Lyft is a great option when you’re traveling to the airport. But with more Lyft ride types than ever, it’s not always obvious which service will suit your situation.
A regular Lyft might not have enough room if you have a larger group or lots of luggage!
Read on to to see the luggage capacity for each Lyft ride type and how to get the best ride for your travel situation.
Which Lyft ride type should you use for trips with luggage?
- Standard Lyft or Extra Comfort can fit one person with most luggage sizes
- Two people with 1 checked back and carry-on luggage will fit Lyft or Extra Comfort
- Lyft XL can accommodate two people with large luggage
- Groups of three with luggage will need a Lyft XL
- Four+ people with several pieces of luggage may need 2 Lyfts or 2 XLs
The luggage capacity of each Lyft ride type
The last thing you want on a hectic travel day is for the wrong type of car to show up. Here’s how to order a vehicle for different group sizes and luggage scenarios.
Lyft & Extra Comfort: For groups up to 4 with small luggage
Lyft and Extra Comfort have room for approximately two checked bags and one or two carry-ons.
A standard Lyft is the best option when riding solo or with a group up to 3 people. If your group of 3 has lots of luggage, upgrade to a Lyft XL to guarantee that there will be enough room for your belongings.
Lyft XL: For larger groups and lots of luggage
Lyft XL is the best ride to order when you have a larger group or if you have lots of luggage.
A Lyft XL can accommodate 6—and sometimes 7—passengers or a group of 4 carrying large checked bags and carry-on luggage.
If you have 3, 4, or 5 checked bags, Lyft XL is the only ride type that will accommodate you and your luggage.
Generally speaking, you should choose an XL ride if you think that the people and luggage in your group can’t fit into the average sedan, like a Toyota Prius or Camry.
Lux Black, Lux Black XL: When you’re willing to pay more for maximum luggage capacity
Lyft Black XLs are typically the largest vehicles available on Lyft, so if you want luxury and plenty of cargo space, go for a Lux Black XL.
A Lux Black XL should easily fit a group of 4 riders with checked bags and carry-on luggage.
But don’t forget that Lyft Lux Black and Black XL are premium services that cost significantly more than a regular Lyft or Lyft XL.
Do Lyft drivers help with your luggage?
Lyft drivers are not required to help you load or unload your luggage, but many drivers will offer to help if they see you approach their car with bags in hand.
But if you choose a premium service like Extra Comfort or Lyft Black, your driver will almost always help with luggage.
Here are the signals to look out for: When you walk up to a car carrying luggage, many drivers will get out of their vehicle and meet you at the trunk to help you.
If they pop the trunk and wait in the driver’s seat, that’s your signal to load the luggage yourself.
About rideshare pickup areas
Many larger airports use a special rideshare pickup point that may be different from the usual arrivals location.
Look out for special instructions when you request your ride and follow signs in the airport. The app will usually direct you to a designated pickup area.
For example, when you land at LAX, you must take a shuttle or walk to the special ‘LAXit’ spot to get a Lyft. A Lyft will not pick you up at the arrivals curb.
Is Lyft available at your airport?
You can use Lyft at most major airports in the US. Check this page at Lyft.com to confirm that Lyft serves the airport you want to visit.
Be aware that some smaller airports might prohibit Lyft pickups and drop-offs.
Another way to check if Lyft is available at an airport is to enter the airport as a destination. If travel is restricted to the airport, you will see an alert letting you know the ride isn’t possible.
Lyft airport fees
Many airports charge a transportation fee that is charged to Lyft riders. The fee is included in your upfront fare estimate. Depending on the city you’re in, your ride receipt may not tell you know exactly how much the fee was.
Scheduling a Lyft ride to the airport
For an important ride to the airport, you might want to schedule your Lyft ride in advance.
To schedule a ride, input your pickup and drop-off locations, then tap the calendar button near the bottom of the screen.
Pick a date and time for your pickup, then confirm your details.
Input a destination to find the schedule feature
Drivers can accept scheduled rides ahead of time, but you will only receive information about your driver and their vehicle around 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup window.
Note that you will be charged a $10 fee if you cancel a scheduled less than an hour before the scheduled pickup window.
Are scheduled Lyft rides reliable enough for important airport trips?
Scheduled Lyfts are generally reliable, but Lyft does not guarantee that you will be matched with a driver when you schedule a ride.
Often, the reliability of a scheduled ride depends on your city and the time of the ride.
If you are in a larger city, Lyft can find you a driver anytime.
But if you’re in a smaller city and you want a ride in the early morning hours, there’s a chance that the app won’t find a driver for you.
Make sure to keep an eye on the app at least 20 minutes before your pickup time to ensure you are matched with a driver.
If you aren’t matched with a driver at least 10 minutes before you need to be picked up, try requesting an Uber or other ride service.
Other options for airport rides
Lyft is a reliable option for the airport. But if you have an airport trip you absolutely can’t miss and don’t want to take your chances with an on-demand service, try a more traditional transportation company.
Black car services like Blacklane and GroundLink will assign you a driver long in advance. Their drivers specialize in pre-arranged rides.
Uber is another good backup if your Lyft request isn’t finding a match quickly enough.
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