Just in time for the biggest drinking night of the year, Uber is giving users a new way to show their gratitude for drivers.
The ride-hailing platform's new feature, Compliments, lets you say thanks to your driver with the press of a button, for those times when leaving five stars just isn't enough.
The buttons let you easily thank the driver for their excellent service, great conversation, expert navigation, cool or tidy car, awesome music, amenities, for being entertaining, or going above and beyond. You can also expound on your experience with a thank you note.
When you leave a compliment for a driver, they'll get a notification about it on their home screen. The app will also keep track of how many compliments a driver has amassed. If you're a driver and don't get a lot of compliments, not to worry: an Uber spokesman told PCMag that drivers will not be dinged for not receiving a certain number of compliments.
Uber in its announcement said that riders already often leave notes in the app letting their driver know what he or she did to make the journey enjoyable.
"Sometimes the small things — like playing the perfect song at the right time or lending a hand with a heavy piece of luggage — can make a big difference," Uber wrote. "We want to make sure that message gets through."
Meanwhile, Uber earlier this month rolled out a redesigned version of its mobile app for the first time in four years with upgrades that learn from your routines and offer more options based on where you're going. Frequent users will now see "shortcuts" that predict where you might be headed next; one tap will take you to work, home, the gym, or the donut shop. You can also connect your calendar, and Uber will automatically turn meetings and appointments into shortcuts.