Dubai’s Emirates launches new on-demand taxi app for Skywards members

Dubai airline Emirates has launched a new on-demand taxi app for its Skywards members that will allow them to earn miles for booking rides.

The new app, called Emirates Skywards Cabforce, has been launched in partnership with CarTrawler – an online platform that has 2,500 transport suppliers worldwide.

Emirates’ loyalty programme members can avail of transportation services in 27 countries and 117 cities across the world, with more countries in the pipeline, a statement said.

The app offers users private taxis, executive cars and minibuses, along with fixed price quotes, online credit card payment and electronic receipts for every journey.

It also enables users to share their live location during the ride.

Emirates confirmed that members will also earn Skywards miles on every ride booked through the app. Members will earn 1 Skywards mile for every $2 or equivalent spent on each journey. The miles will be credited within 48 hours of completing the journey.

Users need to link their Skywards membership account with the Emirates Skywards Cabforce app. They will then be able to book rides selecting their preferred supplier, and also check the estimated arrival time of their ride, and view the estimated fare and Skywards miles they will earn at the end of their trip.

Emirates Skywards – which now also serves as the loyalty programme for flydubai – offers four tiers of membership – blue, silver, gold and platinum. Miles can be redeemed for a range of rewards, including tickets on Emirates, flight upgrades, hotel accommodation, excursions and shopping.

Also read: Flydubai replaces loyalty programme with Emirates Skywards

The app is free to download on iOS or Android devices.

The latest announcement comes after Emirates Skywards tied up with car-riding app Careem in 2016, offering members miles for using the app.

The offer was valid for Careem services in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Kuwait and Morocco.

Last month, the airline also partnered with Uber to provide discounted airport rides to Emirates passengers visiting Dubai from select international countries.

Visitors from Australia, Egypt, France, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa can avail the offer on bookings made between September 26 to December 10.

With rising demand for car-hailing apps, both Careem and Uber have been expanding aggressively in the region.

Careem, founded in 2012, says it has 30 million registered users in over 120 cities in MENA, Turkey and Pakistan.

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