In an effort to attract more travelers who are unwilling or unable to use the app to hail a ride, Uber recently announced the launch of its "Kiosk" service, which uses physical devices. The first batch of devices will be installed at Terminal C of LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York.
The launch of this service means that in the future, even if passengers have just gotten off the plane without a local roaming data plan, or even if their mobile phone is out of power, they will still be able to hail a ride through a physical kiosk.
Order a ride like you would from a food ordering machine, and it will even print out a receipt.
The process is quite intuitive: passengers simply enter their destination and select their vehicle type on the Kiosk touchscreen. Once the system confirms, it will print out a paper receipt containing the trip details. Passengers can use this receipt to board the bus (or for subsequent expense reports or other proof of payment).
Although the initial rollout is only available at New York's LaGuardia Airport, Uber says it will gradually install these kiosk devices in more airports, hotels, and ports in the coming months, and users can pay for the service using credit cards or other methods through the adjacent card reader.
This approach will allow Uber to compete more directly with traditional taxis in the market. By removing the barrier of "having to use the app", the Kiosk device essentially plays the role of a traditional taxi dispatcher, allowing passengers to directly compare waiting times or prices on-site and decide whether to take an Uber or a scheduled taxi.
Uber Shuttle airport bus service extended to Newark Airport
In addition to deploying Kiosk devices, Uber also updated the progress of its airport shuttle bus service, Uber Shuttle.
Following its initial launch at LaGuardia Airport in October 2024 (at $18 per round trip to Manhattan) and its expansion to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in March 2025, Uber has announced that it will further extend the service to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
This means that all three major airports surrounding New York City now offer relatively affordable shuttle options like Uber Shuttle to and from the city.
Paying tips is more convenient on iOS.
Another interface update for the iOS platform is to work with iOS's real-time dynamic display feature, allowing users to pay tips to drivers directly on the locked screen before their Uber ride ends, without having to wait until the ride is over.
According to previous Uber tests, many passengers pre-pay tips through this interface, allowing drivers to earn extra income. However, Uber emphasizes that this service is still user-selective and not mandatory.
