Let’s start with the bottom line: as of 8AM today, UberX can finally pick up passengers at LAX.
UberX can now do pick-ups at LAX
UberX is ridiculously cheap in Los Angeles, and those same prices apply when departing the airport, though there’s also a $4 airport origination fee. Furthermore, those using UberX or UberXL will need to meet their vehicle on the upper level, which is typically for departures. There’s a specially designated area for “ride service” there. This requirement doesn’t apply to licensed UberBLACK cars, who can pick up passengers on the arrivals level.
Just to give an example of an Uber fare estimate between LAX and the Andaz West Hollywood (which I often stay at, and can take up to an hour to get to in traffic), here are the fare estimates for the various types of Ubers:
As you can see, an UberX costs just $23-30 (which is less than half of what a taxi costs), while an UberBLACK costs $73-93. If you don’t yet have an Uber account, you can sign-up and get your first ride of up to $15 for free (which will get you pretty far in LA).
Background on the ridesharing battle at LAX
For a bit of background, several weeks ago Lyft started picking up passengers out of LAX, as they beat Uber to the punch. That’s sort of a similar timeline to what happened at Las Vegas McCarran Airport last year, where Lyft got permission to operate in late-October, while UberX only got permission to operate in early December.
The ridesharing “battle” for LAX has been going on for a long time now, so it’s great to see both Lyft and UberX operating out of LAX at last. Last July, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners approved UberX and Lyft to pick up passengers at the airport, and while they were hoping to launch by August, bureaucracy got in the way. But several months later we do finally have the ridesharing apps at LAX.
Via the Los Angeles Times, it’s interesting to note how successful Lyft has been at LAX so far:
During Lyft’s first two weeks of full operations, drivers picked up and dropped off more than 50,000 people, airport officials said.
That’s huge business, especially when you consider how much smaller Lyft is than Uber.
It’s also interesting to note some of the arrangements here, specifically about the limitations on the number of drivers who can be at the airport at any one time, and the minimum amount the ridesharing services have to pay the airport every month (which I can’t imagine they’ll have any trouble meeting):
No more than 40 drivers per company are allowed in that area at one time.
The LAX permit requires Lyft and Uber to each pay the airport a minimum of $25,000 per month from $4 fees for each drop-off and pickup. The fees, passed along to passengers, will go to the airport’s general operating budget.
Bottom line
UberX being able to pick up passengers at LAX is great news, especially given what a bargain UberX is in the LA-area. I’ll certainly be using them for my future rides from the airport.
Do you plan on using UberX the next time you arrive at LAX?
@Uber Driver,
I hear you - right now Uber seems more focused on adding drivers than passengers which, as a passenger, I'm not thrilled with.
Hope Uber starts partnering with some businesses to build of the fare base - a free item at a restaurant when you show that you arrived on Uber would go far to convince me to plan on not driving. Get that person out of the house without their car...
@Uber Driver,
I hear you - right now Uber seems more focused on adding drivers than passengers which, as a passenger, I'm not thrilled with.
Hope Uber starts partnering with some businesses to build of the fare base - a free item at a restaurant when you show that you arrived on Uber would go far to convince me to plan on not driving. Get that person out of the house without their car and you'll win them over!
That said, the only driver I've even given a 3 star before (I know it's bad to do, but he was horrible, right turn from the left lane because he couldn't read the GPS before the intersection) turns out to also the only driver that I've ever gotten a repeat ride from - go figure, so today I hope was my last time seeing that guy.
Why no UberPool!!!
OK dirt is maybe excessive way to put it, but here are the rates:
Per Minute: $0.15
Per Mile: $0.90
uberX price details for Los Angeles
so they are getting $9 an hour while driving and 36 cents a mile after the 54 cents a mile for depreciation that the IRS allows
I paid $70 for a 20 minute taxi ride from LAX. The guy drove under the speed limit. Looked like he was milking a bigger fare.
On the down side the drivers are getting paid dirt there now.
I just was in LAX, and took an Uber Select to Long Beach - cost $75. On the return I took UberX, and that was only $25. Best option to taxi service ever!
Head of our IT department was the first rider this AM out of LAX and Uber gave him a $500 credit as well as the driver.
Love that pointster!! Hipster Rickshaw!
If it's not a curated, crowdsourced, artisanal piggyback ride, don't even talk to me.
Meh. I'm done with hipster rickshaws.
I am on a flight now from iah to lax and look forward to using this service. Last month from lax to Casablanca. $120 in taxi. Very unpleasant. I hope uber pulls thru.
I am a new ,want sign up, anyone have discount code for Athens Greece