Uber at SFO: Pickups, Drop Offs, Pricing, & How it Works
With more than 56 million passengers per year, San Francisco Airport is the second busiest in California, right behind Los Angeles International Airport and is the seventh busiest airport in the US.
San Francisco Airport is located within the Bay Area 13 miles (21 km) south of Downtown San Francisco, California. The SFO airport offers both domestic and international flights to major destinations in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. It has four terminals, linked together by the AirTrain, a fast and free train.
To ensure passengers arrive promptly, navigate the airport, and board their flights quickly, it is critical to have information about traveling to and from SFO, since many passengers choose it to arrive or depart.
In this guide we'll explain to you how Uber works at SFO airport. We'll cover pickups, drop offs, pricing, and more. So whether you're a first-time rider or an experienced Uber user, this post will have everything you need to know!
The City and County of San Francisco, through its Airport Commission, controls the general conduct of the public, employees, and commercial users of San Francisco International Airport in their activities related to the use and operation of the airport.
The commission established rules and regulations, which are intended to ensure the safe, secure, and efficient operations of San Francisco International Airport.
These regulations should also help to find a solution to the increased SFO airport congestion.
Whether you are an Uber driver or an Uber rider, you must know and follow these regulations.
Find below a complete breakdown of how Uber works at the San Francisco International Airport for passengers and drivers.
To make things easy for riders and drivers, Uber has designated pickup and drop-off zones at SFO.
If you're arriving in San Francisco and need a ride, Uber is the perfect option. However, you have to know how the SFO pick up works.
Uber pickups at SFO are not anymore available on all terminal levels. Indeed, the San Francisco Airport transportation airport authority gradually banned taxis, Uber, and Lyft from the arrivals curb and ordered them in a rideshare pickup area.
After you've collected your luggage, simply follow the in-app instructions to request a ride to your next destination.
For pickups, your driver will meet you at the Uber zone for your terminal. You can find these zones by following the in-app instructions or by checking the signs in the airport.
Domestic Terminals SFO: The Uber pick-up is located on the Level 5 of the Domestic Garage.
International Terminal: All pickups at the international terminal are on the 2nd curb on the Departures Level (3rd floor, international).
Uber Black, Uber Black SUV, and WAV pickups are permitted to occur at the curbside of Terminals 1-3.
Summarizing: The SFO rideshare pickup zone is an easy 8 minutes walk after the baggage claim. You can follow the sign to the parking garage. Once you get there, find the loading zone corresponding to your pick up area.The pickup area in the garage core are as follows:
If you're new to Uber, here's how it works: first, you'll need to download the app and create an account.
In the United States, Uber offers an entirely cashless experience. This means that you have to enter a payment method to be able to request a vehicle.
Once you've done that, you can request a ride to the airport. Using the schedule option will not save you money but can help you reduce travel stress.
If you do not know how early you should arrive at SFO, our suggestion is that you check with your airline directly for its recommended arrival time.
Keep in mind that generally, for domestic flights, most airlines suggest arriving two hours before departure.
For drop-offs, your driver will take you to the Departures level of your terminal more specifically:
👀 Related Article: Uber at JFK
Follow our step by step tutorial:
Remember: always follow the signs and instructions in the app, so you can be sure you're getting picked up or dropped off at the right place!
To make it clear, please find below the map of the airport pickup zone. If you have more questions or need more information about getting around SFO, you can also consult the FlySFO website.
The ridesharing industry is among the most disrupted by COVID. Hower Uber is still working and offers a wide range of transportation services. Before you request your ride, it is really important that you have a clear idea of all the available options. This will save you time and money since you will avoid cancellation fees.
In San Francisco Uber offers the following ride option:
When you ride with Uber the number of passengers in a ride doesn’t affect the price. However, when calculating the fare for an Uber rides from SFO airport, you should take the following factors into account:
If you want to learn more we suggest you read our complete guide on how Uber calculates the price of a ride, you will also learn how to get an estimate for your next trip.
Lyft pickups are available at all terminals at SFO and are located at the same designated area as all the other rideshare companies.
Once you arrive, you'll see a large Lyft sign and a waiting area.
To request a Lyft ride, open the Lyft app and enter your destination. Lyft will then provide you with an estimate of how much your ride will cost. When you're ready to go, just tap "request" and your driver will be on their way.
Lyft drop-offs are available at all terminals at SFO. Once you arrive, your driver will drop you off at the terminal of your choice.
If you're departing from San Francisco, Bay Area and need a ride to the airport, Lyft is a great option.
Do not forget to schedule your Lyft ride in advance!
💡 PRO TIP: Lyft Pink members get priotity airport pickups
If you haven’t done it yet, we suggest you consult our complete guide with all the taxi options in San Francisco.
Taxis are available 24/7. They will allow you to make the journey to downtown San Francisco in 30/40 minutes (depending on traffic of course). You will have to pay about $50. Again, this price is only an example for the city center. This price will change depending on where you want to go. Take a look at our guide to Flywheel taxi
Wingz is a high-end car service that connects drivers with people who need pre-scheduled rides to and from the airport.
If you are new to the platform you can give it a try and save money with our Wingz promo code. If you are looking for ways to make extra money, take a look at our guide on how to become a Wingz driver.
COMING SOON! Alto is a new car service option available in San Francisco and Palo Alto.
The price of an Uber from San Francisco airport to downtown depends on multiple factors including when you are picked up and the kind of vehicle you choose. Roughly, consumers can expect to pay around $30 with UberX and $45 with UberXL for a trip from the airport to downtown.
If you are an Uber One member, you can get discounted rates and save money on your transportation service.
Here are the estimated costs of an Uber from San Jose to SFO airport in June 2022: Uber X $54.91, UberXL $97.46, Uber Comfort $78.83.
Assuming you're asking if Uber is cheaper than a taxi in San Francisco’s airport, the answer is sometimes. It depends on the specific fare prices at the time you're requesting a ride. In general, Uber tends to be cheaper than a taxi, but there are exceptions. If you're looking to save money on your ride, it's best to compare the fares of both options before requesting a ride.
We recommend that you read our guide on the best taxi fare calculators.
If you want to read more airport guides, you might also be interested in reading up our guide to Uber at LAX, Uber at Denver’s International airport and Uber at Las Vegas airport.
If you’re traveling to, or from SFO and need a ride, Uber is the way to go. With seamless pickups and drop-offs, as well as affordable pricing, it’s no wonder that Uber is one of the most popular ways to get around town. Now that you found out how Uber works at SFO, you can be prepared before your next trip. Have you used Uber at SFO? Let us know about your experience, by sending us an email!
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