Airport regulations
Per airport regulations, drivers must adhere to the terms below. Failure to do so may result in the receipt of a citation or even restriction of access to airport trips. Please note that Uber will not pay for any citations that drivers may incur.
- When on airport property, the Driver app must be open at all times (drivers must not go offline until exiting the airport area).
- We’ve instituted a special “first vehicle in is the first one out” (FIFO) system at Oakland International Airport. The FIFO system only works within the designated geofenced area; drivers waiting elsewhere will not receive trip requests through the Driver app.
- The Uber vehicle decal (trade dress) must always be displayed on the front passenger windshield and rear passenger windshield facing outward. The unique airport placard must be displayed beneath the front trade dress. Drivers can obtain this Uber decal at their local Greenlight Hub or fill out this form to receive one by mail. Additional requirements, if any, for obtaining this placard will be detailed below.
- All dropoffs are permitted at any terminal, but pickups must occur on the third curb, between stops 3C2 and 3C9.
- You may be asked to show your waybill. To access it, tap Waybill in your app.
- It is illegal under state and federal law for anyone, including rideshare drivers, to engage in price fixing. This includes agreeing or coordinating with other drivers (in airport staging lots or elsewhere) on pricing and surge pricing. The law requires that drivers must make decisions about pricing and surge pricing on their own.
Pro tips
- Driver cancellations: Trip cancellations can take away from the great Uber experience that riders and drivers expect. Please remember that drivers who improperly use the app and intentionally disrupt the service, including excessively canceling rides or asking riders to cancel rides, may lose the ability to receive trip requests to and from the airport through the Driver app.
- Ground transportation and airport security staff: Airport rules are as important as traffic rules. Airports expect drivers to follow the instructions of the airport staff.
Pickups at the airport
It’s easy to receive trip requests from riders leaving the airport. However, these trips work a little differently than other requests.
Waiting for requests
Uber’s technology uses a first-in, first-out (FIFO) queue. This means that, in order to receive a trip request, you need to enter the designated waiting area, located within a FIFO zone. You will then be placed in a virtual queue where the first driver to enter will be the first to receive a trip request.
Based on the operating agreement with the airport, the FIFO zone covers all airport grounds, as shown in the map.
Some things to know about FIFO queues
- Proximity to the terminal within the FIFO zone does not create an advantage for drivers or move you closer to the top of the queue
- If there are no drivers in the FIFO zone, trip requests will go to drivers in the area—outside of the FIFO zone—based on proximity and other factors
- You can lose your place in line if:
- You go offline on your Driver app
- You drive outside the FIFO zone
- You do not accept multiple incoming trip requests in a row
- You cancel multiple rides (if the rider cancels, you will remain at the top of the queue)
Picking up your rider
Once you accept a trip request, the pickup location at OAK is on the third curb, between stops 3C2 and 3C9. If the airport is crowded, you may want to consider contacting your rider to confirm their exact location. For UberPool requests, you may have to circle the airport to pick up a second or third passenger.
Prematch feature
In addition to regular requests, we’ve also launched the Prematch feature at OAK. Prematch will prompt drivers in the staging lot to begin heading toward the airport terminal a few minutes before an anticipated ride request. That way, drivers can get as close as possible to the terminal before receiving a pickup request, which minimizes idle time.
Dropoffs at the airport
Based on the operating agreement with the airport, riders can be dropped off at their requested terminal on the Departures level. It’s important to keep the Driver app on until you exit airport property. If you’d like to receive a trip request afterward, you’ll need to keep the Driver app on to maintain your place in the FIFO queue.
Rematch feature
We’ve also launched the Rematch feature at this airport. To qualify for Rematch, drivers must first complete a dropoff at the airport. Rematch then allows any driver who just completed an airport dropoff to temporarily receive a pickup request without having to go to the Staging Lot. Once you drop off at the airport, if you wish, you can head toward the staging lot to wait in the FIFO queue for an airport request. Upon navigation to the lot, you may receive a Rematch request. Airport regulations prohibit loitering in the terminal area. Idling at the curb may result in a citation from airport authorities.
Staging information
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