Velocity Frequent Flyer launches partnership with DiDi

[elanshin]

So I signed up with both my normal account and my business flyer account and as others reported the points were awarded promptly.
Got around to using Didi today from Sofitel Melbourne to the airport and Uber wanted $57, Didi was $39 and offered me a bonus $10 off (perhaps as it was my first time using them) Driver arrived within 2 minutes and was a great lad in a nice, clean Camry. He drives for both Didi and Uber and prefers driving for Didi. Was really happy with the service and tipped him $5 and left a nice thank you on the app. Was dropped off at the rideshare spot near the Parkroyal as we were picking up a rental car from Sixt. Checked my Virgin app a few minutes later and points had already been credited. Got the full 39 points
For me it’s a horses for courses setup where sometimes Didi won’t work or be the best option but for others it will be and I’ll definitely use them again

I definitely try to use DiDi when I can atm over Uber, but there are times when DiDi drivers will cancel on you nonstop but Uber will take it first try.

I think DiDi pays drivers better atm (basically DiDi is in the lose money for marketshare phase).

 

[lovestotravel]

Both Didi and Uber and the whole ridesharing gig economy is a joke

Drivers making $10-$20 per hour and working 100 hour weeks

That being said I'll take the FF points but will always take a taxi or private hire car over any rideshare company wherever possible

 

[Berlin]

That being said I'll take the FF points but will always take a taxi or private hire car over any rideshare company wherever possible

Each to their own. The last thing I would ever ever ever do is giving my hard earned cash to these rude, monopolistic and dirty taxi drivers. So grateful to have left these days behind me for good!

 

[elanshin]

Both Didi and Uber and the whole ridesharing gig economy is a joke

Drivers making $10-$20 per hour and working 100 hour weeks

That being said I'll take the FF points but will always take a taxi or private hire car over any rideshare company wherever possible

I hoe you don't get swindled in Sydney. Lots of dodgy taxi drivers atm trying to pray on unsuspecting travellers from SYD airport.

 

[lovestotravel]

Each to their own. The last thing I would ever ever ever do is giving my hard earned cash to these rude, monopolistic and dirty taxi drivers. So grateful to have left these days behind me for good!

In Australia I use private transfers to/from airports and for anything else while on holidays I rent a car.

Singapore - Taxis
France - Private transfers
London - Taxis

ETC

 

[elanshin]

In Australia I use private transfers to/from airports and for anything else while on holidays I rent a car.

Singapore - Taxis
France - Private transfers
London - Taxis

ETC

Singapore i actually often use grab to book a taxi. One frienly driver actually told me that some of their EFTPOS machine can charge ridiculous rates but if its prepaid on grab, yiu don't get charged the absurd surcharge. Prices were within expectations too.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

I definitely try to use DiDi when I can atm over Uber, but there are times when DiDi drivers will cancel on you nonstop but Uber will take it first try.

I think DiDi pays drivers better atm (basically DiDi is in the lose money for marketshare phase).

TBH ride sharing is a bit of a lottery at the moment. Ola drivers were renowned for cancelling when Uber was surging, however Uber drivers are starting to be bad about it too - they'll accept a job, then call you to ask destination (which they're not allowed to do under the contracted conditions), and then cancel it if they don't like it. Yet to try Didi but will be interesting to see how they go trying to fight Uber now that Ola are out of the way.

 

[Berlin]

In Australia I use private transfers to/from airports and for anything else while on holidays I rent a car.

Singapore - Taxis
France - Private transfers
London - Taxis

ETC

London taxis are by far the worst, so many horrid experiences with these arrogant crooks. But again, each to their own. Singapore is Grab-land for me.

 

[lovestotravel]

TBH ride sharing is a bit of a lottery at the moment. Ola drivers were renowned for cancelling when Uber was surging, however Uber drivers are starting to be bad about it too - they'll accept a job, then call you to ask destination (which they're not allowed to do under the contracted conditions), and then cancel it if they don't like it. Yet to try Didi but will be interesting to see how they go trying to fight Uber now that Ola are out of the way.

Yep indeed as I said when you are dealing with drivers who are doing 100 hours per week and making $10-$20 per hour at best, you are rarely going to get great service.

 

[ben95]

Lots of dodgy taxi drivers atm trying to pray on unsuspecting travellers from SYD airport.

Happened to me multiple times - just because I got off an international flight going to a CBD hotel doesn’t mean I don’t know my way around Sydney. Work used to insist I use taxi and they were paying so I didn’t care but it still felt wrong even though there was no loss for me personally. Luckily we have Uber for business to use globally now so no longer have to worry about that

 

[Berlin]

Happened to me multiple times - just because I got off an international flight going to a CBD hotel doesn’t mean I don’t know my way around Sydney. Work used to insist I use taxi and they were paying so I didn’t care but it still felt wrong even though there was no loss for me personally. Luckily we have Uber for business to use globally now so no longer have to worry about that

Was the same for me a while ago when many companies still insisted to use taxis which was almost always a bad experience and priced way higher than Uber or Didi would ever be. Luckily most companies have now clued up and allow you to use ride share apps.

