JOHANNESBURG – Those opting not to drink and drive and planning to use app-driven transport service Uber on New Year’s  Eve must budget for significant price increases. 

On Christmas Day, Uber users got a foretaste of what to expect as prices skyrocketed, driven by high demand. 

The company usually increases prices around big events or holidays. 

@uber_rsa your Dynamic pricing encourages a +480% (R181 to R791,48) increase after a fee has been accepted?

— Zikhona Madlingozi (@BlackReign007) December 25, 2017

Wow @Uber_RSA u guys choose to triple increase your prices coz it’s Christmas? Wow guys! Wow!!!

— Bruno Snow (@Nocturnal_Dj) December 25, 2017

Uber is now R300 from where we are.. I just got sober

— Lilly ka Bae (@brie_msimanga) December 25, 2017

About to book flights to Durban cheaper than @thegesha’s recent Uber trips —

— yash0505 (@yash0505) December 25, 2017

@Uber_RSA is surging on Christmas. These people have no shame. No surprise from the company that brought your surging whilst escaping a terrorist attack

— Gift Qetu-Yates (@GiftQY) December 25, 2017

Thank you @Uber for killing my budget – it cost me R600 just to go to church, family, and friends on Christmas day. Please don’t respond with information about surges/demand pricing? This is emotional blackmail, and you know it. #UberMustFall

— Christelle du Toit (@writechristelle) December 26, 2017

Uber has urged users to plan their New Year’s Eve travel arrangements well and warned that prices will go up, notably between midnight and 3am. 

eNCA