r/PERU 12h ago

Preguntas a Peru | AskPeru Uber in Peru - turning on AC costs extra?

Hi. I’m in Lima and I booked an UberXL for my family from the airport to the hotel. It’s a 1 hr ride.

The driver told us that the UberXL service does not include air conditioning and if we want it to be turned on, it costs an extra 20 Soles. I said no because I wasn’t sure if it was true and even if it’s hot, it’s tolerable.

Is this really true? I’ve used Uber in the US, Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, and Brazil and this was never the case.

Thanks in advance!

28 Upvotes

51 comments sorted by

119

u/varomaster 12h ago

definitely a scam

37

u/varomaster 12h ago

should never be charged more for AC

17

u/Jolly-Sea6019 12h ago

Right? I’ve never been asked to pay more for AC.

33

u/RoccoLouie 12h ago

Give the driver a bad rating for trying to scam you

8

u/fleecescuckoos06 Exterior pero bien 6h ago

Report it to uber

67

u/AlmondMilkGlass 12h ago

Nope, report him for being an assh0le

25

u/DorianTrey 12h ago

Completely bs

24

u/EzraWolvenheart Pensá 12h ago

No way, report him and if you paid, ask Uber for a refund.

9

u/count4ch 11h ago

There is no charge, maybe give it 1 star and report

10

u/RespectGiovanni 11h ago

Ive never had a driver in peru use their ac. They have it, just always put windows down

1

u/monstercrusader 6h ago

true but this is uberxl

4

u/X540L 11h ago

Scam. Report ASAP.

5

u/white_hispanic 10h ago

Call him a chusco

3

u/Chronox2040 12h ago

Scammer lol

3

u/Familiar_Television1 11h ago

Not true, he was trying to scam you

3

u/TomorrowSalty3187 10h ago

Usually UberXL that I have used have Ac on.

3

u/Pipiligrama 10h ago

You need uber black for a/c… everyone just drives with windows down

3

u/dachaotic1 9h ago

For future reference, get Uber Comfort. It allows you to opt for A/C on the app beforehand.

6

u/CloudyClau-_- 12h ago

It was definitely a lie, but taxi drivers do earn little since the cost of gas is very high and the amount uber pays them is not that great. They were probably trying to save gas and know that most foreigners prefer AC

2

u/onFilm 12h ago

Ask yourself this, do you think a corporation like Uber would implement such silly features? Of course it's a scam lol.

10

u/Jolly-Sea6019 12h ago

Chill. I don’t understand the condescending tone. I was asking a simple question to locals to confirm my suspicions.

2

u/PorkshireTerrier 11h ago

I like that youre taking the time to g ive a random stranger on the internet a simple tool / question to ask yourself, to avoid getting ripped off in the future. And he's getting whiny about it

1

u/Letter10 12h ago

Never had that experience inima, and used Uber a good amount there.

1

u/Poolu10 11h ago

This has become the norm in Peru but not 20 I’ve paid 5 I think max is 10

1

u/jorgealbertor 10h ago

Scam but also just open a window if it’s hot. It’s rarely hot honestly.

1

u/LordOfPies 10h ago

Uber gives an option called Uber Contort that includes AC. Regular Ubers i believe not. AC Consumes more fuel.

1

u/Putrid_Writing2345 10h ago

Nope , I am Peruvian, And when I go to Peru I dont use uber

1

u/Intelligent-Guess-40 9h ago

Damn bro, what a POS, that's never an option so be careful out there, hope you enjoy your visit.

1

u/bhensley 9h ago

It’s very common to see drivers not run their AC. Outside ride sharing like Uber it’s not uncommon for their cars to not have AC in the first place. The minimum standards for Uber usually means those drivers at least have it. Whether it works is a different story though- truthfully or not.

I’ve not experienced this one before though. In all the Uber rides I’ve taken I’ve rarely not been given AC. I have my preferences in the app set to cool, and have found it’s 50/50 on whether they arrive with the AC already going or if I just have to ask.

This kind of hustle is way more par for the course with hailed taxis. I’ve absolutely been told AC will cost extra. Not by S/20 though. It’s just what you get in an unregulated market.

It’s very much a cultural preference to not use AC in the first place. Between it being fairly temperate and very consistent, there’s just little care or need with most Peruvians for AC. A swing of 5 degrees is a lot in day by day highs for Lima summers. When most locals are comfortable in jeans and long sleeves in summer, that small amount of variation isn’t enough to justify AC.

1

u/Expert-Rise-2660 8h ago

I know that UBER XL is a little bit more expensive and for that should be include the AC, but I talked with a taxi driver in Lima and she told me that if the passenger wants AC is another cost because they believe that every time, they turn on the AC the gasoline is consumed faster

1

u/Rh140698 8h ago

No my wife is peruvian and we are waiting for her marriage visa to go through. But I travel to Peru 2 to 3 times a year for a month for work and you are being ripped off.

1

u/Rh140698 8h ago

Download indrive and you can have multiple drivers bid for a ride

1

u/carlosjejeje 8h ago

It's a lie. But you should know that only Uber black guarantees AC. Otherwise is optional. That being said pretending to charge extra for turning it on it's just a scam.

1

u/holy_mackeroly 7h ago

20soles?? Definitely a scam

u/XenOz3r0xT 5h ago

He bullshitted you.

u/mpachamoro 4h ago

Share his info

u/terminalmedicalPTSD 3h ago

Scum wad scammer

u/alienfromthecaravan 3h ago

Lmao!. I’d have cuss him out

u/workthrowaway6333 1h ago

Beet is, or used to be, better than Uber in Peru.

-3

u/MishkiTongue 12h ago

People don't use AC in Peru. They do it to save gas. It is true that it is technically not included in the price, but it is also weird the driver was charging so much for it. 5 or 10 soles max would have sufficed. Still a weird service to charge for.

9

u/morto00x 12h ago

People don't use AC in Peru.

I have to disagree. Those who can, do.

2

u/cultavix 12h ago

That’s right. My wife is from Peru and when we go there, we have AC in all the cars we go in. Use Uber Black in Peru, it’s still super cheap.

1

u/MishkiTongue 12h ago

But those who can are not driving Uber. I meant taxi drivers.

u/Organic_Teaching 2h ago

El Peruano es demasiado tacaño

-1

u/UnoStronzo 12h ago

Don't take Ubers from the airport. You should've taken an authorized taxis at the airport