UBER at LGA
 

For our upcoming arrival at LGA in New York I thought I might try, for the very first time, using Uber for the trip to mid-town vs. a cab.

I have the app on my phone. I am assuming pick ups at LGA are allowed. The question is exactly where to get it. I am also assuming I do not need to be in the usual taxi line since Uber is not a licensed cab.

So, what do I need to know and thank you.

There are yellow cab lines at LGA and it will not be a problem to get one.

Yes, IMD I know about the cabs but I am thinking, perhaps incorrectly, that Uber might be significantly cheaper. That said, I do not consider "significantly" to be in some car that can barely hold passengers and luggage or something similar.

Usually Uber is not significantly less and it is often more (they have "surge pricing" at busy times). The reason many people use them is at times when it's hard to get a regular cab.

And no, Uber is not allowed in the taxi waiting lot that the regular taxi line pulls from - so they are not on site at the airport. You will need to request one when you land or after you pick up your luggage and have them meet you in front of arrivals at whichever airline you're at.

>>but I am thinking, perhaps incorrectly, that Uber might be significantly cheaper.<<

Sometimes it is cheaper but often uber is more expensive since they operate on dynamic pricing.

Thanks, all. I suppose knowing the times that "dynamic pricing" might be in effect would be helpful.

When you begin to request an Uber, a huge surge pricing notice comes up (if surge pricing is in effect) indicating how much above normal the fare will be--1.7X, 2.3X, and so on. You can't miss it. You then must click I Accept before it takes your request.

Or you can decline and go get a cab.

NewbE, YOURS is the most useful info on this thread and it is appreciated, I can assure you. Thanks very much.

What you also need to know (and asked) is exactly where to meet Uber driver. While no info about LGA, in DCA one goes to the regular passenger car pickup area and looks for the car that matches description and license plate. In BOS they are cracking down on this - and making Uber cars move along faster in the "no standing" lane where everyone sits in their cars and waits for passengers.

A work-around in BOS is to take hotel shuttle to airport hotel and meet Uber there. Hotels are not pleased and now post signs on some shuttles that say "No Uber Pick-up"

Uber.com lists fare from LGA-Times Square for UberX (a regular car - Uber XL is for more than 2 people with lots of luggage) as $40-52. But even the Uber site does not tell you where to meet the damn thing.

Uber has to come to you at LGA - so you have to tell them what terminal you are at. There is no central point since they are not allowed to wait at LGA (versus regular cabs which have a large waiting lot from which the dispatchers pull them for each terminal).

Regardless of dynamic pricing, a car service (including Uber) is almost always more expensive to or from LGA than a regular taxi (unless you end up getting stuck in traffic somewhere). And it's particularly difficult to meet any car service at LGA in my opinion. A regular taxi is almost always the best option for both price and time.

FYI: If you order Uber at LGA, you get picked up wherever any driver can pick up passengers, almost always the outer roadway, but it varies by terminal.

If you want to save money with a regular yellow cab, tell them to take the 59th Street Bridge into Manhattan if you are staying midtown or downtown. You will save the toll...

And if there is traffic on the Grand Central Parkway, ask the driver if he knows the back way to the Bridge, unfortunately few drivers do.

BTW it is now called the Edward I Koch 59th Street Queensboro Feelin' Groovy Bridge

In general, unlike in San Francisco, where Uber can be half the cost of a regular taxi, we have found that Uber in NY is about the same price as a cab.

Yes, tell the driver to take Crescent Street, or 21st Street from LGA to the Feelin'Groovy aka Koch aka 59th Street aka Queensboro Bridge. We take this route (Crescent Street) when driving home from Long Island, or LGA.

<NewbE, YOURS is the most useful info on this thread and it is appreciated, I can assure you. Thanks very much.>

Thanks, Dukey, I'm glad!

I do agree with others that meeting the Uber could be tricky.

Once again, I appreciate all the helpful responses on this as well as my other NYC thread.

<i>In general, unlike in San Francisco, where Uber can be half the cost of a regular taxi, we have found that Uber in NY is about the same price as a cab.</i>

Agree with this although have found the availability of Uber much better than taxis especially during the late afternoon rush & cab shift change.

Generally, I don't find Uber all that useful for airport pickups b/c of having to figure out where to find them. Better for drop off's in many places. But given the flat rate for cabs for airport runs in the NYC area, I'd probably go with a taxi both ways.

Uber from Northern VA (Arlington, Falls Church, etc) is in my experience 2/3 cost of taxi - and that is before tip.