- Bolt is New Zealand's newest ride-hailing company having launched in June of this year.
- The company has launched two new features, initially only available in Auckland.
- The features allow users to schedule rides from Auckland airport and link them to a flight tracker for automatic updates.
New Zealand's newest ride-hailing company, Bolt, is quickly shaping up as the most innovative having just launched two new twists on the ride share concept that will be a big boost for Auckland-based travellers; Scheduled Rides and Flight Tracking, which the company says will give travellers at Auckland Airport "greater peace of mind when planning their journeys."
From today, customers can schedule rides up to 90 days in advance and also sync their flight details in the Bolt app when scheduling a ride from Auckland Airport, and if their flight is delayed or cancelled, Bolt will automatically adjust the ride’s pick-up time or cancel the trip at no extra cost.
The company says the process is easy, with customers only needing to tap the ‘schedule’ button on the Bolt app's home screen and enter the pick-up location (arrival airport) and destination to start scheduling their ride. They can then choose add their flight details, which will automatically update arrival times if the flight is delayed.
Customers can choose how many minutes after landing they’d like to be picked up, and from there, Bolt will automatically apply any updates in cases of delayed or cancelled flights. While the feature will initially only be available for pick-ups and drop-offs at Auckland Airport, the company expects to expand the service to other New Zealand destinations as it grows, much as the service itself has looked to expand since launch.
Bolt says the feature forms part of its growing investment in Scheduled Rides which has seen strong international demand, seeing a 70 percent increase in scheduled bookings globally over the past year.
Bolt New Zealand General Manager Adam Muirson says introducing Flight Tracking with Scheduled Rides is about giving riders greater certainty and reducing the stress of travel.
"Whether people are landing late at night or coming home on a delayed flight, Bolt will be ready when they are. We’re focused on providing the most reliable and seamless airport experience possible for our riders and driver partners."