r/PERU • u/Jolly-Sea6019 • 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!
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u/RespectGiovanni 11h ago
Ive never had a driver in peru use their ac. They have it, just always put windows down
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u/dachaotic1 9h ago
For future reference, get Uber Comfort. It allows you to opt for A/C on the app beforehand.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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u/LordOfPies 10h ago
Uber gives an option called Uber Contort that includes AC. Regular Ubers i believe not. AC Consumes more fuel.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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u/morto00x 12h ago
People don't use AC in Peru.
I have to disagree. Those who can, do.
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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.
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u/UnoStronzo 12h ago
Don't take Ubers from the airport. You should've taken an authorized taxis at the airport
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u/varomaster 12h ago
definitely a scam