Dose of Prose
Fun fact: For the last 3 years, I’ve only used 2 main modes of transportation…1) rideshare apps and 2) my own two feet. Before I moved to California, I lived in Pennsylvania, where public transportation is commonly used. Unlike the East Coast; however, the West Coast is very flat and spread out, meaning that ultimately it’s easier to get around by having your own car. Public transport is available, but not as efficient or pleasant of an experience that the East Coast has. I plan to get a car soon, but for now, walking and rideshare is the most convenient and economical solution for me.
Cost-Benefit of Rideshare vs. Having your own Car
I’m sure you’re wondering how I get around or survive not having a car, and my reasoning is a combination of timing, money and efficiency. Let’s do a quick cost-benefit analysis here: throughout my time so far in Los Angeles, I’ve lived in areas where everything I need is within walking distance or a short ride away (which makes the cost of using rideshare not overly expensive, i.e. $3-10 per ride).
Also, most rideshare services have discounts for students, business memberships for corporate folks and point reward systems for those who use use them often. Lastly, if you didn’t know, the cost of living in California is expensive. Parking is a nightmare to find and pay for, traffic is ridiculous and gas prices are high. With that being said, do the pros of having a car outweigh the cons of not having one and using rideshare? Well, the answer to that question is subjective…but, I wanted to give you some context as to my personal transportation situation, and how it’s worked to my benefit so far.
My Love-Hate Relationship with Uber
My overall experience with Uber/Lyft has been okay – not bad but not great…meaning it could be better. Admittedly, heavily depending on rideshare can get frustrating sometimes to say the least. Whether it’s having difficulty being matched with a driver (if it’s a busy time or a crowded area), getting into a dirty car that has weird smells, paying an absurd amount to go half a mile because of ‘surge pricing,’ having your driver cancel on you for no reason (just because they can) after you’ve been waiting forever for your ride…I’m telling you my friends, I’ve experienced pretty much any and everything you can think of when it comes to rideshare.
Actually, as I reflect on this as I’m writing this blog post, I can’t believe some of the things I put up with. I’ve definitely had to submit a few reports to Uber (and I’ve 9/10 gotten my money back), but still, I’m now at a point in my life where I don’t have the patience to put up with negative people and experiences. With the pandemic as well as just the overall seriousness of quite literally putting your life into someone else’s hands, I want and deserve more from my riding experience and I’m willing to invest in it.
Introducing…Alto
I was scrolling on Instagram one day and saw two bloggers/influencers I follow complain about the same things I mentioned above with Uber/Lyft and they shared a new rideshare app called Alto. After seeing their rave reviews about it, I became interested in learning more, but of course I was slightly skeptical because I wasn’t sure if this rideshare was legit or if it was just an advertisement/marketing promo being shoved in my face. I looked at Alto’s website, socials, the app itself and decided that I would give it a try, and if I didn’t like it, then no harm, no foul.
The reason that Alto initially captured my attention was due to the fact that the service picked you up directly from the airport. For those reading this who don’t understand what I mean – the Los Angeles airport (LAX) is an absolute mess. They have recently tried to make the airport rideshare pickup experience slightly less chaotic with a new system, where after you get your bags, you take a shuttle bus to a designated area where you get picked up by Uber/Lyft. Again, it’s not bad but it’s not great either. After a long flight, I just want to be picked up and go home, ya know?
After traveling recently, I decided to call an Alto instead of dealing with the airport rideshare zoo. I am not exaggerating when I say that it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. My experience was unlike any other rideshare I’ve had in the past. Imagine upgrading from flying standby to first-class. Yeah, seriously it’s that good. In this blog post, I’m going to give a short review on Alto and why, in my opinion, it’s the best. Even if you have a car, I’m sure at some point you have used or will use rideshare whether it’s to/from the airport or to have drinks with friends. Elevate your ride experience and give Alto a try. No, this Is not a sponsored post, I’m truly just a fan of this service. Here’s why:
@styleprose The Alto experience is safe, clean & consistent. Check it out and thank me later! #rideshare #ridealto #FriendsReunion
♬ original sound – ken?
The Alto Experience – Safe, Clean and Consistent
The key differentiator that makes Alto stand out is the experience. People will forget what you said and what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel…and Alto makes me feel safe and relaxed. All of the Alto cars are 5-star crash rated SUVs that say the name ‘Alto’ on the front, so you know exactly what your ride looks like. It’s always important to check the make and model of any car you’re getting into that you’re unfamiliar with of course, but like a taxi, it’s easier to spot an Alto car, and you don’t have to feel uneasy about who you’re getting in the car with.
