‘Uber Moments’ Pilot Lets Users Book Culinary Classes

Delivery and mobile payments

Uber is testing out a service through Uber Eats that will allow customers to book culinary classes, Forbes reported.

The rideshare giant introduced the experiment — called Uber Moments — in an email sent to its San Francisco customers, explaining that they can book an experience for the next month, scheduled until Nov.17. The “Moments” being offered include a $75 class on making Chinese dumplings, as well as a $55 five-course Nigerian dinner.

“We’re always thinking about new ways to enhance the Eats experience,” an Uber spokesperson told Forbes.

If successful, the trial could lead to a new revenue source for Uber, and put the company in direct competition with homesharing startup Airbnb’s Experiences platform, which allows users to book everything from surfing lessons to behind-the-scenes museum tours in over 1,000 cities, with more than 40,000 experiences available. In addition, TripAdvisor-owned Viator offers cooking classes and tours.

In September, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi revealed the company would be combining Eats and rides into the main Uber app.

“What we want to be as a company is the operating system for your daily life,” he said at the time.

Just last week, the company announced Uber Eats had launched a new pickup feature nationwide. The service was tested in San Diego, Phoenix, Dallas and Austin, and it was made available across the country on Oct. 18.

“This gives eaters more flexibility in how they access food and provides them the option to order through Uber Eats and collect the food themselves,” Elspeth Rollert, Uber Eats U.S. head of restaurant brand marketing, said at the time. She added that there are “no phone calls or delivery fees.”

This latest offering follows the July launch of Uber Dine-In, which allows customers to order their meals from the menu and then choose to either deliver themselves to the restaurant ASAP, or (in some cases) schedule an arrival time.