UberX officially launches at Monterey Regional Airport
After some push-back, the car-hailing start-up that’s valued at $51 billion dollars is now available for passengers at a regional airport on the Central Coast.
It’s the first week people can legally use UberX to get to and from the Monterey Regional Airport.
“It’s very convenient and it’s cheaper,” UberX user June Ding said.
With just a click on the app and a brief selection process, Ding and her friends from China used the ride sharing company to start their trip.
“You can choose the type of the vehicle you want if you have bigger luggage,” said Ding.
The Monterey Regional Airport Board voted in September to allow UberX to pick up passengers with some limitations.
“I think it’s a service that the community wants, that they asked us for,” said Monterey Regional Airport executive director Michael La Pier.
If you walk outside of the terminal you will not find UberX cars waiting.
Rides have to be prearranged.
“It’s $3 dollars for drop off and $3 dollars for pick up,” said La Pier. “Then the company UberX pays a fee for access for their drivers.”
The launch of the transportation disruptor has some cabbies concerned about losing revenue, while others say there is enough business to go around.
“These people want to earn a living also,” Yellow Cab Company driver Eliseo Tolentino said. “They have their family that they need to feed or something like that. But hey this is the United States, everybody wants to earn a living.”
Plus there are riders who will always prefer to take a taxi.
“It’s safer and I know the person,” said taxi cab user Alexandria. “I’ve been with him so I just call that specific person to pick me up.”
Airport officials say so far there has not been a lot of UberX related services but they are happy with the agreement.
“As we get down the road and they start to build their service there may be changes,” said La Pier. “The agreement itself is just for the balance of our fiscal year. So by the end of June the agreement times out and if we need to we can make some adjustments at that point.”
