experience for air travellers, with all legs of the journey being manageable in Uber’s smart travel itinerary product.

In 2022 Uber laid out its multi-modal vision, enabling users across the UK to travel the length and breadth of the UK with ease by train or coach. Now Uber is extending this seamless travel offering to international destinations through its partnership with Hopper.

The new product rollout follows the launch of ‘Directions to pickup’ a new feature that provides user-friendly maps and guides for those looking for Uber pickup points at some of the world’s busiest airports.

In addition to the extensive Uber travel offering Uber also rolled out access to nationwide car rentals on the app enabling riders to explore everything the UK has to offer. Since 2019, public transport information has been integrated into the Uber app to help riders in cities across the UK plan their journeys effectively.