[Experience] Called a Taxi but a Flight Attendant Arrived... UT's First Class Event

UT First Class Taxi Event Experience
Friendly Escort... Comfortable Seats
Solo Karaoke and Simple Massage Available
Lottery System Operated for One Month Until September 25

On the first day of the 'UT First Class Taxi' event operated by UTI Co., Ltd., on the 26th, I tried using the UT First Class Taxi set up at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul for a pre-experience. The video was filmed with the consent of the staff.

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] "Hello, thank you for choosing UT First Class Taxi."

On the first day of the 'UT First Class Taxi' event hosted by mobility service UT on the 26th, I visited the Gyeongbokgung parking lot in Seoul to experience the service in advance. The gigantic 'UT Taxi,' reminiscent of an airport limousine, stood out even from a distance in the parking lot. It was also a busy day as the vehicle was put into actual service starting that day.

Upon boarding the UT First Class Taxi, two crew members dressed in uniforms greeted me warmly. The interior was designed to evoke the first-class cabin of an airplane, matching the event's name 'First Class.' The structure resembled a small aircraft, with UT's signature blue and purple lighting harmonizing to create a neat yet exotic atmosphere.

Following the crew's guidance, I completed the first step of a temperature check, then placed my shoes into a bespoke shoe care device installed on the bus and changed into slippers. Check-in via QR code was skipped. This was explained as possible because the event targeted customers who won through the UT application (app), allowing user identity verification based on app reservations.

There were only four seats. Since it was a reservation-only event and due to the COVID-19 situation, it was operated with a small number of passengers. The seats, covered in gray leather, were spacious enough for both average women and men to sit comfortably. Resting my arms on the armrests on both sides, the touch felt soft against the skin. Each seat had a separate neck pillow attached, allowing for more comfortable neck support. Additionally, each seat was equipped with back and lumbar massage functions, available in three modes.

To enjoy relaxation in the city as emphasized by UT, I also requested to use the karaoke service. The crew brought a Kumyoung wireless microphone and launched the karaoke app on a tablet PC placed in front of the seat. Lyrics appeared on the screen in front of the seat, allowing even a reporter unfamiliar with wireless microphones to easily sing along. Putting embarrassment aside, I even tried changing the pitch and tone between male and female voices.

While the various facilities were nice, the greatest impression came from the courteous service. The crew members stood by with manners reminiscent of actual stewards and stewardesses. Simply taking off my shoes made my feet comfortable, and a welcome kit including an eye mask and blanket was provided. Various beverages, sparkling water, coffee welcome drinks, and light snacks were also offered, giving a brief feeling of flying.

However, a disappointing aspect was that apps pre-installed on the tablet PC, such as the OTT service 'Watcha' and the e-book service 'Yes24,' were not logged in. I had expected these apps to be installed for comfortable entertainment, but it was unclear whether users had to log in with their personal IDs themselves.

Though the experience lasted just over 10 minutes and could not cover everything, it provided a fresh feeling in line with the unique event's purpose. It was clear that UT, as a mobility service, wants to increase customer engagement through various attempts. A UT official explained, "This is the first time such a customer event has been held, not only in Korea but also among global services." Previously, UT also held a 'Surprise Taxi' event offering free rides in Tesla Model 3 vehicles.

The UT First Class event, running until the 25th of next month, operates by lottery. Passengers who call UT (affiliated taxis) or mid-sized taxis through the UT app and win the First Class Taxi event lottery are given free ride opportunities. If the winning customer does not want to participate, they can cancel the call.

Winners can use the service in certain areas of Seoul from Monday to Saturday, choosing between two time slots: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Taking a certification photo at the photo zone and posting it on Instagram to verify the ride allows participation in prize events such as winning an '8th generation iPad' or 'Starbucks coupons.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.