Ride-hailing app rolls out advance booking to NAIA

MANILA: Ride-hailing app Grab has rolled out a new feature that allows passengers going to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to book their rides for up to seven days in advance starting this month. Passengers only need to go to the app's transport page and select advance booking. The new service is currently for NAIA passengers only, and will be available to other airports in other regions within the year, according to Grab. "This new service has been engineered to have guaranteed on-time rides every time, enabling every Filipino traveler to leave their homes with the confidence they'll have a ride to make their flight on time," Grab Philippines head of Mobility, EJ Dela Vega was quoted as saying. The new service could accommodate a maximum of three passengers and three luggages per ride. Rides can also be booked up to two hours in advance. The passenger will receive a PHP100 credit if the driver arrives late for a pre-scheduled ride. A 15-minute grace period is allowed for both the driver a nd the passenger. Passengers will be able to chat with the driver at least 45 minutes before the scheduled ride. There is no fee if cancellation is made an hour before the schedule. However, full fare will be charged for cancellations made less than an hour before the scheduled ride. This will also apply if the passenger is unreachable or does not arrive 15 minutes past the pick-up time. Such policy aims to safeguard the income of drivers in the dedicated fleet for advance booking, Grab said. In 2022, then Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Cesar Chiong initiated talks with Grab to have 200 more fleet dedicated to pick up passengers from the NAIA. The dedicated fleet charges fixed prices depending on drop off locations, and does not implement surge charges, according to MIAA. Source: Philippines News Agency