New Uber app features photo guides to guide users from gate to pickup area at world’s busiest airports

• Uber announced new features designed to improve transit to and from airports for its users.
• A feature will guide riders through a step-by-step route out of the gate to the pickup area.
• Others include expanded availability for Uber Reserve and estimated walk times from gate to baggage claim.

Ahead of the spring break travel season that the Transportation Security Administration anticipates will reach pre-pandemic levels, Uber is rolling out new app features to speed up the process of moving through airports.

On Tuesday, the rideshare app announced several new tools designed to help users better plan trips and increase efficiency. One such feature would provide riders with a step-by-step guide on how to get from their gate to designated rideshare and taxi pickup areas at more than 30 of the busiest airports around the world.

Airports that will have this device include John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia in New York City, as well as airports in Chicago, Orlando, and San Francisco, and international locations such as Paris, London, and Mexico City.

“We want every Uber experience to feel seamless,” said Jen Yu, Uber head of product for rides. “With travel roaring, we are innovating on ways to redesign your airport experience from start to finish so that you can not only get to and from the airport, but also get to it with less stress.”

According to Uber, the new tools are aimed at helping passengers find drivers faster, ultimately reducing traffic congestion in airport pickup areas. The rideshare company said it plans to expand to more airports in the coming months.

In addition to photo guides, Uber announced that it will also soon introduce departure times, allowing users to estimate how long it will take to get from their gate to the baggage claim area at more than 400 airports.

The company said the Estimated Departure Time feature is designed to help users determine when to call for Uber to reduce wait times for both riders and drivers.

Uber also announced the expansion of the Uber Reserve feature, allowing users in over 7,300 cities and towns to reserve a ride through the app up to 90 days in advance, instead of 30 days under the prior version.