On-demand ride-hailing service Uber has introduced a new feature to make things a tad easier for its loyal users: Family Profiles. The feature will simplify the payment of rides for one's friends and families.
On Wednesday, Uber announced the launch of the Family Profiles feature, which is set to go live in select regions in the United States. The feature will be initially made available to Uber's users in Phoenix, Dallas and Atlanta. A rollout to other U.S. cities will follow soon after.
The says that the feature has often been requested by its customers and will enable one to add up to 10 people to the Family Profiles. A single person, the organizer, can pay for up to 10 riders at a time.
"One feature passengers have frequently requested is an easy way to pay for family and friends. That's why we are excited to announce Family Profiles, a new feature we're launching in Atlanta, Dallas and Phoenix that lets up to 10 riders safely and easily share one payment method," notes the company.
The Family Profiles feature is basically an option that will enable Uber users to pay for the rides made by others. The feature lets users add not only family members but also anyone they want, such as co-workers or friends, in the Uber app.
The feature is a useful one and can come in handy if a parent wants to book their college-going child a ride in times of emergency.
Wondering how the Family Profiles feature works and how to set it up? Here's how:
If you're the organizer of the Family Profile, here's what you need to do:
Step 1: Update your Uber app to the latest version.
Step 2: Navigate to Menu. Select Settings.
Step 3: Scroll down and look for "Add Family Profile" option. Once located, select "Create Family Profile" and then add the contact (the rider) you wish to add to this list. An invitation will be sent to the individual you have just added.
Step 4: Once the Family Profile rider accepts the invite they will have the option of requesting a ride from their handset. They can use the Family Profile as the mode of payment.
The ride's cost is automatically billed to the Family Profile and the organizer of the profile will get the receipt for each ride.
If you're the Family Profile rider, here's what you need to do:
Step 1: Open the Family Profiles email invite sent by the organizer and accept it.
Step 2: Ensure you have the latest version of the app. When riding for the first time, make the Family Profile the default method of payment.
Step 3: Simply request for a ride as usual and you're good to go! The organizer is directly billed so you don't have to look for the receipt at the end of your journey.
