Uber and WIFI?

I haven't used Uber yet. Do I have to have mobile internet at all times while using Uber? Can I use the wifi at the hotel, call Uber and am I going to be fine offline after that?

 

I'm sure there are more knowledgeable folks out there on this subject and a few that have done it, but I'll share what I know.

You will need Internet access when hailing the ride and when you pay. Just going on how Lyft does it, once you hail the ride, the driver has your name and phone number and you should be able to see what type of car and their tag number in the app. The only issue I can think of would be if the driver cancels the trip, then you wouldn't know they had done so and I don't know if the system puts your request back out for another driver to pick up.

 

No problem, I have done it a houndred times
A couple times when the driver somehow didn't show up or whatever I had to go back inside the connect to the wifi and see what's up, but other than that it's always smooth and easy.

I would always tell them, hey I'll confirm and give you 5 stars once I am inside and can connect to wifi again, after a while I didn't even bother saying that anymore. Just get out of the car, it's all done automatically.

 

Ditto what Heli said. I do not have a data plan. I only have wifi in the hotel and not when I am in the vehicle. It works out fine.

 

The Lyft drivers were all pretty cool about it. I explained I had no internet and will rate and tip them once I get connected.

What does suck is we got caught on Fremont without any wifi and ended up hailing a town car. But it was late and we just wanted to get home.

 

Having mobile internet certainly helps, but if you are able to connect to wifi at point A and point B you should be fine.

 

Hmm, by point B you mean the exact time you get off the car? Others above mentioned that you technically don't need connection while getting off the car?

 

You don't but I did try to rate and tip the driver as soon as I could. The transaction all goes to your account so you don't need to be connected at the end.

The Lyft drivers are concerned with their tip and rating and Uber with their rating.

We got dropped off on Fremont St and I didn't tip or rate until a few hours later as once we got there it slipped my mind in all the fun.

Just make sure you see them rate you in the car before you get out. They all have their smart phones up on the dash. The Lyft drivers were all cool and even insisted on watching them rate me before I got out. I have only used Uber once and they did the same.

 

Sorry, if you are able to connect once you get into the point B location. But, as stated above, if you can't, it would be nice to remember to rate the driver(and tip him/her if so inclined) once you are able to connect. I normally use wi-fi to order the service from the hotel, use my mobile internet to rate at end of ride; uses minimal data. I honestly never thought about watching them rate me, never occurred to me!

 

I always tell them I will rate them a 5 and appreciate if they would do the same for me. They usually rate me immediately.

Of course I've never had a bad ride, so I suspect if that happened I wouldn't tell them that.

 

Just to clear a few things up since I have driven for both. On Lyft, I don't see my ratings until my daily pay summary the next day, or if I login to the driver dashboard which I would never be able to do while I am driving. Same with tips, I can't see who tipped me until the next day.

Also you don't have to make sure they rate you before you get out. They can't take their next ride until confirming dropping you off and rating you. So in order to keep driving they have to rate you. Also Lyft and uber don't care about rider ratings. A paying customer will never be denied a ride even if their rating is in the 3's. Whereas a driver can be disconnected for going under 4.7. Only thing a passenger rating does, at least on Lyft, is if I rate someone a 3 or less I will never be paired with them again.

 

Nice to know, thanks for the information.

 

as a driver for Uber/Lyft I will not accept a rider in the 3's. I either do not accept. or cancel when I realize

 

I ran into issues not being able to connect to wifi at some casinos and at the airport so I had to take a cab instead. It worked great at Cosmo and Aria though. I'm also not able to make phone calls just texting in the US so I did have problems when some of the drivers tried calling me.

 

So you see XXX tipped you $X? Or do you just get a lump sum each day?

 

I drive for both, actually this is what is funding my trip. The drive MUST rate the rider. Riders are welcome to stand there and watch me give them their five stars, but the driver can always go back and have CS adjust the rider rating if they did not really intend on giving 5 stars. I have not done so, but know drivers who do this when they are being watched and feel their rating will be affected if they do not give a 5.

It just shows as a lump sum, I never know who tipped me and who did not. Contrary to the other driver above, if I have free time in between rides, I may check my dashboard to see how things are coming, especially tips which actually gives me an idea of who tipped me.