After months of political maneuvering, Uber and Lyft have prevailed in their bid to pick up passengers at Los Angeles International Airport, with service set to begin in the next few weeks. Here’s five tips for using Uber like a pro at LAX.
1. Pick up Uber-X on Departures Level at LAX
Uber fought hard for the right to pick up passengers on the lower arrivals level, where taxis pick up passengers, but lost that battle. Consider this a blessing in disguise, for the arrivals area is often incredibly congested, particularly in the evening hours. Frequent escalators allow easy egress upstairs and if SFO (where Uber must also pick up on departures level) is any indication, this restriction will work out just fine and is actually a good thing.
2. 40 Ubers At A Time May Wait at LAX to Pick Up Passengers
To avoid congestion, only 40 Uber-X drivers at a time may wait in a holding area to pick up passengers. During peak travel periods, that may lead to increased wait times, so factor that in to your decision to use Uber. Don’t think you will do any better with a taxi though — lines are often terrible for taxis as well.
3. Use UberPOOL at LAX to Save Money
UberPOOL is an incredible way to make Uber-X even cheaper. Essentially, you share a ride with someone else going in your direction and it cuts your bill in half. Each carpooler is allowed one companion. UberPOOL has been a great tool for traveling within Los Angeles and I also use it each time I fly into and out of SFO. What if no one is going where you are going? No problem — the driver will wait up to five minutes and then depart with you alone and you’ll still get half-off (and in case you are concerned about the driver, Uber pays the other half).
4. Be Aware of Surge Pricing During Busy Times at LAX
Surge pricing, higher prices during busier periods, is the one downside of using Uber. I’ve seen surge pricing as high as 2.5x in LA and that means it becomes cheaper to use a taxi (assuming you can get one). That said, I’ve never run into surge pricing leaving either SFO or DAL (Dallas Love) airport, presumably because there will always be a healthy supply of drivers wanting to pick up traditionally more lucrative airport fares.
5. There is No Need to Tip LAX Uber Drivers
What I love about Uber (and dislike about Lyft) is that you don’t tip drivers — everything is included in the fare and your credit card is charged directly. You see, I hate carrying cash and generally don’t carry anything more than a $20 bill. Feel free to tip, but I think it is bad idea because it undermines the very concept of Uber and perpetuates a culture of tipping in America (not that tipping is going anywhere, but we can all dream for a Japan-like tipping culture).
Are Uber drivers paid a living wage? Do they earn enough money? I put this question to every Uber drive I ride with, and the answer is resoundingly yes — it is one reason I am a big proponent of Uber. Most Uber drivers do it part-time and are incredibly grateful they can work a couple hours each night for an extra $500 per week.
You travel with only $20 cash on you? That sounds like trouble waiting to happen.
@Bill — correct, just $20 when traveling domestically, but I always have several credit cards and two bank cards, just in case.
Why do u feel uber drivers don’t deserve tip? Why do passengers deserve it expect water or aux cord etc? Yet the drivers don’t deserve tip…. interesting
Do you feel that Uber drivers should not expect a tip if they do not provide water or a charging cord?
I think it’s the service industry and as long as they got u home safely you should tip
My point was u tip ur taxi and expect nothing yet get In an uber expect it all and feel they don’t deserve to be tipped.
Yes, but that was the beautiful premise of Uber before self-entitled drivers spoiled it (and arguably Uber did as well by pricing UberX rides too cheaply).
As a frequent Uber user (when I travel) and a driver, I disagree with the no tipping concept that Uber pushes. Though Uber only takes 20% of fares, they have been lowering prices across the country for the last several months, resulting in lower revenue for the drivers who often times barely break even. Lots of Uber drivers rely on getting a tip, even if just a few bucks. There are a bunch of drivers out there, myself definitely not included, that will give pax who don’t tip a 1 star rating. Once it gets low enough, a lot of drivers will refuse to pick up those pax with low ratings.
Uber should either add a tip option or get rid of this junk “there’s no need to tip”. I don’t except to get a tip, but I sure do appreciate the pax who do. I do what I can to make each ride a fun experience by providing charging cables, candy & mints, XM radio and often times a bottle of water. I am only obligated to provide a ride from A>B, but go the extra mile because I feel like making pax happy.
Daniel … please provide your plate number so if it ever pops up as my driver, I can request another driver. It’s Ubers policy not to tip, and if you are giving a passenger a 1 star because they don’t tip, that is just plain crazy. So you think someone who is drunk and throws up in your car is equal to someone who doesn’t give you 5 bucks? An Uber passenger is only ‘obligated’ to provide you a credit card for the charge, and nothing else. You should drive for Lyft or become a taxi driver.
