Luxury sedans and SUVs in your city might soon sport that pink quirky mustache from Lyft. The ride-hailing company has just launched a high-end service dubbed Lyft Premier.
This new premium service gives customers a "more stylish arrival for business trips and special nights out," a request that many of Lyft's patrons have echoed, the company says.
'First On Scheduled Rides'
How then does Premier differ from UberBLACK, rival Uber's original ride option, which also offers a deluxe experience?
For one, commuters won't have to wait — for as long as they claim to do for Uber's high-end ride — if they opt for Lyft's new luxury line.
Lyft is aiming to synchronize the booking of Premier rides efficiently, the same way it did for its traditional service in May, when it came out with scheduled rides. Lyft customers can request a ride 24 hours ahead of transport.
"We were first on scheduled rides," David Baga, Lyft's chief business officer, tells TechCrunch.
Recruiting Drivers For Lyft Premier
Lyft, Baga says, is also the "first and only [service] to offer same-day pay for drivers."
This same-day driver payment scheme could lure more drivers into Lyft and out of Uber, which was recently rocked by a class-action suit over drivers' working conditions. In April, Uber was forced to pay the drivers $100 million to settle the claims.
But Lyft has also been reported to poach Uber drivers in an effort to build up its Premier fleet. According to Business Insider, internal data suggests Lyft recruiters have been hailing rides from Uber. This gives recruiters a chance to pitch a proposal for the Uber driver to join Premier.
Drivers with a good track record with Lyft and who can purchase a high-end vehicle can join the luxury service. The rides on offer range from the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series to the Lexus ES and Cadillac Escalade.
The service is now available in New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and other cities will soon have the option too.
The Cost Of A Lyft Premier Ride
Premier will charge customers a starting rate of $2.66 per mile, more than twice the price of a regular Lyft ride, which begins at $1.16 per mile.
Lyft, however, guarantees style and comfort with the vehicles' posh interiors and leather seats.
Drivers who sign up for the service will, of course, take home a higher cut from this premium cost, and are encouraged to provide extras, such as gum and bottled water, to customers.
To encourage the public to give the new deluxe service a try, Lyft is giving a 20 percent discount off their first 10 Premier rides.
