The Ultimate Airport Guide for Uber, Lyft, and Rideshare Drivers

Driving and picking up from airports can be very lucrative for rideshare drivers. But, you need to know how to navigate the airports to make great money and avoid traffic citations. Read on to discover the ultimate airport guide for Uber, Lyft, and rideshare drivers.

Airports hate congestion. With all the cabs, taxis, Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare drivers, it can get pretty crowded. Because of this, some airports don't allow any rideshare drivers to pick up passengers at all. If airports catch rideshare drivers dropping passengers off in places they aren't supposed to, they can hand you a fine of up to $1,000. A recent SherpaShare survey found that some airports send traffic tickets directly to Uber, which Uber then deducts from the drivers pay!

However, many airports have found a way to work around this problem. Every airport has different rules and regulations, and it's your responsibility to know these things. We've put together a general airport guide on how to successfully work as a rideshare driver in your local airport.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about developing a strategy for rideshare driving at airports.

Rideshare Supported Airports and Regulations

First, check the Lyft and Uber website to find out if your local airport supports rideshare and what their rules and restrictions are. Familiarize yourself with the Designated Pickup Areas, as most major airports enforce designated pickup locations for rideshare. Before you accept your first ride, it’s smart to drive through the airport and locate where the pickup area is located and how to access it. If you miss the pickup point or drive through the incorrect area while your app is ‘on’ you risk getting a ticket and upsetting your passenger. Knowing before you go will always pay off!

Additionally, some airports require you to get a permit before you can work there. Always display your airport permit sticker in the front windshield of your car. Most airports all require that drivers display their Uber or Lyft trade-dress sticker in a proper manner. Check your respective airports' rules and regulations to ensure you are adhering to the terms set by the airport and your rideshare platform.

The FIFO Queue

Most major airports have a geofence that surrounds it. When an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare driver enters this geofence, they enter into the first-in-first-out (or FIFO) queue. A timer will keep track of your estimated wait time and how many cars are ahead of you on the list. The FIFO system only works within the designated, geofenced area and drivers waiting elsewhere will not receive trip requests through their rideshare platform’s app, so make sure you’re within the designated area to receive pings.

You can view the timer whenever you want, even when you aren't driving at the airport. But keep in mind, some airports in smaller cities might not have this timer available. For cities that do use the FIFO queue, it can come in handy.

If you're thinking of heading to the airport for the day, you can check the wait time before you go. Checking the wait time before you go is the best way to ensure you're not wasting valuable drive time and lets you find out what times during the day will give you the most business. If you're new to rideshare driving and curious about finding rides at airports, it's a great idea to check the queue for 3-5 days to start to understand the trends at your local airport.

How Long Are the Wait Times?

Again, this depends on the time of day and a long ride could certainly pay off.

The busiest times of days are the early mornings and late afternoons/evenings. A reasonable time frame to keep in mind would be 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

During these hours, the wait time could be as long as 20 to 25 minutes. In most cases, you'll only have to wait about 10 to 15 minutes.

It's a good idea to study the FIFO queue and the estimated wait times for a few days. This will allow you to get familiar with timeframes with the shortest wait times and most consistent flow of passenger pick up requests at airports.

How Does It Work?

Every time a passenger requests a ride, their request goes into the FIFO queue. The car at the top of the line gets a request first. When that car picks up their passenger, the next request goes to the next car on the list.

So if you're number 12 in the queue, you have to wait for 11 other cars to pick up passenger requests before you get one.

You might have to find somewhere in the airport to wait for a passenger if the FIFO queue is long. Remember, the airport doesn't like dealing with congestion. Don't park your car anywhere you aren't supposed to park it.

This means you should avoid places that have no parking signs, restricted lots, cell-phone lots, employee spots, or rental car spots. The airport also doesn't like driver who circle in and out of the arrival and departure terminals.

Doing any of these things could make the airport remove you from the FIFO queue. If you have to wait inside the airport, find a place that's safe and legal for your rideshare car.

Where to Pick up Your Passenger Pickup

The place you pick up a passenger also varies depending on the airport. Some airports let rideshare drivers pick up their passengers at the terminal curb. Others make drivers meet passengers in upper arrival areas.

Several airports even have a transportation network company lot where passengers can find rideshare drivers. If your airport doesn't have any rules against this, you can wait for passengers in short-term parking lots. You might have to pick up a timed ticket for some short-term lots.

Either way, you'll get all the necessary information you need through the passenger request. If you can pick them up at the terminal curb, you'll get the terminal number and the door number. If the airport has designated rideshare lots, they'll have clear signs leading to it.

You have to know the regulations for your airport before you start driving.

What Happens If Your Passenger Cancels?

If the passenger cancels their request before you have time to pick them up, the FIFO queue will put you back at the top of the list. This ensures you still get a passenger without having to wait in line all over again.

However, this doesn't happen if you cancel the fare yourself. When you withdraw a passenger request, the queue will put you at the bottom. Both Lyft and Uber might deactivate your access to the FIFO queue altogether, as you aren't allowed to cherry pick your passengers.

Also, be conscientious when you're picking up your passenger. Park in the right spots, follow the attendant's instructions or wait in the queue up line. Ignoring safety measures to pick up your passenger can make the rest of the lot congested and result in a ticket or angry passenger.

The Airport Surcharge Fee

When you're working at an airport, the passenger will have to pay an additional airport usage fee for their ride. This fee is only a few dollars, and, as the driver, you don't have to pay it. Though the passenger pays this extra fee for their ride, it doesn't go to you. Instead, the cost goes straight to the airport.

You don't have to pay this fee, and the charge doesn't get added into your pay. But it is something you should be aware of when you're working in airports.

The most important part of working in an airport is knowing what your airport allows and doesn't allow. Remember, knowing the rules and regulations for your airport is your responsibility and vital to your success, efficiency and earnings. Sometimes these rules change, so ensure you sign up for email updates if your airport or rideshare platform provides them.

We hope this airport guide was helpful! Please let us know if you have any questions. We’re always available to help. Just email us at hello@sherpashare.com

airport, ridesharing

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