Uber is installing kiosks for booking rides without the mobile app

Uber is rolling out kiosks allowing travelers to book rides without using the mobile app. The company touts this service as being convenient for international travelers who may not have a data plan, but it could also save your life if your phone runs out of battery and you have no way to recharge it. A passenger can use the kiosk to enter their destination and desired ride type, then will receive a printed receipt with the details of the trip booked. The first kiosk will debut at Terminal C at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, but Uber said it will open additional locations at airports, hotels and ports over the coming months.

In airport situations, these kiosks make Uber an even more direct competitor to traditional taxis. With the removal of the app, the kiosk can essentially act as a dispatcher and a passenger can decide how to travel based on their preferences (or wait times) for a rideshare versus a yellow taxi.

Uber also used LaGuardia as a starting point for its commuter service in New York, with $18 rides between the airport and Manhattan transit hubs in October 2024; it then rolled out the shuttles to John F. Kennedy Airport in March 2025. Today, Uber announced that it will offer the shuttle option at Newark Liberty International Airport, so all major airports in New York now have access to the service.