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FreeNow introduces changes to enhance taxi services for passengers and drivers

With a new Airport Prebook Promise, the company will offer €15 if the taxi is late and €50 if the trip doesn’t happen

To make the booking process more accessible, FreeNow is launching dedicated national phone line, exclusively for bookings
To make the booking process more accessible, FreeNow is launching dedicated national phone line, exclusively for bookings
Fri Aug 30 2024 - 05:00

FreeNow, Ireland’s number one taxi app, has announced that from September 1st it will launch a range of new changes expected to improve its service for both passengers and driver partners alike. The updates include an Airport Pre-book Promise initiative, a dedicated national Taxi Booking Line, a subscription to reward frequent users with unique discounts, FreeNow Plus, and the launch of FreeNow Taxi Marketplace where drivers can easily find a taxi to rent.

Airport Prebook Promise: On time, every time – or we make it right

FreeNow’s Prebook feature allows passengers to schedule trips up to four days in advance, with a significant number of customers relying on this service to plan their journey ahead of time. It is especially popular when planning important journeys, with 64 per cent of FreeNow passengers using the Prebook feature when travelling to the airport.

FreeNow knows time is precious, particularly when travelling to the airport. The company is confident in its Prebook service and is providing further reassurance to passengers with the Airport Prebook Promise and will compensate passengers who pre-book a taxi to airports in Ireland (Dublin, Cork, Shannon/Limerick and Knock) with a voucher in case its promise is not kept – €15 if the taxi is late and €50 if the trip doesn’t happen. FreeNow has plans to expand this promise to more pre-books in the future.

Airport Prebook Promise initiative is expected to provide reassurance to FreeNow passengers
Airport Prebook Promise initiative is expected to provide reassurance to FreeNow passengers

Taxi Booking Line: Enhancing taxi booking accessibility for all users

To make the booking process more accessible for all passengers, FreeNow is launching a new Taxi Booking Line. The dedicated national phone line, exclusively for bookings, will be available seven days a week, allowing passengers to book taxis by calling 1800 30 30 30. The line will be open seven days a week: 5am-1am Sunday to Thursday, and 5am-3am Friday and Saturday. This service is particularly beneficial for users who may not have access or know how to use a smartphone, those with specific accessibility requirements or simply those who prefer to make a booking by speaking to someone directly.

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Recent data from the NTA 2023 Taxi User Research highlights the role of a taxi booking phone line, with 40 per cent of passengers in Ireland ordering taxis by phone. Additionally, according to a FreeNow recent survey, 49 per cent of FreeNow passengers appreciate the reassurance of a phone line, and another 35 per cent would opt to book via the phone because they like dealing directly with another person.

FreeNow Taxi Marketplace: Streamlining vehicle rentals for drivers

Almost a quarter of FreeNow driver partners rent their taxi vehicles. To provide a more streamlined and cost-effective rental solution for drivers, FreeNow has created the Taxi Marketplace. The new complementary platform will connect taxi drivers directly with taxi vehicle owners, allowing them to rent vehicles from each other – without a middleman.

FreeNow's Taxi Marketplace makes renting a taxi simpler and more cost-effective
FreeNow's Taxi Marketplace makes renting a taxi simpler and more cost-effective

Here’s how it works

  1. Individual taxi or taxi fleet owners sign up on the marketplace platform.
  2. Owners create a post to rent their vehicle, including details like location, description, price and images.
  3. Taxi drivers looking to rent can browse these listings and connect directly with vehicle owners through the chat function.
  4. Once a deal is agreed upon, terms can be finalised between the two parties.
  5. Payment is made outside the platform directly between the parties.

Charlie Gleeson, general manager of FreeNow, says the company is committed to continuous improvement: “At FreeNow it’s so important for us to continuously adapt our app and service offering to ensure that we’re meeting the needs and preferences of our passengers and drivers. The services we’re launching today are a direct response to feedback we have received from both passengers and drivers, and we hope that they will provide an even better user experience moving forward.

With our Prebook feature and new Airport Prebook Promise, we want our passengers to book ahead with confidence and enjoy the best possible service. Our Taxi Booking Line broadens our booking accessibility, enabling passengers without a smartphone to book a taxi with FreeNow. And for our driver partners, we’re excited to launch the FreeNow Taxi Marketplace, making the process of renting a vehicle simpler and more efficient. These updates demonstrate our ongoing commitment to continuously enhance and invest in the services we provide to both our passengers and driver partners”.

FreeNow will also launch a subscription model, FreeNow Plus, that will reward frequent taxi users. More details will be shared later this month so keep an eye out for the changes.

For more information, please visit free-now.com from September 1st