Can an Uber driver pick up another passenger using Lyft during my ride?
I usually try not to make a fuss, but this really bothered me and I'm wondering if I should contact Uber about it.
During my ride, my driver told me he was making a quick stop, and took a short detour from my route. We stop for a moment and another passenger opens my door and is surprised to see me. The driver then tells us that they're using both Uber and Lyft, and we're both their rides, and asks me to get in the front seat with him so the other rider can have the back seat.
He then completed the rest of my ride to my destination, and the other passenger was visibly annoyed and complained about going outside of their route to drop me off.
I'm just wondering if this is normal practice?? The other passenger seemed just as confused as I was, but I personally felt a bit unsafe as I'm a solo female traveller. Is this something I should try to report to Uber or just let it go as a poor experience??
Edit:
Hi! Just wanted to say a quick thanks for the responses, there were a lot more than I expected!
It seems like the majority of the commenters here agree that what the driver did was inappropriate, and goes against company policy and the contract he signed for both apps. It is reassuring to hear that most didn't think I was overreacting to this situation.
To clarify a couple things:
I did not select any ride share options. Both the driver and other passenger confirmed that their ride was through Lyft, while mine was through Uber.
The fact that I wasn't physically injured during the ride isn't something I'll give the driver kudos for - absolutely wild to think that ignoring safety protocols is OK because it turned out fine that one time. Not being injured or harassed during a service I paid for is the bare minimum. Being put in a situation that increases that potential is what made me uncomfortable.
A few commented on the fact that Uber pays its drivers extremely poorly and that my driver was likely making a very low income, and might have accepted another ride out of desperation. That I can sympathize with. While it isn't my personal responsibility, if I use Uber again I will continue to tip well and be a polite & pleasant passenger. I will also continue to advocate whenever I can for Uber to raise the base pay for its drivers. I would rather pay more if it means that drivers can make a living wage while providing these services.
At the end of the day, my driver made a poor choice that resulted in his passengers having a negative experience. It's not the end of the world. We'll all keep on living our lives. Thanks to everyone who took time to respond & I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season. ✌️