Using Uber without roaming

[awkwardpaws]

Is the only solution then to get a local SIM card?

Would be keen to hear if there are alternate solutions to this!

 

[Austman]

Find free wifi. It's in so many places these days. Many airports too.

 

[moa999]

Local SIM, and changing number to that number preferred, as some drivers may not be able to call foreign numbers...

But basically it uses data - so you need to get data somehow.

 

[awkwardpaws]

Find free wifi. It's in so many places these days. Many airports too.

thanks Austman - but does that mean that I need to make sure I have wifi at the under end (at least)?

 

[moa999]

thanks Austman - but does that mean that I need to make sure I have wifi at the under end (at least)?

Not really. The driver completes the job on their phone, and it will sync to yours the next time you get data.

 

[Austman]

It's worked OK for me without a local SIM so far. Uber sends TXT messages with driver/car details and it's been from a +61 number. You can always receive TXTs for free (on Telstra plans - not sure about the rest). And sometimes the driver will send a TXT too, The journey receipt is sent by email. I've not needed data enroute.

 

[awkwardpaws]

It's worked OK for me without a local SIM so far. Uber sends a TXT message with driver/car details and it's been from a +61 number. You can always receive TXTs for free (on Telstra plans - not sure about the rest). And sometimes the driver will send a TXT too, The journey receipt is sent by email. I've not needed data enroute.

Thanks Austman - where did you go with that experience? In the US (when using a local SIM) I find that the drivers generally call you as soon as you find a driver

 

[Austman]

Thanks Austman - where did you go with that experience? In the US (when using a local SIM) I find that the drivers generally call you as soon as you find a driver

In Malaysia. I'll try it in Thailand today (if the airport free wifi works) and it seemed to be that way in Indonesia.

In the USA, the receiver of a mobile call pays for it, so drivers there might be more keen to call?

 

[opusman]

In the USA, the receiver of a mobile call pays for it, so drivers there might be more keen to call?

The caller pays too.

 

[Austman]

The caller pays too.

But at a rate equal to a landline number for calls to North American mobiles, which is what I meant.

 

[awkwardpaws]

In Malaysia. I'll try it in Thailand today (if the airport free wifi works) and it seemed to be that way in Indonesia.

Yep - be keen to see if the wifi at pick up only in Thailand works - let us know!

 

[Austman]

Not so good at BKK this afternoon.

The free airport wifi was very flaky. Still, I got the Uber app working and managed to order a car. Cost was a flat THB 500. When I tried before even flying to BKK, the app let me select which exit door (there are about 10, all in a row). But when at BKK itself, I couldn't get the exit door selection to work.

I got a TXT that the driver was on the way. And 5 mins later that the driver had arrived, but I could not find the car. And never a TXT from the driver. I walked up and down past all the doors but could not find the driver. It was a pretty chaotic place.

After 25 mins or so, I gave up and took a metered taxi. That fare was only THB 400.

Eventually, some 2 hours later, I received a TXT saying that the driver had cancelled and I was charged THB 45.

I reported the issue using the app and was instantly credited the THB 45.

It might be good too if Uber tells you what colour the car is. It can be very handy in crowded pick-up locations. The drivers themselves might tell you if they send you a TXT.

 

[moa999]

FYI.. The 'credit' will be in THB - and you need to used it in THB.

I have some VND credit on my account from 18mths ago after a similar issue.

 

[Austman]

FYI.. The 'credit' will be in THB - and you need to used it in THB.

I have some VND credit on my account from 18mths ago after a similar issue.

That's right. THB 45. Which is only about AUD 2.00, so no big deal. Still, I don't think I did anything wrong - and made quite an effort to find the car.

 

[N860CR]

They really should show the colour of the car on the app. I've used it in Asia a few times and often get a Honda of some description that we don't have so it takes a bit of guessing. Surely it can't be hard to have it say "Toyota Camry - Blue"

 

[Austman]

Back to BKK from Sukimvit area. Uber was quoting THB 575. Taxis would do it for THB 400 with some haggling. I hate the haggling and that taxis often seem to run out of change. But took one anyway this time.

 

[ethernet]

BKK is starting to be a pain.
Taxis refusing the meter. Airport 400, or DMK 600 thb (tolls included).
The real reason for Airport refusals is that the driver is often someone else other than the picture, and the airport is pinging them if they get caught.

Train from DMK is years away, if the beam cracking issue gets sorted.

 

[yohy?!]

We did ok with a black at BKK couple of months back, the driver spoke good English so we could navigate him in - we have a Thai Uber account connected to a Thai sim which is crucial

 

[JohnK]

BKK is starting to be a pain.
Taxis refusing the meter. Airport 400, or DMK 600 thb (tolls included).
The real reason for Airport refusals is that the driver is often someone else other than the picture, and the airport is pinging them if they get caught.

Train from DMK is years away, if the beam cracking issue gets sorted.

I had some issues a while back with taxis quoting fixed price only but haven't encoutered that issue recently.

There is a free shuttle that runs between BKK and DMK. Not sure about comfort but travel time can be between 50m and 2h depending on traffic.

You can also take the Airport train to Phaya Thai and then taxi to DMK.

Or if you want to be adventurous you can take Airport train to Phaya Thai then BTS to Mo Chit and finally A1 shuttle to DMK. Cost should be ~THB150.

Personally I would take shuttle between BKK-DMK if not pressed for time.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Just another data point...

Today I used Uber overseas for the first time and it worked seamlessly, using only free wi-fi at each end.
I booked the car while in Hotel wi-fi, and checked the completion of the trip on the airport wi-fi. It seems that it's unnecessary to have a wi-fi connection at the destination end, but because it was my first use, I just wanted to see that all was well (which it was).

A few trip details:
We were staying in SaiGon District 1, going to the International airport.
Before I started, I changed my Uber Payment details to my 28 degrees card.
When I logged in to Uber, there were about 8 cars in the vicinity, with a 4 min estimate for time to arrival.
Our car arrived within about 3 min after booking.
The car was a brand new 7 seat Toyota, very neat & tidy, with heaps of space for bottoms & bags.
Unremarkable journey, despite wall to wall peak hour traffic - 35 minute trip.
Fare was VND81,000 - equivalent to AUD4.47 according to XE.
Wiki Travel suggests approx VND160,000 as a normal taxi meter fare.
I've just checked my 28 Degrees account, and the charge is pending at AUD4.48.

I'll certainly be checking out Uber on future trips...