One of the best features that have been added to the Lyft app is an option to schedule a ride in advance.
At first, both Lyft and Uber reacted badly to the idea of a scheduled ride because they explained that it goes against their aim to be an on-demand ridesharing app. Previously, booking a vehicle in advance was only possible with for-hire car services.
Lyft focused on their effectiveness a lot, and they considered such a feature unnecessarily complicated. What is more, they were afraid that when people schedule a Lyft ride ahead of time, they will be likely to change their mind, or forget about it, which could result in a driver wasting time circling an area and waiting for a scheduled passenger who may never appear.
However, due to the high demand for a scheduled ride feature, they decided to go ahead and apply it so that their clients are fully satisfied with their services.
If you’re new to Lyft, then have a read of our article on how Lyft works.
Why Do You Need to Schedule a Lyft Ride?
This useful feature rolled out in San Francisco in 2016, and now it is available in most metropolitan cities where Lyft operates. The process is basically the same as when you schedule rides with Uber. However, one may wonder, why is it necessary, if a pickup usually takes place in just a few minutes after you request a ride.
One of the most common reasons to use scheduled rides is to catch a flight. It is essential not to be late in this case, and especially during the busiest time, drivers may be stuck in a traffic jam, or even not be available at all. It can be very stressful when you need a ride as soon as possible, and there is no one to pick you up on time. Now you do not have to worry about that and can just schedule a ride 24 hours in advance or more.
Another reason to be super punctual and schedule a ride is an important business meeting at a specific time. In such a situation, you certainly don’t want to be late due to having to wait for your ride for an extra 15 minutes or so during rush hour. When you schedule it earlier in the Lyft app, it will be included in the system already, and the probability of being matched with a driver on time will be much higher.
Apart from that, this feature allows you to save some money. Namely, there is a high demand for Lyft services, the prices go up, so it is an excellent strategy to schedule a Lyft ride when the drivers are not so busy. Keep in mind that the price which you see at a particular moment is the cost you will cover, so you can avoid the highest fares in this way. Therefore, scheduled rides are convenient, punctual, and economical.
How Can You Schedule a Lyft Ride?
Your Lyft rides can be scheduled very quickly and without much effort. All you have to do is follow those simple 4 steps:
- Enter your destination
- Tap ‘Schedule’ while choosing the ride mode
- Select a date and a pickup time
- Make sure that your pickup and drop-off location are correct, and tap ‘Schedule.’ You are all set!
How Far in Advance can you Schedule Lyft Rides?
With scheduled rides, it is necessary to determine a pickup window. It is possible to schedule a ride up to 7 days in advance. To avoid letting you forget about it, Lyft will send you a notification soon before your scheduled pickup time, even if they have not assigned you a driver yet. However, take into consideration that this feature is not available in every region, and even if it is, you may not be able to use it in certain modes in the Lyft app.
How to Cancel a Scheduled Ride?
Lyft understands that scheduled rides sometimes need to be canceled due to various unexpected life situations and changes in plans, so it made it easy to cancel them. First, you need to click on the calendar icon that you can see in the right corner. Then, find the scheduled Lyft ride that you have to cancel, and below the details, choose ‘Cancel ride.’ The last step is to confirm your decision so that it is sure not to be a mistake.
You can resign at any time, but you need to remember about Lyft’s cancellation policy. If you cancel your scheduled ride early enough, you will not be charged anything. However, you will have to pay the fee in those three situations:
- Your Lyft driver has already been matched
- They are on their way to your pickup location
- They are scheduled to come within the preferred pickup window.
Conclusion
Thanks to the scheduled rides in Lyft, you do not have to be stressed out that you will be late arriving somewhere. You can just pick the location where you want to go and the proper time, and you do not have to worry about the availability of Lyft drivers, even in rush hours.
Do not be afraid that if you schedule a ride and cancel it, you will have to cover the cost of the Lyft ride. You will be charged with a cancellation fee only if you recall your booking too late. If you scheduled rides with Uber before, you are probably already familiar with the whole process. It is straightforward and intuitive and takes no more than just a few minutes or even less. When you schedule a ride, it will undoubtedly help you catch a flight, arrive punctually to an important meeting, and avoid the highest prices.
Hello, I’m trying to do just that, schedule a ride but the word “schedule” is not accessible for me to do so…contacting corporate office.
I scheduled a Lyft ride. It’s my first time using Lyft. However. I haven’t paid. When do I pay ??
You will most likely be charged at the end of the ride.