The bookings for Uber’s pre-scheduled ride option Reserve rose nearly 200% in 2024 as compared to the previous year signalling that more people now prefer pre-planning their cab trips, according to a statement released by the company on Thursday.
Launched in 2022 in India, Uber Reserve allows riders to book trips up to 90 days in advance. Airport drop-offs were the primary use case for these rides during 2024, accounting for as much as 40% of the Reserve trips.
Nearly one in four airport drop-offs now happen via Reserve, showing growing demand for certainty when timing matters most. The usage was led by Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai.
Beyond the airport use case, spikes in Reserve bookings were observed during wedding seasons, exam dates, and major festivals like Diwali, Eid, and Christmas, where the usage increased almost 15% ahead of public holidays. Intercity travel using Reserve also rose significantly, up 40% during the Diwali festive period, and close to 30% over long weekends during 2024.
Apart from flights, Reserve trips made through Uber for Business also rose a sharp 140% year-on-year, and now make up 10% of all the option’s bookings. Shweta Mantri, Head of Rider Verticals, Uber India and South Asia, said, “Whether it’s for a flight, a meeting, or a family celebration, Reserve is becoming the preferred choice for planned journeys across India.”
The average lead time for Reserve bookings was 9 hours during 2024. The most popular Reserve time slots included 4-6 AM for flights, and 7-10 AM for office commutes.
In terms of product adoption, Chennai led the charge during 2024, with the highest proportion of the overall trips being reserved ahead, followed by Bangalore and Hyderabad. “With growing momentum across use cases and cities, Uber Reserve is poised to play a larger role in how India plans its travel,” the company said.