Up, Up and Away
Drawing nearly 750,000 attendees with over 500 hot air balloons decorating the sky each year, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a spectacle that needs to be seen in person. At such a highly photographed event, you can't help but want to know what the view is from an actual balloon basket. In past years, short of being or knowing a balloon rider, your chances of taking to the skies were slim. Uber aims to change that with the launch of a "Request Balloon" service on the ride-sharing app.
How it Works:
On Saturday, October 14th, Uber users can begin requesting tickets for a hot air balloon ride through the app beginning at 4 a.m. Those who are successfully connected are picked up in an UberX and taken to the Balloon Fiesta where they will board a hot air balloon provided by Rainbow Ryders - a ride which will likely end in customary champagne toast in a polite farmer's backyard. The service is free with no need to book in advance and, for now, will only be offered on Saturday, the the most popular day of the festival.
