'Uber Comfort' luxurious new offering from rideshare app

Uber is launching a new service designed to add a little luxury to your commute. 

The rideshare app is trialling 'Uber Comfort' - a service where riders can set their own preferences for temperature and the level of interaction with the driver, along with an extended wait time, and more experienced drivers in newer cars.

The service will reportedly cost an extra 15 percent on top of the standard fare. 

A spokesperson for Uber said that the service should be used as a "reliable way to make your flight, a big meeting on time, or a ride for a special occasion". 

The new features include: 

  • Ride preferences: You can request your ideal temperature in advance and let your drivers know when you're looking for a quiet ride so you can stay comfortable on the road.
  • Extended wait times: We know you value your time, and so do we. With extended wait times, your driver will now wait up to 10 minutes.
  • Experienced driver partners: Driver-partners available for Uber Comfort will have a minimum rating of 4.85 and at least 500 trips logged on the Uber app.
  • Newer Cars: Arrive in comfort with a car that meets consistent vehicle make and model standards (from 2012 onwards).

The Uber Comfort service will be trialling from Thursday this week in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The trial will last three months before being reviewed.

Earlier this year Uber controversially trialled a new Auckland pricing trial, receiving criticism from drivers, and praise from passengers. 

Newshub.