Alto drivers are employees of Alto and not contract workers, which means that they are interviewed, trained, background checked, wear a uniform and they aren’t driving their personal car. Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s hard to make it out here, and if you see an opportunity to put some extra $$$ in your pocket, it’s good to take it. However, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten into a Uber/Lyft car with someone who was blasting their own music or driving fast/crazy and basically just not taking their job as a driver seriously. I wouldn’t feel in control of my own ride experience, and instead I felt like I was some hitchhiker just trying to get a ride and a random person was willing to help me out. With Alto, the drivers are respectful and make sure that you’re taken care of.
Luxury VIP Rides & Service
Each Alto car has water, an umbrella and you can control the music and temperature. In the Alto app, you can even set a ‘vibe’ where you can ride in silence or with your favorite tunes. The feel is that of riding in a limousine or a luxury taxi cab. It’s like you have your own personal driver (like the Bravo housewives do). You are in control.
By the way, Alto offers more than just riding services. Through the Alto app, you have access to delivery and logistics services as well as on-demand courier services. I haven’t used those yet, so I can’t speak to how it is, but I’m sure it’s just as great as the car ride.
Another quality that makes Alto so amazing is the cleanliness. Hygiene has always been important, but especially during this pandemic, sanitization is of the utmost importance. Alto drivers wear masks and gloves and the car itself is deep cleaned and disinfected using procedures including EPA-registered disinfectants and HEPA cabin air filters. The car has a custom protective barrier between the driver and passenger compartments with the HEPA filters which removes 99.9% of airborne particles. These are the same filters used in hospitals to provide clean air to patients. Additionally, all of their vehicle interiors are treated with PermaSafe. PermaSafe is an EPA-registered hospital-grade sanitizing mist that kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, including emerging pathogens like COVID-19.
Pricing
Last, but certainly not least, Alto is consistent. What you see is what you get, every single time. No surprises. The fare for each ride is reflected based on the expected time and distance of your ride. All trips are billed a minimum fare of $14 and an 18% service share is added to your final fare. A waiting fee activates after complimentary five minutes. I’m an Alto member (costs $12 a month), which gives me discounts and other benefits, and I decided to become a member because of how often I use ride share. For individual rides, however, here’s the pricing breakdown:
- Base fare: $6.00
- Fee per minute driven: $0.50
- Fee per mile driven: $2.15
- Waiting fee per minute: $0.70
Cons
It wouldn’t be a fair, unbiased review if I didn’t give a holistic approach to my thoughts on Alto, would it? There are pros and cons to everything, so I would be remiss if I didn’t say some of the not so great things about Alto. First of all, the saying you get what you pay for reigns true. Alto is expensive, especially when compared to Uber/Lyft. I personally think it’s worth it, but if you have a lot of small errands to run, it can definitely add up and might be more economical to just drive yourself, walk or opt for another service.
Higher Price Point
So depending on your financial situation, the price is something to keep in mind. I thought that Alto only took you to and from the airport at first, but they literally take you anywhere you want to go. One of the drivers told me that he took someone from Los Angeles to Long Beach (over 20 miles away). Other people have gone shopping while the Alto driver just waits for them…so, it’s all up to you. I wouldn’t say Alto falls on the cheap side of the spectrum, but I also wouldn’t say it’s ridiculously high either. There’s no surge pricing, and you get a fare estimate before you book each ride, so you know approximately how much you’re going to pay before you get in the car.
Wait Time + Limited Availability
Alto is new, which means that it doesn’t have many cars, and it’s still expanding/growing its availability. You can pre-scheule rides, but if you don’t schedule them 24 hours in advance, then you may not get the ride. Also, because there is limited amount of cars, when you call a ride, it’s not going to arrive right away like Uber/Lyft does (<5 minutes). If you’re calling an Alto, book your ride 15-20 minutes before you have to go somewhere to make sure you arrive on time, because the wait time is a bit longer. If you’re someone who runs late (I still am one of those people but I’m working on it), make sure you book in advance!
Alto is also not a 24 hour service. They recently have expanded their hours of operations, but for those who need a ride at super early or very late night hours, you might have tough luck. Currently, Alto is available in Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles. I’m sure as time goes on they will expand, but unfortunately if you’re not in those areas, you won’t have access to the service.
Redefining Rideshare
Overall, I highly recommend keeping Alto on your radar, and give it a try if it’s available in your area. This service is truly redefining rideshare in the best way and represents everything modern transportation should be. I’m so impressed and from a finance perspective, I would definitely invest in this company. If you’re still not convinced after reading this blog post, let me give you a small incentive. Use code GIFT50 to get your first ride free up to $50. That way, you can try out Alto risk-free and see for yourself.
How often do you use rideshare? In way ways do you want to improve your transportation experience? Leave a comment and let me know. Also, check out Alto and thank me later. 😉
