Uber passengers in Warrington have spotted a new feature on the app that appears to replace the well-known “Uber Priority” option with a different service called “Skip the queue.”
Instead of the familiar Priority ride, the passenger screen displayed two choices under UberX:
- Standard pick-up – a 4-minute wait priced at £8.55 (discounted from £10.06).
- Skip the queue – a “first available car” priced at £11.04 (discounted from £12.99).
The driver who contacted Driver Matty said the option was visible for a short while, but when checked again an hour later, it had completely disappeared.
Glitch or Trial Run?
This raises the question: was it just a temporary glitch, or is Uber quietly trialling a new update? Uber has previously tested features in select areas before rolling them out nationally, and this could be an early sign of changes to come.
The “Skip the queue” option appears to offer passengers the chance to pay extra to be matched with the first available car, rather than waiting for the standard dispatch process.
What It Means for Drivers
If Uber introduces this widely, it could reshape how ride requests are distributed. The fact that passengers can now pay more for a faster match suggests that Uber may not always allocate jobs to the closest driver, something drivers have suspected for years.
Rumours within the trade have long suggested that Uber’s dispatch system considers multiple factors beyond distance, including:
- Driver acceptance rate
- Cancellation rate
- Passenger ratings
- Vehicle type
- Overall driver performance
The new option could reinforce those suspicions by showing that allocation isn’t always about proximity.
Not Just for Airports
Interestingly, the driver who spotted this was in Warrington city centre, not at an airport. That rules out the possibility of this being an airport-related queue-jump feature. Instead, it seems Uber may be experimenting with a wider rollout of a premium service that allows riders to “skip the line” in everyday situations.
What’s Next?
At this stage, Uber has not officially announced any replacement for Uber Priority. But if “Skip the queue” is being trialled, it could become the new paid upgrade for passengers across the UK.
For drivers, it could mean higher-paying fares when passengers opt in – but also fresh questions about transparency in how jobs are assigned.
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