Do u think we’re obligated to provide water or aux cord etc?
@Sean: I think Daniel means that he appreciates tips, but does not retaliate with a low rating if he does not receive one. Others, apparently, do and I agree that doing that is absolutely disgusting.
I’m curious if any other Uber drivers might chime in here — do you expect tips and do you think Uber should be like Lyft in allowing the option for a tip upon ride completion?
I still hate tipping, I hate the concept and the culture of tipping, and would just as soon have $2-5 added to the fare (depending upon distance) then have to actually choose a tip amount.
After 5 yrs driving lets talk fair in general. So a riders low rating doesn’t really have much harm but a driver gets deactivated and therefore unemployed. Now how fair is it that I can get one starred for lets say not excepting a sexual pass from client or for obeying traffic laws or something as simple as not having water. The rating system is all together unfair both ways. Granted I’m a 4.98 after 5 yrs. Now I’ve also seen entitled people email uber because driver didn’t want to allow their 100 pd drooling shedding dog in the car and getting that driver fired. Or seen others report false things and get drivers deactivated. How fair is this?
@Sean: Clearly you didn’t read my post, as I said I do not penalize people who don’t tip. This is word for word what I posted. Please don’t put words in my mouth.
“There are a bunch of drivers out there, myself definitely not included, that will give pax who don’t tip a 1 star rating”
Daniel … you are correct. My apologies. I missed the key word in your sentence.
I agree with no tipping if UBER did not consistently bring down the fares. But with low fares in some cities I wish I could tip if I wanted and not a necessity but through the app.
Frankly, any Uber driver that retaliates against passengers for not tipping, when Uber specifically tells passengers that tipping is not necessary, is no better than a crooked taxi driver that rigs the meter or intentionally gets lost to jack up the fare. It’s theft, and they should be immediately fired if it can be proven. Unfortunately, since passengers have no way of knowing their ratings, it’s probably impossible to do so.
In my opinon the reason why you like Uber only lyft is because you can outright avoid tipping whereas with Lyft you can add a tip. The article is clearly bias towards Uber and doesn’t take into account the actual cost of operating and maintaining the vechicle. You’re already getting a cheap ride, so how low can you go? Alot of the people on here sound cheap. Im betting some of you probably don’t tip your waiter or waitress who makes $3 / hr? Same concept except an Uber drive isn’t paid hourly.
Hey Mathew,
Don’t visit Vegas with your non tipping way of thinking.
Hey Dee,
I may hate it, but I realize that tipping is a necessary evil in the American culture and I tip generously.
But I won’t tip my Uber drivers (unlike Lyft) because that is not the kind of service Uber is selling/advertising. It is why I love Uber — a breath of fresh air.
Uber drivers use their own cars & pay for gas, oil, trans fluid, tires, repairs, wear & tear, cleaning interior, car washes & air filter. Uber says “no need to tip,” because that is convenient for Uber as a a company but not for the actual driver out on the grind. You picked Uberx because its cheap, you don’t tip because you are cheap! If you love Uber because you don’t have to tip, then just go back to taking the bus!
Yea, tell me exactly why Uber drivers shouldn’t hope for tips, when you’ve got passengers that EXPECT a two block drive into LAX to include food, drink, and auxiliary cables for less than 5$. That price also includes the expectation that you will also deal with ALL their luggage. Yea, it’s gonna kill you to toss your driver a couple bucks to get a cold drink. The price of your fair has been consistently getting lower to compete with other ride share platforms. What exactly do you think that does to the drivers cut?
Why did my comment not get posted?
@Mike: Comments have to go through a moderation filter, so there is some delay in posting a comment and having it published.
Thanks for your comments, but I will not tip my Uber driver and I hate tipping by principle, not out of cheapness.
No your just cheap!
Did you brain not comprehend all the expenses?
Go take the bus instead.
Uber drivers will appreciae it!
Hey Mike, “your” stupid and don’t know basic grammar.
How much extra time should I allow to get to the airport if I use the ride share option
@Sherry, in my experience, you really don’t need any extra times (beyond the five minute waiting period) for another carpooler.
Uber now picks up at arrivals, not departures — perhaps an update to this post would be helpful. Also UberX wasn’t available so my trip was very expensive. Not sure I’ll use it next time as a rental car would’ve been cheaper (with or without a tip).
@Tom: UberX is still fighting the LA City Council to begin service. When it (hopefully) does, it will use the departures level. Right now only Uber Black or above is available — considered a licensed TCP cab and able to pick up and drop off on arrivals level.
