Lyft has made a new “preordering” feature available for customers when landing at select airports, the company announced Thursday during a media event in New York.
Customers upon landing on the tarmac at an enabled airport can order a ride and select whether they have baggage to collect. The app will calculate how long it will take the user to get to the Lyft pick-up area, then match with a driver as they approach, enabling the car to arrive at the same time as the customer or shortly thereafter.
The feature aims to eliminate the “guesswork about when to book a ride” and to provide shorter wait times at the pick-up area, according to Lyft. Preordering also means customers lock in the price, even if they need more time to get to the pick-up area.
The feature currently is available at Los Angeles International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport, and by the end of May will be available at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, new Lyft CEO David Risher said at the event.
New Airport Assistive Feature
Another feature allows users to connect their iPhone’s or Android device’s Apple Calendar or Google Assistant, respectively, to receive reminders from Lyft to book a ride at the most optimal time, considering typical traffic. Once booked, flight and terminal information will automatically appear in the Lyft app, according to the company.
