by Danielle Garrett of PlanIt Travel Designs for The Aha! Connection
My personal first choice regarding how to get to and from the airport is Uber (or you may prefer Lyft). The Uber App just makes it so easy! I always love to chat with my Uber drivers, as they are almost always great conversationalists. My typical questions are where are you from, how long have you lived in Atlanta, do you drive full-time or is this a side gig, and what’s your craziest driver experience. They all have interesting and crazy tales and are typically happy to share!
One of my last trips to the airport introduced me to my favorite driver yet (let’s call her Ann). Ann was super personable, funny, and full of some great stories and tips.
Her first helpful tidbit was regarding airport pick-up and drop-off. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has specific pick-up locations for domestic and international flights. However, you can message your driver directly once you have secured your pick-up. You can request your choice of a pick-up location. Not every driver will be willing to do this, but apparently, most will.
Ann then says to me, did you know that you get rated too?! I had no idea…my husband and I immediately looked at our Uber App to find our rating (I bet you are doing the same now!). Ann told me she knows drivers that will give riders a 1 out of 5 if they don’t tip. OUCH! Half of the time I forget to tip because I’ve quickly moved on to the next thing. Luckily I hadn’t been dinged yet for sometimes forgetting to tip, but I will definitely take the time going forward. Cash is a great way to tip your drivers as well.
Ann also told us some crazy stories about her personal driver experiences. She could write a book! She told us something that I did not realize…drug dealers are running their drug deals via Uber/Lyft to avoid detection. One of those dealers left their bag of weed in Ann’s car, then proceeded to call her and ask if she would meet him to return the weed!! Maybe not the savviest drug dealer out there! She hung up on him and threw it away. There are several Facebook groups where Uber and Lyft drivers chronicle their stories. I’m sure there is a reality TV show in the works!
EXTRA TIPS
I get asked a lot about the best way to get to the airport and if you can pre-book an Uber driver. Yes, you can! I recommend doing this especially if going to the airport during high traffic hours. It can be stressful enough to get out of the house and head to the airport on time…then finding out your Uber driver is going to take an extra 15 minutes to get to you is even more stressful. In the Uber App, the scheduled rides button is located to the right of the “Where to” box. It’s a drop-down menu that allows you to pick your day and time. In the Lyft App, after entering your destination, tap “schedule” below the list of car types.
FOR SAFETY, when your driver arrives, ask them for the name of the passenger they are picking up to ensure you are getting in the correct car. Sit directly behind the driver if alone because it’s physically more difficult for them to reach you.
Another way to book your ride in addition to opening your Uber or Lyft App is via Google Maps. The ride-share option is located under the public transportation choices.
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