This As Told Essay is based on a conversation with Cynthia Everett, a ride-hailing customer in New York. Business Insider verified the price differences he described with screenshots. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I work in group homes and provide care to people with disabilities. That means a lot of traveling to visit the people I work with.

For a long time, I took Lyft rides, especially when I came home from work at night as a safety precaution. Trips generally lasted 10 to 15 minutes each way and cost up to $20. I also took walks around Brooklyn to see my boyfriend, which last about 15 to 20 minutes.

Then this spring, I went to visit my boyfriend and he asked for a ride home. That’s when I started noticing that Lyft was quoting lower prices than what I was getting. A recent ride I requested would have cost me $45 on Lyft, but when he requested it, it cost me about $24.

I started comparing rideshare prices with him more regularly. We will be in the same place. I will be at his house, which is a few kilometers from where I live. It’s always best for me to let him take the Lyft home.

It doesn’t make sense to me. I request trips more frequently and have accumulated many trips over the years. I also have a 4.9 star rating on Lyft. I also have my Lyft account connected to my DoorDash account, which allows me to get discounts on rides.

I started using public transportation more.

If anything, I figured being a frequent flyer would make me the one with the lowest fares. I feel like I’m penalized for being a frequent user.

I’ve heard similar things happen when booking airline tickets. Your spending habits, travel habits, or other factors can determine how much you pay at any given time.

Is something similar happening with ride-sharing apps?

Since I started comparing rideshare prices, I’ve been using the apps less. I don’t like taking the subway at night, but I’ve been using public transportation to travel more. It’s not ideal, but I know the apps will charge me too much.

I recently saw a report about an effort here in New York to prevent supermarket prices from fluctuating in this way. If they can put an end to that, I think they should be able to put an end to this in ridesharing as well.

Lyft did not respond to a request for comment. Uber and Lyft challenged the conclusions of an investigation last month from Consumer Reports, which found a wide variation in prices for the exact same trip. The companies said it was not possible to compare trips requested by different users on their platforms.

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