These days there seems to be an app for anything. You can pre-order your coffee for pickup, rent your entire wardrobe, or get points just for eating at certain restaurants during certain times. You’ll never have to do your laundry again, or go grocery shopping — even a task as quotidian as buying your own shaving razor has gone out of style.
So it makes logical sense that transport is as easy as ever with the help of mobile applications. We all know of Uber and Lyft, but did you know that there are many ways to call a taxi via an app — and save money while doing so? Below we’ve highlighted several times and places where you can pay less by calling a taxi, and how to maximize the services you already use.
1) When It’s Raining
We’ve all been there. You’re strolling around Manhattan, and a sudden downpour comes falling down. You were planning to walk (or, let’s be real here, subway), but you’ve forgotten your umbrella. You open up Uber to see that prices have tripled since you last checked. And now you can’t hail a taxi — they’re passing by, but all of them are full. There’s a solution to this. Did you know you can call a New York City taxi with Arro? No more paying with credit card or cash, either — in-app payment makes the hassle of pulling out your purse or wallet and swiping your credit card (or getting out cash) disappear. Curb does the same for other cities in the U.S. and MyCity Taxi works within the United Kingdom.
2) When You’re Traveling to the Airport
The dreaded schlepp to the airport. Whether it’s the long drive with your rented or non-rented car (and the parking that inevitably ensues — if it’s the holiday season, forget about it) or the few and far inbetween public transport options, traveling to and from the airport is terrible. Never mind the fact that most travelers who have just gotten off of an airplane are hungry, tired, and dehydrated. We all know that New York City taxicabs have a fixed fare (which is debatably a good or bad deal depending on where you live), but did you know that with Gettransfer.com you can book transfer i and be guaranteed the lowest possible price? They even return the difference in price. A quick search for a taxi from downtown New York to JFK proved as such: what would normally cost $75 without a tip is $60. We won’t be using any other app to get to and from the airport ever again.
3) When You’re Using Daily Transport
Not most people have the financial security to call a taxi every day to travel to work. But it ends up being cheaper with certain services, for example ViaPass NYC at $239 a month is about twice as expensive as an unlimited MTA card (for up to four rides a day). Talk about a bargain!
This is only the tip of the iceberg. There are, of course, other tricks and tips not listed here. That said, we can’t wait for you to take advantage of the opportunity here!
