Uber from BWI to DC
 

We are a senior couple, new to Uber and considering using the uberX service from BWI to the Dupont Circle area in DC. Does anyone have any experience with obtaining service? Am concerned no drivers would be willing to make the trip. Will be arriving about noon on Monday, June 25th. I also have a discount code that I received with a wedding invitation. Are all codes applicable?

I gather you are not at all interested in a bus shuttle/transfer service or in taking the train.

The way to know if someone is interested in taking the trip is to book it. You do this in advance, not on arrival, just like a regular car service. If no one is interested in taking the job, then book a regular car service or shuttle transfer.

<i>The way to know if someone is interested in taking the trip is to book it. You do this in advance, not on arrival, just like a regular car service.</i>

Doug, are you certain about that? I don't think Uber allows you to pre-book. There was something in the Wash Post a few months ago about an app that would offer that feature but I don't think it's been launched.

For the OP:

I use Uber frequently in DC but have never used it from BWI. I suggest you download the Uber app before your trip so you get a sense of how it works. When you land at BWI, request a ride and drivers will respond. You'll get an estimate of the cost.

I think there will be interested drivers but if there aren't you won't be stuck at the airport.

You can take a cab which will be the better part of $100.

You can take a shuttle to the train station. It runs every 15 minutes ish. Marc trains run hourly that time of day ($6/person) with interspersed Amtrak trains (a bit pricier). Both trains go to Union Station in DC. At Union Sta you can take the DC Metro's Red Line to Dupont Circle. It's all very well marked but you can get the details at BWI's website under Ground Transportation and on the DC Metro site.

Sorry ... I'm totally wrong here, and I realize that now. I was conflating the myriad different Uber formats.

I actually think UberX isn't the right service to use at an airport. I think it's highly unlikely that any UberX driver will respond to a request, and in many cases, airports may prohibit them.

I think you need to use the more expensive options, and if you can't afford one of those, then forget it.

I was looking for an alternative, but will probably choose a car or shuttle service. Thanks.

If I were you, I would try UberX: it's as easy as simply opening the app and requesting a ride. You enter your destination when you make the request, so the driver can see where you want to go. Then the app tells you how long before a driver will get there, and you can track the driver's progress. This will take approximately one minute. If no one accepts the ride, or if the wait time is unacceptably long, you can cancel the request and continue to either the taxi stand or the shuttle to the train.

Uber Black allows you to prebook, but it is not available in all cities; I don't know if it exists in Baltimore and DC, although I would bet it does. You can research now to find out. It's more expensive than Uber X, but eliminates the uncertainty, and you're guaranteed a nicer car. Worth looking into if you have a coupon code.

<i>I was looking for an alternative, but will probably choose a car or shuttle service. Thanks.</i>

Sounds reasonable. Hope you enjoy your visit.

We found that Uber is great getting around town and getting to the airport.

But, when at the airport or a hotel, and all the cabs are lined up, it's more convenient to just take a cab. Uber drivers sometimes don't know their way around as much as taxi drivers do, so it can be frustrating telling an Uber driver where you are.

I agree you choose a car or shuttle service.

I thought cost was an issue; for convenience at the airport, a car service is tops, taxi stand a close second.

I agree with the car service idea IF:

they are there and waiting for you and they have your name prominently displayed where you can actually see it

you don't have to walk for ever to get to that car they have parked somewhere in the garage

<i>Uber Black allows you to prebook, but it is not available in all cities; </i>

In which cities can you reserve an Uber Black? Thanks, Newbe.

As far as I know, in NYC and SF; I've only done it myself in NYC. Looking at the Uber website, Black is available in other cities, so I assume it can be booked in advance there, too, but that's only an assumption.

Thanks. How do you pre book an Uber in NYC?

Gosh, you got me--my friend did it as I stood beside her. Sorry, all I know is, the car was downstairs when it was supposed to be!

I'm not quite sure what you're asking. You open up the app, choose the type of car you want, and book it. You have to register before you can start using the app.

Doug, I use Uber frequently as I mentioned above -- primarily in DC but I've taken it in other US cities as well. I was and am fairly certain that you cannot book Uber in advance, i.e., I can't order a car today to come get me tomorrow at a specific time and place. It's an on demand service.

Newbe indicated she'd had a different experience pre-booking an Uber Black in NYC and I wanted to know how that worked for her b/c I would have give en it a shot next time I'm there.

I was in NYC the week before last and took a couple of Uber X's. Found it to be on par with cabs as far as cost goes but on one occasion a little easier to actually get to the curb.

So you were playing gotcha?? Weird. Anyway, to be clear, my friend booked an Uber Black in NYC to pick us up a couple of hours in advance. It worked. If there is more to it, it's news to me.

Newbe, you said you'd pre-booked an Uber Black in NYC and I asked you how you did it b/c I'd be interested in doing it. Not b/c I wanted to play a game with you.

I can't find the WaPo article I read but here is a link, dated a couple of months ago, which summarizes the gist of it -- Uber will be allowing 3rd party developers to integrate scheduling services with their apps. Bold is mine.

<i>One of the major pet peeves Uber users have is they cannot book a ride in advance. <b>Unlike other cab aggregators like Ola and Meru that allow you to pre-book a cab at a specific time and place, Uber only lets you look for a cab at the moment you want to travel. </b>Uber calls it a feature, but many users won’t agree. This could finally change soon with Bumper.</i>

http://www.bgr.in/news/want-to-pre-b...-app-for-that/

The website for Bumper (bumperapp.co) says it's in limited preview release. I would assume SF, NYC or DC would be the cities that would be test cases.