Uber expands ‘no-talking’ rides, launches airport helicopter service
Uber is expanding its no-talking rides and launching a helicopter service in New York City to bring people to the airport, the company announced Tuesday.
After first launching “quiet mode” on Uber Black and Uber SUV in May, the ride-hailing company said customers in dozens of states can now select this option for Uber Pool, UberX, Uber Black and UberXL.
Users who select a “comfort trip” in order to have a conversation-free ride will receive other premium features, including extra legroom and the ability to request a preferred temperature inside the car.{mosads}
The feature is good for when “you need a little quiet time, prefer to stretch your legs, or simply like an extra comfortable ride out to dinner when friends are in town,” the company wrote in a release.
Uber also announced its new helicopter service, Uber Copter, that gets riders from Manhattan to JFK International Airport in 8 minutes on weekdays during afternoon rush hour.
A one-way trip would cost about $200, and they’re only available for Uber customers with the highest-level statuses in its reward program.
While the service is only available in New York City, Uber said it is open to expanding it to other areas, CNN reports.
The helicopter service has raised concerns from local officials, including New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, after a fatal helicopter crash last month that shed light on issues of air traffic safety in cities.
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