A woman from Gurugram has raised concerns about the high cost of Uber Pets, claiming that the service is five times more expensive than a regular Uber ride. She questioned whether Uber Pets is truly an affordable option for pet owners or just a premium luxury that many may not be able to afford.

In a viral LinkedIn post, Anya Rao shared her experience while booking a taxi. She came across Uber Pets, a special service that allows passengers to travel with their pets. While she appreciated the convenience, what shocked her the most was the massive price difference compared to a regular ride.

"I was booking an Uber when I noticed their new feature, Uber Pets, which lets riders bring their pets along," she wrote in her post.

Curious about the pricing, she decided to compare the fares for a short 2-kilometre ride. "Well, not when you look at the price. I did a price comparison for a 2km distance," she added.

According to her, a regular Uber ride costs ₹100, while Uber Pets charges ₹530, more than five times the price just for allowing pets onboard. She expressed her disappointment, saying that such high prices make it difficult for pet owners to travel conveniently with their furry companions.

The sharp price increase made Ms Rao question whether Uber Pets was genuinely designed for accessibility. “If the goal is accessibility, then why is this service a luxury?” she asked.

She speculated on the reasons behind the high pricing, wondering, “Is it for extra cleaning? A premium charge for pet-friendly drivers? Or just another way to overcharge pet owners?”

Ms. Rao ended her post by stressing that for many, pets are family, and they shouldn’t have to pay an excessive amount just to travel with them.

Earlier, Uber Pets faced criticism when actress Swastika Mukherjee shared her experience, claiming she was charged ₹487 for a 5 km ride using the pet taxi service, while the same trip in a regular Uber cost only ₹150.

Many users shared their opinions in the comments section, debating whether Uber Pets was truly accessible or just a luxury. One user felt the service was more about luxury than convenience. Another shared their personal experience, saying they always informed the driver in advance when traveling with their dogs and preferred a driver who was comfortable with pets rather than someone indifferent to their safety. 

Some users suggested an alternative, advising pet owners to book a regular Uber and inform the driver about their pet, as most drivers wouldn’t mind as long as no mess was created. Others pointed out that while many pet owners need such a service, not all cab drivers are willing to allow pets in their vehicles, but still, the pricing should be more reasonable.

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