Sachin Walls
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the second busiest airport in the US and the fourth busiest in the world, serving nearly 90 million passengers a year. To reduce congestion, LAX has introduced a new designated pickup area for rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft, called LAX-it or LAX Exit. This change has been met with mixed reviews, with some passengers complaining about poor customer service and long wait times. However, it is still possible to be dropped off at LAX by Uber or Lyft, with personal vehicles able to drop off passengers at the departures level, alongside regular passengers and taxis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Uber drop-off at LAX | Yes |
| Lyft drop-off at LAX | Yes |
| Pick-up location | LAX-it, located east of Terminal 1, accessible via Sky Way |
| Pick-up process | Exit the terminal, get on one of the shuttles to the pick-up area |
| Pick-up area amenities | Bathrooms, umbrellas, phone charging spots, and food trucks |
| Pick-up wait time | Shuttles arrive every 3-5 minutes, with a travel time of up to 15 minutes |
| Ride reservation | Can be reserved up to 90 days in advance |
| Ride options | Uber: UberBlack, UberBlack SUV, UberX, UberXL, Uber Comfort, Uber Select, Uber Pet; Lyft: Lyft Lux, Lyft Lux XL, Lyft Black, Lyft LUX, Lyft XL |
| Ride cost | Depends on the type of ride, length and duration of the trip, tolls, city fees, and current demand |
| Service animals | Allowed |
| Pets | Allowed at the driver's discretion; recommended to select the Uber Pet option |
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What You'll Learn
Uber and Lyft drop-off at LAX
Yes, you can use Uber and Lyft drop-off at LAX Airport.
Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft can drop off at the departure level, alongside regular passengers and taxis. It is recommended that you notify your driver of the airline and, preferably, the terminal, upon entering the airport premises.
If you are travelling with pets, service animals are allowed in Uber rides, and drivers may not refuse a trip because of their presence. However, for pets, it is recommended that you select the Uber Pet option when choosing your ride. Uber Pet is also available with Uber Reserve rides.
If you are travelling with children, it is important to note that, by law, small children are required to be in a car seat. Uber Black, Uber Black XL, Lyft Lux, and Lyft Lux XL can all pick up at the curbs in the terminals.
When requesting an Uber trip for pickup from LAX Airport, the cost will depend on factors such as the type of ride, the estimated length and duration of the trip, tolls, city fees, and current demand for rides. You can see an estimate of the price before requesting by entering your pickup spot and destination.
LAX is undergoing a major transformation, modernizing all terminals and building an elevated automated people mover with three stations inside the terminal and three outside. This will connect to other buildings, including a new multi-modal transit station with connections to two MetroRail lines, a new consolidated Rent-A-Car facility, and a new parking facility to double the available parking.
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Pick-up options
Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are banned from picking up passengers outside the terminal to reduce congestion. Instead, passengers must board a shuttle to the new pick-up area, LAX-it or "LAX Exit", located east of Terminal 1. The shuttle is expected to arrive every 3-5 minutes, with a travel time of up to 15 minutes. From here, passengers can request a ride through the app, with options including UberX, XL, Comfort, Select, Black, and Black SUV, and Lyft Lux XL or Lux. Uber Black and Uber Black SUV rides can pick up passengers directly from the terminal.
For those travelling with children, it may be preferable to opt for a personal vehicle pick-up, as seat belts are not available on the shuttles to secure a car seat. Personal vehicles can pick up passengers directly from the terminal at the outer curb on the lower level.
Uber also offers the option to rent a car, with vehicles available from popular rental car companies.
To ensure a smooth pick-up process, passengers should follow the instructions provided in the app and look out for designated rideshare app pickup zones or other ground transportation signs.
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Ride reservations
For Uber, you can request a ride immediately or reserve one for later in a few simple steps. Uber rides can be reserved up to 90 days in advance, and the driver will be informed of any schedule changes to your flight. The Uber app will provide step-by-step directions for meeting your driver. You can also get an estimate of the price before you request a ride by entering your pickup spot and destination. If you reserve a ride ahead of time, you can lock in the price upfront.
For Lyft, there is no specific information on ride reservations. However, Lyft rides can be requested through the Lyft app, similar to Uber. Therefore, it is likely that Lyft also offers ride reservations, similar to Uber.
At LAX Airport, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are prohibited from picking up passengers outside the terminal, at the curbside. Instead, passengers need to take a shuttle to the designated pick-up area, LAX-it, located east of Terminal 1. This change was implemented to reduce congestion at the airport.
For drop-offs at LAX Airport, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft can drop off passengers at the departure level, alongside regular passengers and taxis. It is recommended to notify your driver of the airline and terminal upon entering the airport premises.
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Service animals and pets
Service animals are allowed in Uber rides to and from LAX Airport, and Uber drivers may not refuse a trip because of the presence of one. However, for pets, it is recommended that you select the Uber Pet option when choosing your ride. If you do not select this option, it is up to the driver's discretion whether they accept your pet in the car. Once a driver is matched, you can message them in the app to confirm.
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Lost and found
If you lose an item at LAX Airport, the special airport police handle all lost and found issues. You can fill out a form on their website or call them on (424) 646-5678 between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm PST, Monday to Friday.
LAX-it is where guests can pick up their taxis, Lyft, Uber, and Opoli when leaving the airport. Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft can drop off at the departure level, alongside regular passengers and taxis. Notify your driver of the airline and preferably the terminal upon entering the airport premises. After getting off the flight, follow the signs that read, "TNC / Rideshares" or "Ride Service Pickup". There are different pick-up stations for each terminal in the airport.
To reduce congestion, LAX has begun construction of an elevated airport train, which is set to open in 2023. As a result, LAX prohibits rideshare services like Lyft, Uber, and taxis from picking up passengers outside of the terminal. The new area is called LAX-it or "LAX Exit".
The pick-up area is a sectioned part of the LAX parking lot, east of Terminal 1. The parking lot now has bathrooms, umbrellas, phone charging spots, and food trucks. It is said to have a capacity for over 2,600 cars an hour. While this change was intended to make getting a ride from the airport more manageable, it has made the process more confusing. Passengers have complained about poor customer service and long wait times.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Uber is available 24/7 for trips to LAX airport. Uber drivers have directions to your destination, including the fastest route, but you can request a specific route if you have preferences.
You can be dropped off at the departures level/curbside of your terminal. UberX, XL, Comfort, or Select users will need to walk or shuttle to LAX-it, located on the arrivals (lower) level curbside. LAX-it shuttles are expected to come every 5 minutes, and the travel time to LAX-it is typically 15 minutes or less.
Service animals are allowed in Ubers to LAX airport, and drivers may not refuse a trip because of their presence. Pets are allowed at the driver's discretion, but it is recommended that you select the Uber Pet option when choosing your ride.