 

[kpc]

Gotta love Didi....$26.48 from my house about 10 km north of CBD to Sydney domestic airport at 0730 today....and bonus 26 Velocity pts! Taxi would have been $80 and Uber >$40. Train would have been nearly $40 for 2 pax!

 

[MrJelly]

With 24hour of linking, got my 1000 points.. I'm impressed!
Will start using Didi and see how it goes.

 

[kookaburra75]

With 24hour of linking, got my 1000 points.. I'm impressed!
Will start using Didi and see how it goes.

We used Didi for the first time in Canberra last night. The time for a driver to respond was the same as for Uber. The cost for an Uber in the past was $24 from home to a restaurant we go to often. Didi was $16 ($22 less a $6 discount) and $2 ($22 less a $20 discount). So a couple of dollars cheaper on a short run, although I believe the drivers get a better deal with Didi.

 

[Zinger]

I needed a ride to Cairns airport today and decided to check out the prices quoted by both Uber and Didi. Didi came in at $13.38 including the promotional discount. Uber was quoting me $24.94. No brainer. I thought.

I tried for ten minutes using the Didi app to find a Didi driver. Nothing came up. Tried to cancel. Where? How?

Booked the Uber.

 

[odysseus]

I needed a ride to Cairns airport today and decided to check out the prices quoted by both Uber and Didi. Didi came in at $13.38 including the promotional discount. Uber was quoting me $24.94. No brainer. I thought.

I tried for ten minutes using the Didi app to find a Didi driver. Nothing came up. Tried to cancel. Where? How?

Booked the Uber.

Not sure if it's been improved since, but Cairns airport did an exclusive deal with Uber, only permitting them to enter the airport area. Didi (and Ola) could not operate there. Uber's only a fan of 'disruption' if it's the one benefiting from it, not if anyone else is.

Checked Cairns airport website and they only show the uber logo, so suspect they still have the exclusivity deal running with uber, which is why you couldn't get an Ola to pickup there.

 

[mrflyby]

You want to know something more wild? The DiDi app doesn't work in China even though DiDi is by far the dominant player. Tells you you're in the wrong region when you try to access it in China.

It all functions off mini-apps in Alipay and WeChat.

Yes. You need to use the special Chinese version of the Didi app. I think it's only on the Chinese store.
Had trouble with Didi too when there, but figured it out in the end.

DiDi:Ride-hailing app in China - Apps on Google Play

Get a ride in Chinese mainland & Hong Kong SAR

play.google.com

 

[Berlin]

Yes. You need to use the special Chinese version of the Didi app. I think it's only on the Chinese store.
Had trouble with Didi too when there, but figured it out in the end.

DiDi:Ride-hailing app in China - Apps on Google Play

Get a ride in Chinese mainland & Hong Kong SAR

play.google.com

Yes, can’t get the Chinese Didi app in the Australian app store which is rather strange.

Works a treat though as a mini program inside WeiXin (WeChat) which is readily available and accessible from Australia. Translates automatically into English as well which is a godsend and payment via WeChat pay and connected Aussie credit card also works a treat these days.

 

[Pele]

Not sure if it's been improved since, but Cairns airport did an exclusive deal with Uber, only permitting them to enter the airport area. Didi (and Ola) could not operate there. Uber's only a fan of 'disruption' if it's the one benefiting from it, not if anyone else is.

Checked Cairns airport website and they only show the uber logo, so suspect they still have the exclusivity deal running with uber, which is why you couldn't get an Ola to pickup there.

This is correct. I was trying to get a didi to the CNS airport two weekends ago and couldnt and when i eventually got an uber i had a chat to the driver and he said he drives for both uber and didi and that he isnt allowed to go to the airport as a didi driver. Pretty sad but that is how it is currently.

I had used didi around CNS in the preceding week and found it about 20% cheaper than uber (disregarding the promo discounts currently running).

 

[Berlin]

This is correct. I was trying to get a didi to the CNS airport two weekends ago and couldnt and when i eventually got an uber i had a chat to the driver and he said he drives for both uber and didi and that he isnt allowed to go to the airport as a didi driver. Pretty sad but that is how it is currently.

I had used didi around CNS in the preceding week and found it about 20% cheaper than uber (disregarding the promo discounts currently running).

Similar situation at Sydney Qantas Domestic at the moment where only Uber is allowed to do curbside pickup (unless that has changed in recent weeks).

Price wise, I notice that without the discounts, it’s becoming muchness for muchness between the two now, at least in the major inner city markets in Sydney and Melbourne, might be a bit different in places like Cairns still. But I always routinely check both and quite often, Uber is a bit cheaper. So, the market is moving into the same direction as many overseas markets: Check both Uber and DiDi here just as I’d check both Uber and Lyft in the US or Uber and Bolt in many European markets.