@Tom: UberX is still fighting the LA City Council to begin service. When it (hopefully) does, it will use the departures level. Right now only Uber Black or above is available — considered a licensed TCP cab and able to pick up and drop off on arrivals level.
I will be using Uber at the end of this month to/from LAX. I am trying to decide if renting a car provides more freedom justified by the extra price through…I am not too sure. I am Ubering and referring my girlfriend to the app. She is traveling with me, so when she uses the referral promo code from Lax, I am hoping to get a referral bonus ride for our return trip back to LAX, for double savings!
If there is no tip, oh yes that’s very good for customer side.but not driver side.See these day people get greedy. someone said like Japanese system are good.that’s wrong.when you stay ryokan(Japanese style Hotel) you leave tips to them.Yes, generally you don’t have to leave tips in Japan.Europe is same too.for instant if I don’t have to leave tip at restaurant that’s great.but someone who give me good service I don’t feel good. Think what is tip? most service staff get only minimum wage.If you don’t leave tips they will be homeless or live one bedroom…maybe 5or 6 people or maybe more.In U.S.A leave tip is custom.or I would say system.which system is better? Japanese system or U.S system.Both is good.where ever I go if I don’t have to leave tip that’s fine, then when I drive as uber or other service business I don’t expect get tips.but many times I leave tips.lots of people don’t understand about good custom.good custom is to make happy for between two sides. I became uber driver almost a week ago.so far I make only 6 to 7 buck hourly.Pizza delivery men make more than that.I only can say this point any business… both side has to be happy.so far uber system is great for rider and headquarters.I just apply Lift for driver. seems to be they care about more driver side.Anyway I am not interest for driving uber any more.yes,we always looking for cheap labor.but someone who does good performance…you appreciate it.safe comfortable ride is great performance.uber rider you better leave tips.
I am an uber driver, I would never give a one star rating because somebody did not give me a tip although tips are normally given if you appreciate the service was timely good and the driver went the extra mile you want to show appreciation that’s up to the passenger and at the same time it also allows the driver to know that they’re doing a good job no different than a server waiting on people at a restaurant the services good they get a tip if the service is not so good they either get less of a tip or no tip
NO TIP ?!?!?!?
= LOW RATING DRIVERS !!!!
PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE
HAVE SOME RESPECT FOR YOURSELF.
OR ELSE NO ONE WILL.
IF A RIDER DOES NOT TIP IT IS PERFECTLY FINE TO RATE THAT RIDER WITH A LOW RATING.
ACTUALLY THE RATING IS MY RIGHT AS AN ” INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR”.
SEAN :
CRY BABY
YOU ARE A MORRON AND A PRICK.
THE TYPE THAT WRITES BACK TO APOLOGIZE ON FORUMS !!!
You should apologize for being SUCH AN IDIOT
NOT BY MISREADING OTHERS POSTS YOU LITTLE PRICK.
YOU ARE CLUELESS AND A MORRON.
I BET YOU DO NOT TIP ANYWHERE YOU GO.
BUT THAT’S ON YOU.
YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HELP OTHERS TOO OK !!!!
BUT ONE SHOULD !!!
YOU ARE SO IGNORANT YOU BECOME POINTLESS
AND RUDE
AND DISRESPECTFULL
POOR SOUL
I FEEL PITTY FOR YOU.
Uber policy not to tip ???!!!
NO IT IS NOT.
UBER SAYS YOU ARE NOT “REQUIRED” TO TIP.
BUT – BY LAW -YOU ARE NOT “REQUIRED TO TIP ANYWHERE”. !!!
YET WE ALL DO TIP (ME AT LEAST)
OUT OF RESPECT
OUT OF APRECIATION.
Wow
What a mediocre article !
So unknowledgeble it’s sad.
First of all.
UberPOOL should never exist.
It’s HORRIBLE for ALL DRIVERS.
I mean HORRIBLE.
I actually no longer take uberpool rides and that’s after my first day as a driver.
I actually PAID to drive people under uberpool in 6 rides !!!! out of MY POCKET as the fares are way to low.
I ACTUALLY PAID TO TAKE A RIDER TO THEIR DESTINATION !!!!
I DID NOT BROKE EVEN !!!!
I PAID OUT OF MY POCKET TO DRIVE YOU UBER POOL ASS !!!!
POOL IS FOR SWIMMING !!!
MY CAR IS NOT A POOL !!!
WANNA POOL ???
TAKE THE BUS !!!!
The passangers that opt for uberpool with all the respect are a majority of LOW LIFE LOOSERS that you would not come near anywhere else.
