Navigating ride-hailing services: Strategies to ensure you always have a ride available

Ride-hailing apps have greatly simplified our lives. When I resided on the West Side of New York City over a decade ago, I struggled to find a cab without trekking several blocks east. Just a year later, I experienced a significant change when I could easily summon an Uber using my iPhone.

Traveling to and from airports also felt more straightforward and perhaps even cheaper back then. Instead of renting a car in certain cities, I could count on Uber to get me virtually anywhere. Typically, when heading to Los Angeles, I'd opt for a rental car, but with costly and scarce parking, I chose a ride-hailing service during my last visit.

It turned out to be more economical and saved me time, as I no longer had to search for a parking spot. For these reasons, I plan to keep using alternative transportation options while traveling. However, a few recent experiences have made me reconsider our reliance on ride-hailing services, especially in specific locations and at certain times of the day.

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Once, I had a 6:15 a.m. flight from Gainesville, Florida (GNV) to LaGuardia Airport in New York City (LGA), with a layover in Charlotte, North Carolina. The driver who picked me up at 4:30 a.m. mentioned how fortunate I was to find a driver at that hour since the roads are usually empty then.

On a subsequent trip to Anaheim, flying out of LAX around 6 a.m., I worried I might face a similar scenario. Since Anaheim is 50 minutes from LAX on those rare traffic-free days, I opted to change hotels to stay right next to LAX. Thankfully, the Marriott accommodated my request to switch hotels the night before, and I had no trouble reaching the airport on time.

Reasons for missing our flight

Jumping ahead to a recent journey to Paso Robles, California, where I had a 6:30 a.m. flight from San Luis Obispo Airport, just 25 minutes away. Once again, I felt anxious about my timing. I tried to change hotels, but this time, the Marriott wouldn’t allow me to switch (due to it being prepaid and a franchise).

The front desk clerk recommended I utilize one of the ride-scheduling services offered by Uber and Lyft. I booked an Uber for 4:30 the following morning, and it confirmed my ride, which remained confirmed when we woke up. However, at 4:30 a.m., right when the ride was due, I received a notification that it had been canceled. My husband and I then spent the next 90 minutes trying to request another car through both Uber and Lyft, but we were unsuccessful. Both apps showed no available cars nearby.

At that hour, there were no ride services, no rental cars, and no taxis available, which resulted in us missing our flight. To their credit, Uber did issue a sincere apology. Nevertheless, this experience prompted me to seek ways to prevent similar situations for other travelers. It felt utterly helpless sitting in the hotel lobby, watching the clock, knowing we were going to miss our flight. Getting another flight that day turned out to be complicated (which involved getting a ride from a friend to LAX). I've since realized my experience isn’t unique.

Travelers share their experiences

Lily Augustadt from Knoxville, Tennessee, shared with TPG, "I scheduled an Uber from my home to the airport days ahead, but on the morning of my flight, all I received was 'no drivers available in the area.' I had to drive to the airport and pay for parking last minute to avoid missing my flight."

Stephanie Hardiman Simon was trying to catch a 6:30 a.m. flight from Memphis last year and attempted to request an Uber around 4 a.m. The hotel staff assured her she wouldn't have any issues since "people are out late coming back from the clubs." However, things didn’t go as expected. "There were no Ubers, Lyfts, or anything else available the next morning. And the hotel staff were nowhere to be found when I left. I had to search for livery services on Yelp and found a great guy who picked me up within 15 minutes. I’m grateful I woke up early enough to navigate the chaos and my habit of arriving at the airport ahead of time."

No assurances

I contacted both Uber and Lyft to gain some clarity on the situation.

Uber highlighted that their Reserve and new Travel options are likely the best choices for those wanting to book rides in advance. Through my exploration, I discovered that the traditional scheduling feature on Uber doesn’t connect a driver with a rider beforehand, whereas the newer "Reserve" option aims to do just that. According to Uber.com, "An Uber Reserve trip is booked, and a driver is assigned before the scheduled time. Once a driver is assigned to your trip, the fare is locked and will not fluctuate." Even with this option, the ride remains unconfirmed until you receive a notification that a driver has been matched with you, which still offers no guarantees.

However, if you book one of Uber's Premium options, like Premier Black or Premium Black SUV at least 2 hours ahead, you'll receive $50 in Uber Cash if the driver cancels or is over 5 minutes late. On the other hand, keep in mind that if you cancel your Reserve ride less than an hour before pickup, you may incur a cancellation fee that could be equal to the full fare, depending on your chosen class.

Lyft also offers a scheduling option, but their website clearly states, "We can't guarantee that a driver will be available in your area at the specific time you request the ride." However, the company does utilize current market conditions and historical trends to encourage drivers to log on during peak demand times, including early mornings and late nights.

What to consider when a ride isn't accessible

If you depend on a ride-hailing service during the early morning or late night and want to avoid the risk of an unavailable scheduled ride, it may be wise to explore alternative options that you can arrange and confirm ahead of time. Christine Parfitt Schwartz mentions that whenever she tries to order an Uber from Medford, Oregon (MFR), she consistently receives a "not available" message. She has since reverted to the traditional method of calling a taxi.

CF Gilberg shares that on two occasions, he had to switch from securing a ride at an airport to spontaneously renting a vehicle. He recalls one trip to Denver where he attempted to get an Uber/Lyft to downtown. "I couldn't get one to arrive in less than 45 minutes, and prices ranged from $125 to $150 when a ride finally became available. I ended up renting an Avis car—a brand-new Escalade. It cost me $35 for the night, plus $4 for gas, and I found free street parking overnight. I returned it at the downtown location the next day."

There are also black car services that can be booked in advance. When opting for these services, remember to read reviews and make your reservation ahead of time. Keep in mind that these services often come with cancellation fees and can, in some instances, be considerably pricier than ride-hailing services or taxis.

If you need to get to the airport in your hometown and have a vehicle, it's smart to crunch some numbers.

Driving your own car to the airport and parking could be worthwhile. For example, in Miami, I choose to park at Miami International Airport for trips of 4 days or less. The rate is $17 per day in MIA's main garages, totaling $68 for four days. This amount is comparable to a round-trip Uber or Lyft for me. However, for trips lasting a week or more, parking costs can become steep—$170 for a 10-day trip. Many airports also feature park-and-ride options at lower rates, so if time allows, that might be worth considering.

That said, I’ve never struggled to get an Uber in Miami. Recently, however, I’ve noticed challenges with finding parking spaces at MIA. In fact, many airports nationwide are facing parking challenges as more travelers opt to drive themselves. If your local airport has similar difficulties, be sure to allocate extra time for parking.

Key takeaway

When planning a ride to the airport, there are numerous factors to take into account. The most important aspect is to prepare in advance and conduct thorough research. In major cities like Chicago, Miami, or NYC, ride-hailing services are often the simplest and possibly the most cost-effective option. However, if you find yourself in a smaller city or far from the airport, especially considering your flight time, it may be wise to look into alternative transportation methods.