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Driving at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)

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.

Notice: New staging at CLE airport

Starting on Friday, November 6 the current TNC staging lot on Old Grayton Road will be closed until further notice. Drivers will now utilize the cell phone lot located off Jackson Road just east of the airport.

(See the map below for more details)

Airport Regulations

Per Airport regulations, earners 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 earners may incur.

  • When on airport property, the Uber driver app must be open at all times (earners 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 Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The FIFO system only works within the designated, geofenced area and earners waiting elsewhere will not receive trip requests through the Uber driver app.

Pickups at the airport

How pickup requests work

It is 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 queue at airports such as CLE. This means that, in order to receive a trip request, you need to enter the cell phone lot, which is serving as the designated waiting area. You will then be placed in a virtual queue.

Some things to know about queues:

  • Proximity to the terminal within the zone does not create an advantage for earners or move you closer to the top of the queue
  • If there are no earners in the zone, trip requests will go to Uber earners in the area - outside of the zone - based on proximity and other factors. You can lose your place in line if:
  1. You go offline on your Uber driver app
  2. You drive outside the zone
  3. You do not accept multiple incoming trip requests in a row
  4. You cancel multiple rides (if the rider cancels, you will remain at the top of the queue)

Picking up your rider

Riders can get picked up and dropped off curbside at both the upper and lower terminals. Once you accept a trip request, the app will let you know at which door your rider is waiting. See the map below for more details.

Dropoffs at the airport

How dropoff requests work

Based on the operating agreement with the airport, as of February 18, riders can be dropped off at the terminal curb.

(See the map below for more details)

When you drop off a rider at the airport, you may receive a new request quickly instead of having to return to the waiting lot and enter the queue. This feature is called Re-Match. If you don’t receive a request immediately after your dropoff, this means there are no Re-Match trips available and you should go to the waiting lot if you would like to receive another airport request.

New staging at CLE airport