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A startup founder questioned Uber after an airport ride left four passengers sharing space with their bags because the cabin trunk was taken up by a compressed natural gas cylinder.
His complaint sparked a wider controversy. (LinkedIn/Vic Gambhir)
A startup founder questioned Uber after an airport ride left him holding his bag on his lap because the cabin trunk was occupied by a compressed natural gas cylinder. Sharing his experience on LinkedIn, he said he booked an Uber Premier car anticipating enough luggage space for an early morning airport flight.
The incident sparked an online debate, with many users saying they had faced similar issues and suggesting that taxi aggregators should clearly mention the luggage capacity while booking.
Founder Vik Gambhir shared his experience in a LinkedIn post, explaining why he felt the service didn’t meet expectations for an airport trip.
The founder’s questions about the airport ride experience
Gambhir began his post by asking Uber: “Dear Uber, am I not supposed to carry luggage while going to the airport?” He explained that he booked the Uber Premier car because it was listed as a box sedan.
However, when the cabin arrived, it was found that the entire trunk had been occupied by a CNG cylinder. “I booked an Uber Premier specifically because it’s a trunk sedan. There were four of us traveling with just one suitcase, however it didn’t fit as the entire trunk was occupied by a CNG cylinder. We had to carry the suitcase on our lap all the way to the airport,” he wrote.
Gambhir said the situation could have been much worse if they were traveling with more luggage. “Imagine if we had two or three suitcases, as most people traveling to the airport do. What unnecessary hassle would a 5:30 a.m. airport flight create?”
He also noted that the flight was booked more than 12 hours in advance and questioned why passengers were not informed if the trunk space was limited. “This was a pre-booked flight made more than 12 hours in advance. If the trunk of a sedan has been rendered unusable by a CNG cylinder, why was this not disclosed during booking? An airport flight without space for a single bag is ridiculous.”
“Maybe Uber should rename it Premier (trunk not included),” Gambhir wrote, adding a touch of sarcasm. He ended his post by saying: “If a sedan cannot accommodate even one standard suitcase because the luggage compartment is occupied by a CNG cylinder, it will not be possible to offer it for airport boarding.”
Users suggest possible solutions
The post received a lot of responses from LinkedIn users, many of whom said they had encountered similar issues during airport trips.
One user wrote: “In Delhi, the scene is as follows: Rapido: Horrible, terrible drivers. Pathetic cars. Dangerous for women. It’s as if you need to be a tobacco chewer, a smoker, a tomboy and a filthy cunt to qualify as a Rapido taxi driver in Delhi.”
Another suggested, “Always rent uber XL for the airport. They don’t have CNG machines.”
“I can totally relate to this issue,” one person commented. Another user felt that the issue may not be entirely Uber’s fault and wrote: “Great observation on your part, but I think there may be a possibility where the driver may have intentionally listed their car on Uber Premier even after not having the required eligibility for it, although I’m not sure about that. This gives Uber an opportunity to do some research and improve itself. I understand as customers we have the option to switch easily but let’s give them a chance. It’s a brand and it keeps learning every day.”
One commenter also suggested a feature that could help avoid such situations: “Totally agree. Maybe taxi aggregators could have a checkbox that passengers could tick if they need trunk space. And then match accordingly with vehicles? It would be a simple way to avoid such situations.”
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