The long, tiring journey from LAX to your rideshare

Arriving at LAX is one thing. Getting to your Uber is another.

As Los Angeles welcomes hordes of World Cup visitors, tourists are criticizing LAX airport’s rideshare hub — saying a trip to the rideshare hub can add another half hour to an already exhausting journey.

The center was established in October 2019 after the airport banned most curbside pickups, moving Uber and Lyft pickups to the east of Terminal 1.

“It’s confusing,” said Kirsten Bolton, who had just arrived from Austin. “I often fly to Burbank for this reason.”

Passengers can walk to the venue, but it is only an easy walk from Terminals 1 and 7.

“It seems a long way off,” Bolton added. “And it’s not going too well.”

Many travelers have no choice but to take the free bus, but many complain that the coaches are overcrowded and slow.

“It was packed and we were packed,” Leanne Dupuis said when she arrived from Boston. “And I didn’t really know we were going, which seems to be the feeling of a lot of people.”

Depending on the terminal and the time of day, the shuttle ride can take up to 30 minutes.

“It’s not really close,” said Ada Cruz, who is visiting Delaware. “You have to go through traffic before you get here to even ask for a rideshare.”

Another frustration for riders: Many rideshare apps don’t allow travelers to request a ride until they get to the destination.

“When I got here, I had to call for an Uber a few different times… which was a little difficult to say the least,” said James Stephenson after arriving from Fort Lauderdale. “Waiting 15-20 minutes after your six-hour flight, you want to be able to get an Uber as quickly as possible.”

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When Stephenson first left the airport, he was approached by a private driver, but the ride would cost about $20 more than Uber.

“Walking with my guitar, and my guitar, and everything on the bus, I can use it, but it’s too bad,” he said. “It would be more fluid and easier if I was picked up at the airport, and I will pay the cost of that.”

Travelers can still be picked up at the curb – but only if they pay for premium services like Uber Black.

“I’ve seen promoters do it, but I looked at the cost and it was like double the price of Uber now,” said Jenny Liu, a recent USC graduate. “I wish there was a better option. Friends and family coming to pick me up is not really possible… most students don’t have the means to come pick me up.”