A Gurugram woman recently raised concerns over Uber Pets’ pricing, claiming it costs over five times more than a standard ride. She questioned whether the service was genuinely accessible or simply a premium luxury.
In a widely shared LinkedIn post, Anya Rao shared her experience of discovering Uber Pets while booking a taxi. This pet-friendly option allows passengers to travel with their pets, but it was the stark price difference that caught her attention.
“I was booking an Uber the other day and noticed their new feature, Uber Pets, a service that allows riders to bring their pets along,” Ms. Rao wrote.
Curious about the cost, she compared fares for a short 2-kilometer journey. “Well, not when you look at the price. I did a price comparison for a 2km distance,” she noted.
She further revealed, “Regular Uber cab costs Rs 100, while Uber Pets costs Rs 530,” questioning, “if the goal was accessibility, why is this service a luxury?”
Speculating on the reasons for the high fare, she asked, “Is it extra cleaning fees? A premium for pet-friendly drivers? Or just another way to squeeze more money out of pet owners?”
Ms. Rao concluded her post by emphasizing that pets are like family for many, and owners shouldn’t have to pay an excessive fee just to travel with them.
Her post sparked discussion, with users sharing their opinions. One commenter stated, “I feel it’s more about luxury than accessibility.”
Another user shared their approach, saying, “Honestly, when we used to travel with dogs, we used to inform the driver beforehand that we’ve got dogs, and I’d rather go with a consenting driver than go with someone who’s least bothered about the safety of my furry babies.”
A different user suggested, “Just book a regular Uber and tell the driver you have to take your pet along. 90% don’t have any problem with it. Of course, make sure you don’t make a mess.” Another perspective pointed out, “I believe it’s got to do with the drivers too. Paw parents are many, but not a lot of cab drivers are willing to have pets in their cars. But still, there should be some capping on the price of the cab.”
This isn’t the first time Uber Pets’ pricing has drawn criticism. Actress Swastika Mukherjee previously called out the company for charging her Rs 487 for a 5 km pet taxi ride, while a standard ride for the same distance was priced at Rs 150.
