LAX Bans Uber, Lyft, and Taxis From Curbside Pickup

Attention everyone flying in and out of Los Angeles: Getting to and from the airport is about to become much more complicated.

Officials at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) announced Thursday that it will soon ban all curbside pickups by ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft as well as pickups by taxis.

Keith Wilschetz, deputy executive director of the Operations and Emergency Management Division at Los Angeles World Airports, explained to The Los Angeles Times that the airport is ending the practice of curbside pickups to help ease congestion at the airport.

Starting on or about Oct. 29, travelers looking to catch an Uber or Lyft will be taken by shuttle to a parking lot next to Terminal 1, where they can book their rides, said Wilschetz.

“We understand that trying to get into the central terminal area is a challenge and has been for a long time, and we’ve been working to make that much better,” Wilschetz told The Los Angeles Times. “This is a way we can do that.”

According to Wilschetz, passengers will likely have to wait three to five minutes for the shuttle at the airport. Visitors departing the airport are welcome to walk to the parking lot, but should note that walking may take more time than the shuttle.

After arriving at the lot, passengers will have to wait a bit longer for their ride to show up. In total, Wlschetz believes passengers will wait no more than 15 minutes for their ride to arrive.

There is at least one bit of good news: LAX will still allow rideshares and taxis to drop off passengers at terminals.

“We are continuously assessing our operations as we modernize our airport and confront significant construction impacts,” a spokesman told Skift about the upcoming changes. “In the coming weeks and months, we will be sharing some of the new ways that we are working to improve the guest experience and improve traffic conditions at and around LAX, with a focus on an easy, efficient, and amenities-rich experience.”