Dear TeachUsTech’ers,
In this guide, we’ll walk through how to schedule an Uber ride ahead of time using the Uber app on your iPhone. This is handy when you already know when you need to leave—like catching an early flight or planning a trip home from the mall—so you’re not scrambling for a ride at the last minute.
This guide assumes you already have Uber set up on your iPhone and that a payment card is ready to use on your device (for example, in Apple Wallet). If you haven’t added a card yet, see TeachUsTech Newsletter 07: How to Set Up Apple Wallet on an iPhone.
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What You’ll Need
• An iPhone with the Uber app installed and updated.
• An Uber account you can sign into (this guide assumes you’re already signed in).
• A mobile data or Wi‑Fi connection.
• A saved payment method on your iPhone (for example, a card added to Apple Wallet).
Step 1 – Open Uber and choose to schedule a ride
Open the Uber app on your iPhone.
Make sure you’re on the Rides tab.
At the top of the screen, beside the “Where to?” box, tap the button labeled “Later”. This tells Uber you want to book a ride for a future time instead of right now.
Step 2 – Enter your pickup and drop-off locations
On the “Plan your ride” screen, confirm the pickup location at the top. In this example it shows “Bass Pro Shops”. If you will not physically be at that spot when the ride starts, tap the pickup line and type the exact address or place where you want the driver to meet you.
Tap the “Dropoff” line and type where you’re going (for example, “Vancouver International Airport”).
When both locations look correct, tap the keyboard’s Done/Return key to continue.
Step 3 – Skip airline details (optional)
If Uber asks which airline you’re flying with, you can either:
• Choose your airline from the list, or
• Tap “Skip” to move on.
For simple airport drop-offs, skipping this step is usually fine.
Step 4 – Close the ‘Airport rides made easy’ tip
If a message pops up with tips about airport rides, tap “Got it” to close it and continue with your booking.
Step 5 – Pick the date for your ride
On the calendar screen, tap the date you want to be picked up. In the example, the date shown is in the past, but when you book your own ride you should choose a date in the future.
Make sure the month and day are correct.
When you’re happy with the date, tap “Apply” to save it.
Step 6 – Skip flight search (optional)
Uber may offer to search for your flight based on the date you chose. For most people this is not necessary.
Tap “Skip” in the top-right corner to continue without linking a flight.
Step 7 – Choose the pickup time
Use the time wheels to set the exact time you want your ride to arrive.
Again, the example screenshot shows a past date and time, but when you schedule your own ride you should pick a future time.
Once the time looks right, tap “Next” to continue.
Step 8 – Pick the type of Uber
You’ll now see a map with your pickup and drop-off locations at the top and a list of ride options along the bottom (for example, UberX, Comfort, XL).
Tap the ride type you want. Smaller cars (like UberX) are usually cheaper. Larger vehicles (like XL or Comfort) cost more but are better if you have multiple passengers or several suitcases.
Check that the date, time, and price estimate look right.
When you’re ready, tap the button such as “Reserve UberX” to move on.
Step 9 – Confirm the exact pickup spot
On the map, you’ll see a pin (dot) showing where the driver will pick you up.
If you won’t be exactly at the default spot when the ride starts—for example, if you’ll be at a different entrance of Bass Pro—touch and hold the pin, then drag it to the place where you will actually be standing.
When the pickup spot looks right, tap “Confirm pickup” to save it.
Step 10 – Review reservation settings
Uber may show a screen with reservation settings such as “Auto rematch,” which allows Uber to assign a new driver if your original driver cancels.
You can usually leave these settings as they are. Tap “OK” (or the confirmation button shown) to continue.
Step 11 – Confirm payment and finish booking
A payment screen will appear, usually showing Apple Pay or another card you’ve set up on your iPhone.
Check the ride details one last time (pickup, drop-off, date, time, and price).
When everything looks correct, follow the on-screen prompt to pay—for example, double-click the side button on your iPhone to confirm Apple Pay.
Your ride is now scheduled. Uber will send you reminders before pickup, and you’ll see the trip listed in your upcoming rides or activity section.
Note: If you haven’t added a card to Apple Wallet yet, please see TeachUsTech Newsletter 07: How to Set Up Apple Wallet on an iPhone before trying these steps.
That’s it!
You’ve scheduled an Uber ride in advance from your iPhone. Next time you have an early flight, a medical appointment, or an important event, you can pre-book your ride so transportation is one less thing to worry about.
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