Ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft have been helping customers get to and from the airport for years. However, they are constantly refining their offerings to better serve travelers.
Because no two travelers or journeys are exactly the same, they’ve added some new features to make your trip to or from the airport faster, easier and more comfortable, no matter who you’re traveling with or where you’re going. Airports have also adjusted where and how travelers are picked up by taxi services due to the increased demand for that type of transport.
Before you travel, here are five things you need to know before landing in an unfamiliar city and taking a ride from the airport.
Related: These are the best credit cards for Uber and Lyft
Pre-order airport rides when you land with Lyft
At some airports, the pick-up area for ride-hailing services may be located just outside the baggage claim area. Others may require you to take a long walk or shuttle ride before starting your ride. If you book your ride too early and do not arrive at the pick-up point before your ride arrives, you may have to pay cancellation or waiting fees. Knowing exactly when to reserve your ride can be difficult, but Lyft now makes it easier.
At select airports, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Midway International Airport (MDW), customers can now pre-order a ride as soon as their flight lands and be paired with a driver if they want. get closer to the pick up area. You can even indicate whether or not you need to pick up checked luggage, and Lyft will take that into account when calculating your pick-up time.
The service is coming soon to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). It will then be rolled out further to major airports across the country, so look for that feature to expand in the future.
Plan a ride from the airport in advance with Uber
Instead of a “reserve when you land” feature, Uber is offering riders the ability to request a ride up to 90 days in advance through Uber Reserve. Travelers can use Uber Reserve to pre-schedule rides at more than 50 major U.S. airports and select international airports in Europe and Africa.
To use the feature, click the ‘Reserve’ icon in the Uber app and choose the date and time of your ride. Your driver will wait at the pick-up location for a maximum of 15 minutes after your scheduled arrival time (this varies per trip). If your plans change, you can cancel your ride free of charge up to 60 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.
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There is also an option to match you with a new driver if your flight is delayed and you land outside the designated pick-up window.
Please note that this service comes at an additional cost, but you will see the full price when you book. Reserving a car usually costs a few dollars more.
Families can request a ride with a car seat
If you’re traveling with a child, Uber and Lyft have features that can help you get to your destination safely.
Lyft has an option called “Car Seat Mode” that pairs riders with drivers who already have a car seat installed in their car. According to the Lyft website, drivers have forward-facing Immi Go car seats; they are designed for children ages 3 and older who are between 31 inches and 52 inches tall and weigh between 22 and 48 pounds.
Related: 8 Best Car Seats for Travel
If this option is available in your city, you will see “car seat” as the ride type when you reserve your ride. There is a $10 surcharge on top of the regular fare.
Similarly, Uber offers an Uber Car Seat service in New York City and Los Angeles. If this option is available when you request your ride, you can reserve a car with a Nuna Rava car seat installed, which is suitable for infants or children weighing between 5 and 50 pounds. When you open the app to reserve your ride, simply choose ‘Car Seat’ as your vehicle type and request your ride. Uber charges $10 for this service, but it’s hard to put a price on the convenience of not lugging around a car seat.
Even if the service is not yet available in your area, you can still visit the site and sign up for the waitlist.
When you reserve a ride matters
As mentioned above, you may experience high cancellation or wait times if you do not arrive at the airport at the scheduled time. For example, at Los Angeles International Airport, you must take the LAX-it shuttle to a designated parking lot after landing (unless you have an Uber Black curbside pick-up). If you book your ride while taxiing down the runway after landing, it is almost certain that you will miss your pick-up time.
A better option is to check the airport website or your chosen ride app for instructions before booking a ride. When you look up instructions online for using Uber at Midway Airport, you will be directed to a website with exact directions on where to leave the airport and where to meet your driver.
In short, timing is important. Do not book a ride with a driver who is six minutes away if you are not six minutes away from the designated pick-up point.
Alternatives to Lyft and Uber from the airport
While Uber and Lyft are by far the most popular taxi services in today’s digital world, they aren’t the only options out there. If you’re looking for something a little more luxurious, give Blacklane a try.
Blacklane offers a variety of services including airport transfers. With Blacklane you can pre-book your airport pick-up, and your driver will pick you up in a luxury car to take you where you need to go. The big difference between Blacklane and other taxi services is that your driver goes the extra mile to monitor your flight for delays and adjust the pick-up time for you.
There are also new startups offering taxis, such as Revel’s bright blue Tesla cars, which are now being picked up at airports in the New York area.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are often times when an old-fashioned yellow taxi is the easiest way to get from the airport to your destination. The taxi pickup area is sometimes closer than the rideshare pickup area, and you don’t have to play the game of timing it right and hoping the driver doesn’t cancel. Instead, you just get in the taxi and go, which certainly has its advantages.
Most airports have dedicated taxi waiting areas, with plenty of yellow taxis ready to take you away. Your waiting time is often determined by the number of other travelers also waiting for a taxi. Increasingly, most taxis also accept credit cards, which is useful if you’re not a big cash traveler.
It is important that you go to the designated area for taxis if you want one, as unauthorized drivers often stop near the airport exit (or even in the baggage claim) and offer you a lift. These drivers are not licensed by the city, and not only will they potentially overcharge you, but you have no guarantee that they are safe drivers or properly insured. We recommend that you avoid this option.
Of course, in some cities, the train or subway can be the most convenient (and affordable) way to get from the airport to the city.
In short
Getting from the airport to your destination is becoming easier as ride-hailing apps improve their offerings. To get the most out of these features, familiarize yourself in advance so that your travel day goes smoothly.
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