NO DRIVER likes uberpool period. I MEAN NONE.
BECAUSE IT’S REALLY REALLY BAD FOR DRIVERS.
Also in regards to drivers being happy with UBER ?!?!?
That’s bizarre that you said that from what you hear they are happy to make $500 more working 2 hours a week.
Maybe the ones that work only a couple hours a night BUT that’s about IT.
LAST BUT NOT DEFITELY LEAST.
YOU INSULTED EVERYONE INTELIGENCE by repeating uber while saying you are “not required to tip”
Oh really ?!?!?
Does that mean that you are EVER required to tip ?!?!?!
NO.
You are not “required” to tip at restautants bor at enywhere else !!!
You do so because you are not a CHEAP SCUMBAG you have respect for others work and or you liked or bot the service provided.
By saying you are not required to tip is LUDACRIS.
Botton line is :
If you TIP anywhere !
You SHOULD TIP YOUR UBER DRIVER.
YES OF COURSE YOU SHOULD TUP YOUR UBER DRIVER.
I always do, just like i do my bartender at a bar or my waitress at a restaurant.
Funny how little kids these days get to put a blog and be so naive and disrespectful with others hard work.
And they spread this type of rudeness and scumbagness around !!!
PRETTY SAD
TO SAY THE LEAST.
Sorry that I wasted my time reading your diatribe. You clearly have issues with anger.
My question is — would you be willing to accept a no-tipping policy in exchange for a higher time and mile rate with Uber? Put another way, are you simply complaining that you don’t earn enough, or do you need the gratification of an “extra” cash payment to feel good about your job?
Wow you’re a cheap bastard. No Driver’s do not make a living wage. No Tips are not included. And if you take Uber pool you’re a jerk.
You sir are a horrible person.
If UberPool is such a bad deal, why are there drivers available?
We don’t have the option of opting out, just the option of denying the request. Which in turn lowers our acceptance rating.
Matthew Klint – you must be from Europe? I believe tipping there is not done because workers are compensated at a predetermined rate before their job.
In the States these service workers are paid after the fact. That leads most of them wholly dependent upon the tips they earn. The reason companies love this is because it keeps their overhead down, by lowering payment to their workers AND it forces the worker to continuously work hard in order for the chance of perhaps being tipped.
I’ve used Uber for years, and have taken UberPool a few times. I’ve now stopped using Pool because saving a few bucks wasn’t worth an extra 15-20 minutes, and that too with a random stranger.
Last month I joined Uber and Lyft, as a driver. I’ve consistently found that tipping on Uber is rare because the company falsely states that tip is included. Yesterday I drove for 7 miles and 20 minutes and made about $5. Sure that’s $15/hr, but not when you factor gas and wear/tear.
Lyft at least has a tipping option in their passenger app – and a bulk of Lyft drivers rely on their tips to sustain their trade. I am planning to scale and eventually phase out of Uber and drive exclusively for Lyft.
As it is within your right to refuse to tip based on principle, it is within my right to refuse UberPool and eventually refuse to consistenly drive for a company and client who undervalue my services.
I get it – as a passenger myself I always want the best deal. But now that I’ve walked in another’s shoes, I have gained something which you seem to lack – empathy. And that’s where tipping comes from.
The only time this past week I was tipped on Uber was from a housemaid I picked up from a mansion to drive her to her humble apartment. She was not rolling in it, but her empathy for knowing the hard lives of service-oriented workers made her pull out an extra $2 to express her gratitude.
To each their own..
I give all clients 3 stars who don’t tip automatically and 1 star for rude behavior.
Matthew, you are a very ungrateful person who seems to feel entitled to good service free. Uber just lost a lawsuit because of their policy on tipping. Drivers are independent contractors who work hard to move you safely from point A to point B. We carry extra rideshare insurance, we have to get an oil change monthly, tires, car washes, extra mileage on our vehicles that lowers the resale value and the list goes on. Correction, there is no tip included in your fare, not only that, we save you 40 to 60% of the cost of a taxi and our pick up is much faster than a taxi; not only that but Uber cut fares approx. 20% in January and drivers had to absorb all of that. Correction, Uber takes 25% from all drivers who signed after October 2015. With all of these benefits received by you and you have the audacity to be this ungrateful while you sit in first class being served by someone who probably have kids that she’s trying to provide the necessities of life. You should really evaluate your SOULLESSNESS.
Larry, I respectfully disagree. The very concept of Uber is partially based upon no tipping. I appreicate that. If you knew me, you’d know I am very generous at restaurants and hotels in tipping but choose not to tip on Uber for the reasons outlined above.
