Hockey Star's Uber Shock: Driver Demands $5 Aircon Fee in Perth Heatwave
An Australian hockey star has been left baffled and uncomfortable after an Uber driver in Perth attempted to charge her an additional five dollars to use the vehicle's air conditioning during a scorching summer day.
The Sweltering Ride Home
Hockeyroo Lexie Pickering, 24, had just returned to Perth Airport earlier this week following an interstate hockey competition in Hobart. With temperatures in the Western Australian capital soaring to a sweltering 35 degrees Celsius, she decided to splurge fifty dollars on what she hoped would be a comfortable Uber ride home.
The journey started pleasantly enough, with the driver offering assistance with her hockey equipment and engaging in friendly small talk about her travels. The driver even mentioned the opportunity to cool down in the vehicle. However, what Lexie didn't realize was that this comfort would come with an unexpected price tag.
The Shocking Request
According to Lexie's account, the driver allegedly informed her that she would need to pay an additional five-dollar fee if she wanted the air conditioning turned on during the trip.
"I was a bit taken aback and laughed and said no," she revealed to news.com.au. "Then he said to me, 'It's really hot today', and I agreed, but said there's no way I'm paying more for aircon."
Despite her clear refusal, the driver then attempted to use her profession as justification for the unusual charge.
"He insisted I would have money as I played a high level of hockey, insinuating I should be able to pay him more," she recounted, describing the experience as "uncomfortable".
Viral Outrage and Public Reaction
Following the awkward encounter, Lexie left a two-star review for the driver and shared her experience on TikTok with friends. Her video quickly went viral, amassing more than 840,000 views within just two days and sparking widespread disbelief.
Comments flooded in from incredulous viewers who were baffled by the driver's bold request:
- "An Uber driver charging extra for air conditioning is like a cafe charging extra for sugar in coffee," one commenter wrote.
- "$5 is actually daylight robbery," another said.
- Some questioned the legality: "Surely that's illegal???"
- Others wondered about the limits of such charges: "Did he also charge you for the seat belt or the music?"
Uber's Response and Investigation
After the video gained significant attention, Uber issued a formal statement expressing shock at Lexie's experience and apologizing for the incident.
"We apologise to the rider for her experience, and we are actively investigating the matter," a spokesperson for Uber stated. "Fraudulent activity such as driver-partners encouraging riders to pay for any part of their trip outside of the Uber platform is a breach of Uber's Community Guidelines, and this kind of behaviour can result in driver-partners permanently losing access to the app."
The company emphasized that passengers should never be asked to pay extra for standard aspects of a trip, including air conditioning, and encouraged all riders to contact their 24/7 customer support team if they encounter similar issues.
The Aftermath and Resolution
Lexie explained that she spent the remainder of the drive in silence, with the driver never activating the air conditioning but instead rolling down the two front windows as an alternative cooling method.
"I hoped it wasn't anything more malicious, but that he just wanted more money out of me," she said. "It was a hot and quiet drive, and I made it home okay."
Despite this being her first negative experience with Uber, the situation has been resolved. In the comments of her viral video, Lexie confirmed that Uber has since issued a full refund for the entire ride.
This incident has highlighted important questions about service standards and appropriate charges within the rideshare industry, particularly during extreme weather conditions when basic comforts become essential rather than optional.
