Long-distance Uber/Lyft ride around Christmas
I am flying into Atlanta in the afternoon the day before Christmas. My final destination is a 2-hour ride from Atlanta, in an area that is not connected to Atlanta through public transport or regular shuttle services (specifically, around Clemson). Unfortunately no-one can pick me up at the airport.
The cheapest and most comfortable option I have found so far would be to call an Uber/Lyft once I am out of the terminal.
(I will be tired from the flight and I would rather not drive. Besides, with the Christmas week-end, I would have to book a car for 4 full days, which, together with the drop-off being different from where I am getting the car, makes it more expensive than a 2-hour Uber/Lyft ride. I am also reluctant to book a Uber/Lyft "planned trip" in advance as my flight could be delayed.)
My question is:
- How likely am I to find a Uber/Lyft driver willing to take me on such a 2-hour drive around that time?
- Does anyone have experience with such long-distance Uber/Lyft drives, especially around Atlanta?
- Is finding a driver for such long-distance trips a no-brainer or a gamble?
Best Answer
It's not a guarantee. You could look on taskrabbit or something and see if there's someone who could take you, but otherwise you may have to risk it with uber.
Saying that, it's certainly possible. Spoke with an uber driver yesterday - they don't get told where the passenger is going until they're in the car, and he liked the surprise of it.
However, a few months ago a passenger got in at the airport and it was a 3.5 hour drive! He double checked that was where she wanted to go, then took her all the way. Got a great hourly rate out of that one, and managed to pick up another person half way back.
The risk you have at busy times is of course surge pricing - it could throw your estimate of the price well out of reach....
You could also load up the uber map at the time you plan on landing the next few days, just to get an idea of how many ubers are around (I did this when wondering about a 4am pickup).
Pictures about "Long-distance Uber/Lyft ride around Christmas"
Is Christmas Day busy for Uber?
Christmas Day is pretty slow itself but the day(s) before and after are jam packed with travelers who will be looking for rides, which makes this a best day to drive for Uber. It tends to be hit or miss if people will tip better because of the holiday.Is it hard to get an Uber on Christmas?
Expect each week to get busier as riders head out to Christmas parties. Tuesday and Wednesday nights will grow in demand too, as people celebrate the season more often.Is Uber or Lyft cheaper for long distance?
According to average ride costs, Uber is the cheaper company with the average trip costing $20 compared to the $27 you'd spend for an average Lyft trip.Does Lyft offer long distance?
Can rides go outside the coverage area? You can take a Lyft outside of the coverage area as long as the ride doesn't exceed a distance 100 miles total. Lyft does not support crossing international borders. Drivers have the right to deny these kinds of passenger requests.Should You Drive for Lyft During Christmas?
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Meruyert Gonullu, Gustavo Fring, Samson Katt, Kelly L