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Driving at Tocumen International Airport (PTY)

Airports can be complicated places, especially for drivers. But knowing the basics, and getting information in advance about your local airport, can help make sure you’re prepared for your first pickup or dropoff.

Airport regulations

You can be at any point in the FIFO when receiving a ride while using the Uber app. In accordance with Tocumen SA provisions, you must pick up users within the parking area. For a better experience within this area, we recommend following the following steps:

  1. Enter through the arrivals area and go first to pay the parking fee before picking up the client.
  2. Park in a designated parking space, so as not to affect traffic within the parking area.
  3. You can use any of the machines found in the parking area, but we recommend the ones between rows 7 and 8. If you see that they are busy, you can use any of the two machines found inside the airport, entering through the main doors. Keep in mind that after paying your parking ticket you have up to 15 minutes to leave the area , at no additional cost.
  4. Go to the meeting point (rows 15-18) with the user. Remember that helping with luggage when boarding or getting off is part of good service and can help you improve your rating on the platform.
  5. You are now ready to start the journey!

What happens if the user wants me to pick it up at a different point?

When requesting a trip using the Uber app, the user is told that you can only pick them up in parking lots 15 to 18. Picking up passengers outside the designated parking area is completely prohibited by Tocumen SA and may result in traffic fines. If the rider insists that you pick them up in a different area, politely explain the situation and the rider will decide whether to move to parking lots 15-18 or cancel the trip.

Conduct and traffic regulations

It is important to keep in mind that within the airport there are conduct and traffic regulations that are under the provisions of the Transit and Land Transportation Authority, as well as the authorities of Tocumen SA. Failure to comply with these regulations may lead to traffic fines. Likewise, any violation of the Terms and Conditions of service established by Uber may result in the deactivation of the account.

How airport trips work

1. Accepting and taking trips happens the same way as usual.

2. The app will show you where your local airport’s approved pickup or dropoff location is. It might be different from where you’d go if you weren’t driving with Uber; airports sometimes have designated zones for Uber and other ridesharing services.

3. If you’re dropping off a rider, you can ask them if their flight is domestic or international and what airline they’re flying, then you can look for signs that match what they tell you.

Staging information

At the Tocumen International Airport you will find a FIFO system (First In First Out) through which Driver Partners who are in the perimeter wait in a line and receive transfers in the order in which they arrived. . That is to say that “the first Driver Partner that enters the FIFO is the first Driver Partner that receives a transfer.”

When you are within the perimeter (see image) of the FIFO, you will be able to see your status within it on your phone. Remember that neither the “Cellphone Parking” nor the interior of the airport building are included in the FIFO.

When does a Driver Partner’s waiting time restart?

  • When leaving the FIFO perimeter
  • When rejecting a travel request
  • When ending or canceling a trip
  • When disconnecting from the Uber app
  • If your data falls even temporarily

Position protection in the FIFO

If you make a trip using the Uber app within a short distance from Tocumen International Airport, your place in line will be held for 6 hours so you can quickly get another ride from the same starting point. If a trip qualifies for short trip protection, we’ll let you know in the Uber app before you accept it.

When is a Driver Partner’s waiting time not reset?

When the user cancels you.

What is not tolerable?

Any type of action to take fraudulent advantage such as sharing accounts and/or faking positioning.