I am not sure if the author of this article is saying the truth about all drivers he asked that if they were Making a livable wage driving for uber. . I can assure you that drivers are making peanuts…and in a lot of cases, loosing money..as of today, 12-30-16, drivers make .90 cents a mile. ..wait..minus uber cuts, 25%, that leaves them with .68 cents a mile..wait, minus 15% for taxes, that leaves them with .55 cents a mile…imagine this…a driver takes a rider 30 miles one way..so, .55 cents × 30 miles= $16.50…but, the same driver has to drive back with no rider the same 30 miles..so, he actually gets $16.50 to drive 60 miles!!! So, all you guys that complain of tipping, you think $16.50 for 60 miles and a lot of times due to traffic you spend over 2 hours just for that amount, you think that’s a livable wage??? And I am not counting many other expenses, wear and tear ( many people put over 5000 miles on their car per month), depreciation, maintenance, etc…now, all guy cheap guys that complain about tipping, why don’t you guys catch a bus..or better, pay a taxi and see if you are OK with that
Wow. No shortage of negativity on these comments.
On the surface, Uber seem to be wanting to improve the experience for the client by making it easy with just one payment, fixed up front. Now for Uber to do this and make everyone happy they need to bump up the wage earned by the drivers to compensate for the loss of tips. Judging by the replies here they are failing to do this – in fact they seem to being doing the opposite by trimming wages. So I understand driver resentment towards Uber.
But, and this is my attitude towards any employee (contractor or otherwise) in any industry – I have zero sympathy and am frankly disgusted by employees who take out their frustration with management or company policy on the client (i.e. one star for not tipping or abusing your passengers for using the service the way it’s advertised). If you have an issue with the policy of a company, don’t work for them. Vote with your feet, go work for Lyft, or a taxi company, or work in a different industry.
Despite the lawsuit, Uber still advertise:
“Tips are not included in the fare, nor are they expected or required.”
Reading this at face value (and imagine I was a new Uber customer unaware of the lawsuit) I would expect that the tip is not required because drivers earn enough compensation from Uber to offset the lack of tips (I know that’s not the reality and I would support an option to leave a tip through the app). However, despite it being clearly stated otherwise, it seems there are a few entitled Uber drivers who think tips ARE expected AND required, and that it’s fair to give someone one star for not tipping. By that logic, I should give one star to drivers who fail to offer me water. But wait you object, offering you water isn’t “expected or required”! You’re right. And by that same logic it’s not fair to one star a passenger who doesn’t tip as a tip is not “expected or required” either.
How about instead of getting mad at the client and taking it out on them, put your energy into getting that sentence removed from the website? Three stars I can understand for a no fuss passenger that just uses the service AS ADVERTISED. Four if they tip, five if they tip well.
Which brings me to the issue with Uber’s star system, which is unfair to begin with. If a driver is polite and gets me from A>B with no fuss – that should be a three star ride. If they provide value added – water, wifi, good music, they’re entertaining or informative, use local knowledge to find a better route that avoids traffic, etc, then that’s what should get them four or five stars. Does everyone provide four or five star service? No. But I am aware that Uber require drivers to maintain above four to maintain employment so, even without the extras, if they do the job satisfactorily I’ll give them five to help them keep their rating up and on the job.
In case you’re wondering because I sound unsympathetic, yes, I tip (including Uber) as I know it’s the culture and it’s not going anywhere. Most drivers here seem reasonable with their comments and I’m sure are representative of the majority, but it’s always those few vocal disrespectful disenfranchised whingers who need to move on, that ruin it for the rest. Thanks to the negative attitudes of those few here I’ll definitely be looking into alternative options such as Lyft (but probably not a bus).
Good luck whatever road you choose; and remember, it’s your choice.
Dennis – your point gets lost amongst the rambling yelling abusive rant – I stopping reading your post because that’s a disrespectful way to communicate.
There is no way an Uber driver can make $500 a week by working only a couple of hours a day. Even if the figure the cost of their vehicle is zero!
100% agree! That is an INSANE assessment!! That would mean drivers are making $40-$50/hr. LMAO!!!!
Mathew, now that Uber introduced tipping into its app, where do you “stand” now.
Seems like it renders this article INVALID, LoL.
I already addressed it–
http://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com/2017/06/21/uber-tipping-app/
Matthew. U sound like a real touchy millennial snowflake. Tipping helps those poor drivers make sense of the bullshit cheap bastards like you give them daily. People like you are so intentionally blind when it comes to others
Matthew you sound so delusional in your writings lol. ‘The culture of tipping’ lmao F O