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
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