What is Uber Surge Pricing?
One of the main differences of taxi and Uber is its surge pricing. So, what is it exactly?
From the official Uber Support article:
With surge pricing, Uber rates increase to get more cars on the road and ensure reliability during the busiest times. When enough cars are on the road, prices go back down to normal levels.
It’s important to know that you’ll always be notified in big, bold print if surge pricing is in effect. When rates are more than double, the surge confirmation screen also requires you to type in the specific surge multiplier to ensure you understand what rates to expect.
Surge Pricing
Surge pricing means that normal fare surges by the multiplier based on the demand for Uber service. Right now in Metro Manila, surge pricing ranges from 1.3x up to 4.0x the normal fare. This surging is determined by the algorithm of Uber (we think). For example, if the surge pricing is 2.0x the normal fare, your total fare is doubled as simple as that. 
photo from www.uber.com
You always have the option to wait for the surge to pass. There’s an option before requesting for an Uber to accept the surge pricing or to notify you when the fare is back to normal.
How do you know if there’s surge pricing? Look for the lightning icon. Refer to the pictures below.
Sample Fare Calculation
Here’s a sample fare calculation with surge pricing of 1.3x. All of these are available in your trip history in your Rider Dashboard. Uber also emails you the trip invoice showing the fare calculation.
For some people, surge pricing is a deal breaker. But personally, I consider surge pricing a fair trade off for the level of service and value Uber provides. In a normal taxi trip, taxi drivers usually ask for a tip ranging from Php 10-50 pesos or sometimes they don’t give you change at all. As a rider, I usually feel like I’m being robbed or cheated because the level of service is not one that deserves a tip.
At least with Uber, you are well aware before you request for a ride of the price surge and you are assured of the standard of service.
Have you tried riding with surge pricing? Share with us your experience! Happy Riding!
My husband has been driving as Uber partner/driver for 2 weeks now, and on a daily basis, he gets at least 2 FAKE surges! Why is this so?? When he gets to the area where Uber map is all red (meaning there is a surge), the surge is gone, or worse, when he ends the trip, turns out the payment details did not have surge fee! Why is Uber doing this? My husband drives more than 14 hours a day, lugi pa kame sa gasolina! Uber takes really good care of its riders pero hindi sa mga pagod na drivers! Mas mura pa ang Uber sa taxi. Sana naman Uber gives a fair play, hindi naman charity work to.
Hi Tim, Uber’s surge is really dynamic. Mabilis nagbabago so minsan kung pupunta ka kung saan may surge, pagdating dun, wala nang surge. Kami rin kapag nagddrive ganun. Tama ka masmura pa nga ang Uber kaysa sa taxi. If you want to raise your concerns to Uber, you can email them at .
Hi. Thanks for the reply. Husband says it happens when he is right on the area where there is supposed surge, that he makes sure it is still red on the map when he accepts the booking. His riders sometimes would confirm na may surge. So i think there are glitches in the system or in the app.
If that’s the case, kindly escalate the concern with Uber at
It is also possible that the rider that is requesting is not in the surge area but is near the location of the driver. Example: Rider is in Taguig (Bayani road, etc.) but surge area is McKinley and BGC.
I want to share my experience last Tuesday I picked up three person all going Dubai at around 1:04 pm they have so much luggage so for me it is also same as three person so it means my passenger is equivalent to 6 persons. My question is can I have fare adjustment
regarding this.