Uber installs kiosks to book rides without a mobile app

Uber is rolling out kiosks for passengers to book a ride without using the mobile app. The company pitches the service as a convenience for international travelers who may not have a data plan, but it can also be a lifesaver if your phone dies and you have no way to recharge it. The passenger can use the kiosk to enter their destination and desired type of travel, after which they will receive a printed receipt detailing the booked travel. The first kiosk will debut in Terminal C at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, but Uber said there will be additional locations at airports, hotels and ports in the coming months.

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

Uber also uses LaGuardia as a starting point for its New York shuttle, with $18 trips between the airport and Manhattan transit hubs in October 2024; later launched shuttles to JFK in March 2025. Today, Uber said it is offering a shuttle bus option to Newark Liberty International Airport, so all major New York airports now have access to the service.