A ride-sharing takeoff
Many airports are revisiting the rules governing providers such as Uber and Lyft.
If all goes as planned, travelers soon may be able to summon ride-share providers such as UberX and Lyft to take them home after they deplane at Los Angeles International Airport.
For passengers, that’s great news — at least, financially speaking. A cab from LAX to downtown can cost $50 or more without tip. Ride-share market leaders Uber and Lyft charge closer to $30 for the same trip, except during periods of high demand when they cost more, sometimes considerably more, a phenomenon Uber calls “surge pricing.”
But the presence of ride sharing, OK’d by the L.A. Board of Airport Commissioners, is not such great news for cab drivers and taxi companies.
The change could occur as soon as September.
For now, ride-share drivers can drop off passengers anywhere at LAX, but they can’t pick up passengers. Under current LAX rules, only professional taxi and livery drivers can collect passengers for money.
Uber does have a business segment that dispatches professional drivers, but that service is more expensive than UberX.
Here’s what you need to know about using ride-share services at various U.S. airports, detailing whether ride-share drop-offs and pickups are allowed.
Southern California
BURBANK BOB HOPE Drop-offs allowed? Yes Pickups allowed? Yes, but not at the main terminal
Details: Ride-share drivers may drop off passengers at Burbank, but they may not pick travelers up on the roadway outside the main terminal.
Ride-share drivers for all companies are permitted to wait in the airport’s parking lots for arriving passengers. The airport charges $3 for 30 minutes of parking, which is usually passed on to riders. ORANGE COUNTY Drop-offs allowed? Yes Pickups allowed? Yes Details: After first permitting only drop-offs, John Wayne Airport earlier this year started allowing rideshare drivers to pick up passengers. So far Lyft, Uber and Wingz have permits.
Each month, all companies must provide the airport with a list of driver activity. The companies pay the airport $2.25 for each airport pickup, just as other commercial drivers pay. LONG BEACH Drop-offs allowed? Yes Pickups allowed? No Details: Anyone may drop off passengers at Long Beach airport, but rideshare drivers are not permitted to pick up passengers at the terminal. The Long Beach City Council would need to make a policy change to permit Lyft, UberX and other ride-share drivers to collect travelers. “Long Beach is exploring this as a city-wide issue,” airport spokeswoman Stephanie Montuya-Morisky said. ONTARIO Drop-offs allowed? Yes Pickups allowed? No, unless driver has a permit
Details: Although Ontario airport is run by the same authority as LAX, the recent action by the L.A. Board of Airport Commissioners is not applicable in Ontario, said Jess Romo, the airport’s manager.
All drivers may drop off passengers at Ontario, but only drivers with permits may pick up travelers, making it impossible for travelers to hail a Lyft or UberX from the terminals. SAN DIEGO
Drop-offs allowed? Yes, under a pilot program Pickups allowed? Ditto Details: Lyft and UberX signed permits in early July that allow drivers for both services to pick up and drop off passengers.
By June 30, the airport operator will determine how to move forward with this pilot project. Ride-sharing companies must pay $3.76 to the airport for each pickup.
Other U.S. airports
CHICAGO O’HARE Drop-offs allowed? Yes Pickups allowed? No Details: Ride-share drivers can drop off passengers at O’Hare, said airport spokesman Owen Kilmer, but they cannot pick up passengers.
More than 6,000 people have signed a petition organized by UberX to ask for a rule change, but Mayor Rahm Emanuel has not budged. DENVER Drop-offs allowed? Yes Pickups allowed? Yes Details: Denver was one of the first major airports in the United States to permit ride-share drivers to make pickups, creating rules late last fall that allowed UberX and Lyft drivers to start collecting passengers from the airport. The airport adds a fee of $2.15 to all fares to and from the airport. One caveat: Ride-share drivers may pick up passengers on Level 4, a different level than the one used by taxis and limos.
LAS VEGAS
Drop-offs allowed? No,
for now
Pickups allowed? No, for now
Details: Ride-share companies are temporarily banned from operating in Nevada. But the Nevada Transportation Authority is working on new rules for ride-share companies, and the cars could be back on the streets later this year. Once the state clears ride-share companies, the airport expects to develop its own rules and fees, said spokesman Chris Jones. NEW YORK’S JFK AND LAGUARDIA Drop-offs allowed? Yes Pickups allowed? Yes Details: Uber and Lyft operate at both major New York airports, but the rules in New York City are slightly different than elsewhere, a Lyft spokeswoman said. Unlike almost everywhere else, where drivers are not officially licensed, New York requires ride-share drivers to obtain a license from the Taxi and Limousine Commission. As a result, at airports, drivers can pick up and drop off passengers just as other livery drivers do. OAKLAND
Drop-offs allowed? Pending
Pickups allowed? Pending
Details: The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners was expected to consider a pilot program at its Thursday meeting, said Mike Zampa, communications director for the Port of Oakland. Under the proposal, ride-share firms that obtain proper permits would pay $3.95 to the airport for all rides in both directions.
PHOENIX Drop-offs allowed? Yes Pickups allowed? Yes,
but ...
Details: Any driver may drop off passengers at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor airport. Sky Harbor also allows ride-share drivers to make airport pickups, but rules for doing so are onerous.
Before drivers pick up passengers, they must first obtain a permit, which includes a background check and a vehicle inspection, said airport spokeswoman Julie Rodriguez. For drivers, the cost is not cheap. Permits cost $100 per quarter, and the background check costs $39. Drivers must also pay $11 for a special tag. PORTLAND Drop-offs allowed? Yes Pickups allowed? Yes Details: In the spring, Lyft, UberX and Wingz got the OK to drop off and pick up passengers in Portland. Drop-offs are easy, but there’s a special process for pickups.
If you’re looking for an UberX, your driver will meet you in an area dedicated to Transportation Network Companies. For both pickups and drop-offs, passengers must pay an extra $2. SAN FRANCISCO Drop-offs allowed? Yes Pickups allowed? Yes Details: Another early adopter, SFO allows drivers from all major ride-share companies, including Lyft, Uber and Wingz, to pick up and drop off passengers. Each company pays a trip fee of $3.85 for pickups or drop-offs, said Doug Yakel, an airport spokesman. SEATTLE-TACOMA Drop-offs allowed? Yes Pickups allowed? No Details: Anyone can drop off passengers, but only Yellow Cab drivers can pick up passengers “on demand” at the airport, said spokesman Perry Cooper.
That contract expires at the end of October, and Perry said the Port of Seattle Commission is considering altering the rules. WASHINGTON DULLES AND REAGAN NATIONAL Drop-offs allowed? Yes Pickups allowed? Yes, with caveats
Details: You can take a ride-share car to and from these Washington-area airports, although a spokesman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority acknowledges the rules governing pickups are antiquated.
Drivers can pick up passengers only if the passengers have pre-arranged the ride before the drivers come on property. When passengers try to hail a ride at Reagan, Uber sends them a message reading, “Airport rules require your driver to call you for your exact location and final destination prior to pick up.”
New rules allowing onairport staging could be approved later this year.