Has anyone had any success setting a pickup point at departures rather than arrivals?
Uber drivers are supposed to meet passengers at a designated area which is a bit long walk from the terminal, so I was thinking about hopping on from the arrivals area after they drop off a previous passenger.
I'm arriving in domestic T3.
No. Just have to walk to the designated area.
I don't know about uber, but for taxi drivers the fine is something like $5000 for picking up a passenger from not within the designated areas. I imagine there would be a fine for uber drivers also.
Uber drivers are supposed to meet passengers at a designated area which is a bit long walk from the terminal
Wow that's really lazy. I would enjoy the little walk to stretch the legs after sitting on an airplane for X hours.
Uber app will automatically sets the pickup point at the Priority Pickup area (Green) and you can't change the pin to pinpoint your exact location. A $4 surcharge is automatically added to you when you start. They normally call you to make sure you're at the right pickup point and to make sure you are there first or walking there and not picking up your bags at the carousel. If you try and get picked up at departures or anywhere else they will probably cancel on you because they will either :
1 - Cop a fine picking up elsewhere (especially at Departures), you wont care but they will. They probably won't pick you up at the Qantas terminal either - luck of the draw. There's cameras and Sydney Airport rangers around. I think the fine is $216.
2 - the experience becomes more frustrating as you both try to find each other. They have no idea what you look like and trying to find you amongst a crowd is difficult unless you're paying attention when the car comes. At least at the Priority Pickup area the crowd is smaller. They get a 10 min window to pick you up at the Priority Pickup Area before they get charged more by the airport.
They can pick you up from the Priority Pickup zone for a small ($4?) fee I think? https://goo.gl/maps/fwj98ti8kx62
Still cheaper than the train!
Hmm costs depend on your destination but yes, you're right. But walking to the departure level to get Uber is quicker than walking to the priority pickup zone. When I used Uber from the international terminal, I remember walking a long way from the terminal.
As others have said, Uber will only pick you up from the Priority Pick Up Zone.
On another angle, I've given up on Uber from Sydney Airport. It takes forever for these guys to actually get to the pick up area. They all wait in the KFC car park and then come around. The app always says about 4 minutes, but if they get there in under 15 minutes you're doing well. Many times the guys get stuck in traffic coming around and cancel the job and you're back to square one. Total waste of time.
Yup, everyone is right. Lesson learnt.
And I agree with the comment that it's better to use a taxi from the airport. My first Uber cancelled my request for some reason after making me wait 14 mins (during which the cars position didn't change) and the second one came in a couple of mins. If I didn't have luggage, I wouldn mind walking. After all green pickup point (priority) is nearer than yellow (express).
Thanks everyone!
I had my suspicion that Uber was cheaper than taxis…
my friend flew in late in the evening and paid 90-100 to Woolloomooloo.
I have used GoCatch Ride from Sydney airport and the experience was ok… it did take time to get to the Priority Pickup area, but not too long - maybe 6-7 minutes.
My Uber ride this morning to Woolloomooloo came to $37. Didn't take the highway. How much would it have been by taxi (11.51km distance from the airport)
Not much more, maybe $40 in light traffic.
If work is paying, I usually just get a cab. If the line is too long, a train to circular quay and then a cab.
The Drop off Zone at SKSA departures level is such a shemozzle, please do not add to the problem. It is supposed to be for a quick drop off only. Many people linger, hug, chat, etc. Can't they see the mess around them? Do they feel no shame for adding to the problem?
They won't pick you up outside the Priority Pick up Zone - they pay for the use of that and they'd cop heavy fines for picking up elsewhere.
The walk isn't that bad considering you've probably already trekked 2kms from your arrival gate to the airport entrance.
If you've got min 2 people then Uber to CBD is usually cheaper than the train (not to mention quicker, more comfortable etc) and way cheaper than a taxi.