Bolt Introduces Flight Tracking Feature for Airport Pickups

Ride-hailing company Bolt introduced a new flight tracking service aimed at improving the experience for customers scheduling airport pickups. The new feature allows users to link their flight information directly to their ride booking for smoother coordination and reduced wait times.

The service automatically adjusts the pick-up time if a flight is delayed or cancels the ride altogether in the event of a cancellation, at no additional cost to the customer. Bolt will also monitor the flight's status and automatically update the ride’s schedule based on any changes.

Dimmy Kanyankole, Bolt’s General Manager for Kenya and Tanzania, highlighted the benefits of the update, particularly for frequent travelers and business users.

“With Flight Tracking for Scheduled Rides, our private and Bolt Business customers can now sync their flight details when scheduling a ride to pick them up from the airport. If their flight is delayed or cancelled, we’ll automatically adjust their Scheduled Ride’s pick-up time or cancel the trip at no extra cost,” said Kanyankole.

This enhancement follows the extension of the booking window for scheduled rides to 90 days last year. Bolt has also expanded its Scheduled Rides categories, offering more options tailored to local markets.

“That means they can spend as little time at the airport as possible with guaranteed rides on arrival, even at off-peak or busy hours,” Kanyankole added.

To use the feature, riders can select the ‘Schedule’ option on the Bolt app's home screen, input their pick-up location (airport) and destination, and then add their flight details. Users can enter the airline, flight number, landing date, or departure city, and select the exact flight. They also have the option to specify how many minutes after landing they would like to be picked up.