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Passengers at Pune Airport Raise Concerns Over Aeromall’s ‘Easy’ Uber Booking System

A month after Pune Airport’s Aeromall introduced a new PIN-generated system for app-based cab booking, passengers have reported ongoing issues with taxi availability and increased fares. Many are still facing delays in securing rides and are often compelled to pay more due to a lack of available vehicles. The system, a collaboration between Aeromall, the Airport Authority of India (AAI), and Uber, was designed to streamline the cab booking process. Passengers can now generate a four-digit PIN to access the first available cab on a first-come-first-served basis.
P.S. Pathak, a passenger in his 60s, recounted his experience at the pickup zone. After booking a cab, he was “ghosted” by the driver without any explanation. “After several failed attempts to reach the driver, I contacted the Uber assistance counter, where staff suggested I upgrade to a more expensive premier cab. They took my phone and generated the PIN for me. Initially, the cab arrival time was shown as one minute, but it later extended to 15 minutes,” Pathak explained.Another passenger expressed frustration on X about the scarcity of UberGo cabs, which are typically less expensive than Uber Premier.
“@Uber_India premier cabs are readily available at Pune airport, but Go cabs are not. The employees at the Uber counter keep pushing for premier bookings from their own accounts, insisting that the cheaper Go cabs are harder to book. This seems suspicious. Can you clarify the situation?” the passenger questioned.In response to these complaints, Y.S. Rajput, Vice President of Aeromall, clarified that the new system is optional and intended to benefit both passengers and drivers by providing additional choices.
“There is no shortage of UberGo cabs. Various factors influence availability, including the booking algorithm favoring drivers with higher ratings, which often benefits Uber Premier and Uber XL drivers. Additionally, UberGo drivers are sometimes less willing to accept rides to nearby or under-construction locations,” he noted.Rajput mentioned that, according to passenger feedback, the current success rate of the initiative hovers around 30%.Uber also addressed the concerns, stating, “We have all our services, including UberGo, available at Pune airport. Availability may fluctuate at different times of the day. We continue to support riders during periods of low supply by offering alternative options that may be more accessible at that time.”
Ziya Khan

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