News and notes from around the interweb:
- I was on the latest episode of the Travel is Free podcast with TIF author Drew and Bikeguy.
- This man keeps stealing luggage from the Phoenix airport
- Uber and Lyft drivers are simultaneously turning off their apps for two minutes to create surges at Washington National airport.
[V]ery night, several times a night, Uber and Lyft drivers at Reagan National Airport simultaneously turn off their ride share apps for a minute or two to trick the app into thinking there are no drivers available—creating a price surge. When the fare goes high enough, the drivers turn their apps back on and lock into the higher fare.
It’s happening in the Uber and Lyft parking lot outside Reagan National airport. The lot fills with 120 to 150 drivers sometimes for hours, waiting for the busy evening rush.
- El Al launching Las Vegas – Tel Aviv June 14 all of the US expansion will be good for Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members looking for redemption seats.
- The TWA Hotel at New York JFK wasn’t quite ready when it opened, with some spaces not done and guests waiting to check into rooms that were having furniture moved in. But the mid-century modern design is spectacular and it’s an aviation geek’s dream.
- Air France will sell you the wines they serve on board (but it’s not duty free, just online shopping)
- Welcome to first class!
@ Gary — Last month when we were in DC, I wondered why the uber fare was so much higher than normal. Next time, we will take Metro from the airport. Thanks for sharing this. Publicity about this is the best way to get back at these drivers. I also imagine this can’t be too hard for uber to address via its software. They could just end the surge pricing at DCA when X number of drivers log off.
@ Gary — Better yet, when the drivers all log off simultaneously, uber/Lyft should cut the prices in half.
@Gene – I like the way you think, although the software (ML) solution is probably much harder in practice.
Not trying to hate on anyone making a living from Uber/Lyft but here is the deal- you are not hurting Uber/Lyft, you are hurting us, the travelers. If they aren’t paying you enough, DONT DRIVE FOR THEM! You aren’t an employee, you can leave anytime you like. If enough people just stop driving, they will rethink their compensation plans.
These drivers are smart, I like it. It’s the tech revolution’s version of a union.
Us Americans are the kings of double standards. On the one one hand, we like to complain about declining wages and blah blah blah, and on the other, we bemoan actually paying for the things we use. The two go hand in hand.
Just remember, we can always take a cab for the regulated price of ~$2.10/mile, a couple bucks for airport pickup fee, and a few more $ for flag fare. If the organized rideshare drivers drive the price too high, regulated-fare cabs are the fall back. There still is competition in our nation’s capital.
While nobody is holding a gun to these guys’ heads, I sympathize. Uber drew them in a few years ago with higher compensation, and incentivized them to quit whatever else they were doing or whatever. And after they signed up? Compensation cut after compensation cut. That’s disingenuous; I certainly don’t go to work expecting to make less tomorrow than I did last year.
Very interesting expose. With the construction at DCA, it’s a real mosh pit for ride-share pick-ups and I’ve decided just to go with a taxi home. To get to National, I’ll take an Uber till I use my monthly AmEx credit then Lyfts – isn’t there a new Lyft tie in?
On the other hand, I’m willing to pay a price for goods and services for everyone to have a living wage – see our support for the Hawaiian hotel workers Unite Local Five while we were staying at the Westin – donated to the strike fund and insisted on a room rate reduction – got a third off the rate.
Workers of the World, Unite! Union Strong!
The Uber/Lyft business model is unsustainable. This is not breaking news.
and you wonder why people dont take airline stewards seriously
“These drivers are smart, I like it. It’s the tech revolution’s version of a union.
“Us Americans are the kings of double standards. On the one one hand, we like to complain about declining wages and blah blah blah, and on the other, we bemoan actually paying for the things we use. The two go hand in hand.”
Agreed. Uber (and to a lesser extent Lyft) systematically chipped away at their drivers’ ability to earn a living wage. Their IPOs tanked for good reason.
Would be good to see a bit more sympathy for the working folks here rather than just the millennial whinging about the class of hard-working folks who drive them around for low wages.
Take a taxi or public transportation if you don’t like the crap you have to deal with Uber and Lyft. And guess what? Your taxi driver won’t rate you and moreover if you don’t wanna talk you can actually tell the driver you don’t wanna talk rather than selecting a stupid feature on a stupid app to tell the driver you aren’t feeling chatty.
are these drivers being held at gunpoint to be a Lyft driver ?if they don’t like what they’re getting paid why don’t they look for another job ?no one is forcing them to work for Lyft
@Dean
No, but it’s disingenuous to hire people at one rate of compensation, and then continue to lower it. My job doesn’t do that to me. Of the companies I know that do cut pay, they mostly do it as a cut for new employees, where “if you don’t like it, don’t take job” is an easier pill to swallow.
I really am not liking this business model.
Yeah, this “you aren’t Uber employees you can walk away any time is such a ridiculous argument. Those drivers have mouths to feed, and most don’t come from privileged backgrounds or are lucky enough to take flights followed by ubers. It’s precisely this attitude that normalises that stupid quiet mode on Uber.
Because it’s soooo inconvenient to speak to the help.
@747always quiet mode is for UberBLACK only and I think you can understand why female passengers might be uncomfortable being chatted up by male drivers.