Uber testing affordable flat rate fares in some US cities

Uber has begun trailing a new fixed fare price plan for its taxi service that could substantially cut the costs of trips. The test run is already live in a few US cities, and can cost as little as just $2 or less for a pooled trip. Uber hasn’t mentioned anything about the trial officially yet, instead the information comes from a user who was invited to the beta.

Under the new price plan, trips can now also purchased in packages. Customers can stump up $30 in advance for 40 trips, $20 for 20 trips, or single UberPool rides for $2 a time. Uber is also introducing a flat $7 fare for UberX private vehicle hire.

Currently, the company’s fares are based on the distance travelled and time taken to complete a journey, which can lead to higher than expected costs once traffic and the need for alternate routes is taken into account. The new fixed price trial also does away with that pesky surge pricing, which can greatly increase the cost of a ride during busy periods.

Uber appears to be testing out its new pricing structure in six US cities so far, reaching Boston, Miami, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington DC. The rest of us will just have to see if this pricing structure sticks and rolls out to other regions in the future, and how Uber drivers will react to these lower fares.