Pune: An unusual fare discrepancy came to light when Suresh Savanhe, a passenger, booked a cab from Pune Airport to Mundhwa using an iPhone and was charged ₹613. In contrast, his sister booked the same route using an Android phone and paid only ₹540. This ₹73 difference has raised questions about the pricing mechanisms of app-based cab services.

Savanhe highlighted the issue on social media platform ‘X,’ questioning, “How can cab companies charge different fares for the same destination based on the type of phone used?” He also lodged a formal complaint regarding this matter.

This incident has revealed a growing trend where iPhone users seem to be charged higher fares compared to Android users. A similar case was reported in Chennai recently, and now a similar issue has surfaced in Pune.

Cab companies calculate fares based on several factors, such as availability of cabs within a 500-meter radius, passenger history, and demand at the time of booking. They also use consumer data to adjust fares, offering discounts to less frequent users to attract them while potentially charging frequent users higher rates.

However, Dr. Keshav Kshirsagar, President of the Indian Gig Workers Forum, clarified that there has been no confirmed policy of charging higher fares specifically for iPhone users.

Factors Affecting Cab Fares:

• Availability of Cabs: Fewer cabs in the vicinity may increase fares, while an ample supply reduces them.

• User Data: Frequent users may sometimes be charged higher, while infrequent users might get discounts to encourage usage.

• Passenger Ratings: Users who give lower ratings to drivers may face higher fares.

• Demand Surge: Fares may rise during high-demand periods.

While cab companies have established rules for fare calculation, the incident has sparked debate about potential bias in fare structures based on phone types.