Darci Marchese, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Uber users should look closely at their tabs, especially during the holiday season.
Uber, a car service that provides sleek, black cars and curbside service, bases fares on time and distance. However, the price goes up along with demand.
“There are times when the only way to still be a reliable ride is actually increasing the price,” Says Rachel Holt, general manager of Uber in D.C.
Holt explains that surge pricing can double fares.
It can occur whenever there’s a big influx of customers looking for vehicles, especially weekend nights, after a game lets out or anytime during the holiday season, especially New Year’s Eve.
Holt insists the price rises for a good reason.
“It brings more drivers onto our system which in turn means more rides will happen,” she says.
“The consumer would never pay surge pricing unless that’s the only way we believe there’d be enough cars to get a ride,” she adds.
There also are no surprises.
“Whenever there is a period of surge pricing, you’ll always know before you actually request a car,” says Holt.
“You even have the ability to estimate the total fare of your trip based on the pricing at that time,” she says.
Holt says Uber is quickly growing in D.C. She calls it the company’s fastest- growing market.
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