Lyft quietly adds wait time fees to most rides
Lyft has quietly added wait time fees for all rides, matching competitor Uber, which has had them since 2016.
"The wait time fee was implemented recently," according to a Lyft spokesperson, who confirmed that Lyft now charges riders a wait fee beginning two minutes after the estimated pickup time for most rides.
Additional charges may apply "depending on how busy it is," per Lyft. These fees do not apply to certain rides, including Shared, Access and Assisted rides, nor do they apply to canceled rides.
"Wait time fees may be charged at a per minute rate when your driver has arrived at the pickup location and has been waiting for more than 2 minutes (5 minutes for Lux Black and Lux Black XL [rides])," the company explains online. "If a driver arrives early, fees may apply 2 minutes after the original estimated pickup time."
Lyft's wait time fees will vary by location, and Lyft declined to provide a range of charges riders could reasonably expect.
Riders who typically need more time to board a vehicle can submit a waiver for exemption from wait time fees if their "disability impacts their ability to board a vehicle within 2 minutes of the driver's arrival at the pickup location," and they should be refunded upon request, per Lyft.
This recent change mirrors Uber's wait time policy, which charges riders a per-minute fee starting two minutes after arrival for most rides, with an additional three-minute buffer for Uber Black and SUV trips, which begin charging a fee five minutes after arrival.
Two minutes may not be enough time to get to the vehicle, especially at busy pickup points such as airports. To avoid being charged a fee on your next Uber or Lyft ride from an airport, consider pre-booking your ride, which both companies allow riders to do up to 30 days in advance at a specific time.
Uber Reserve includes up to 15 minutes of wait time at no extra charge, while Lyft's service requires you to book a 10-minute pickup window.
Read more: Uber expands airport reserve pickup ahead of summer travel congestion
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app