New Year's Eve is Uber's busiest night of the year. So, you can expect to see jacked-up prices (surge pricing) when you open the app for a ride on Tuesday night.
Uber recently received backlash for charging 8X more than usual during an east coast snow storm. Jerry Seinfeld's wife, for example, spent $415 making sure her children got to a sleepover.
Even though Uber will have surge pricing in effect, there are ways to beat the crowds and the high prices. Uber CEO and co-founder Travis Kalanick offers tricks for how to use his service on New Years Eve.
- Ping an Uber before 8 PM. Kalanick says the app starts heating up at 7:30 and gets into full-swing around 8 PM on New Years Eve. If you can get to your party by 8:00 you'll be in good shape.
- From 8:00 to 10:00 PM, expect Uber to be busy. Kalanick likens it to a typical Friday or Saturday night. There might be a 2X multiple on your ride, but nothing too drastic.
- From 10:30 PM until 12:15 AM, hail an Uber. Kalanick calls this the "ultra-pro tip." He says the app is like "crickets" then and there are tons of cars on the road.
- From 12:15 until 3:00 AM you're screwed."Demand way outstrips anything supply can bring to the table," Kalanick says. His advice: wait until 3:00 AM and Uber will become more affordable. If you need a ride before then, Uber should still be available to pick you up but it will cost a lot.
Here's all of that information in chart form:
Here's some more about surge pricing on Uber's blog. Here's the clip of Kalanick explaining how to use Uber on New Years Eve:
Uber Pro Tips for New Year's Eve from Uber on Vimeo.