Just 8 miles east of downtown Nashville, the Nashville International Airport serves as a major hub for nearly 17 million passengers a year. Since this airport is so central to downtown, there is a lot of business traffic to and from the city.
There are plenty of opportunities to increase your earnings if you know how to operate as a driver at BNA. In order to get the most earnings from your driving, it’s important to know the rules. We’ve created this guide to help you navigate through picking up and dropping off passengers, permit information, and some rideshare driving strategies.
Here are some topics we’ll be covering:
- What do you need to do before arriving at Nashville International Airport?
- Do you need any permits to drive at Nashville International Airport?
- Where is the rideshare waiting area at Nashville International Airport?
- What are the passenger pick-up rules at Nashville International Airport?
- What are the passenger drop-off rules at Nashville International Airport?
- When is the best time to drive at Nashville International Airport?
- What is the best Nashville International Airport driving strategy?
Let’s dive in!
What should you do before arriving at Nashville International Airport and entering the airport queue?
Before picking up passengers from BNA you’ll need your trade dress, which (as you know) is the Lyft/Uber sticker that you place on your windshield.
Uber sends out this decal when drivers sign up. If you’ve lost yours since then, there are a few easy ways to replace it. You can request that a new one be mailed to you, pick one up at your local Greenlight Hub (be wary of recent closures), or print out a temporary version at home.
You can order a Lyft decal from your Dashboard, and print a temporary emblem to use while waiting for yours to come in the mail.
Where is the Uber and Lyft waiting area at Nashville International Airport?
Drivers can wait for requests in the staging area located at 602 Donelson Pike. Waiting in other areas of the airport is not allowed and could lead to a citation. In the staging area, you will be placed in a virtual queue on your Uber or Lyft app.
Make sure your Uber/Lyft driving app is open at all times in this area so you can be placed in the queue. If you exit out of the driver app, you can lose your spot. If the staging area is full, you will have to leave the airport.
How should Uber and Lyft drivers pick up passengers from the Nashville International Airport?
After you receive a request in your app, you’re ready to go! You can pick up your passenger at the Ground Transportation area, which is right across the main terminal. There’s also a pre-match or pre-dispatch feature at BNA using your Uber and Lyft apps. This feature allows drivers in the staging area to start heading to the pick-up area a few minutes before they receive a requested ride, which helps eliminate unproductive time.
How should Uber and Lyft drivers drop off passengers from the Nashville International Airport?
Drop-offs at BNA are super easy! Just head to the departure area on Level 3. When you are driving in, stay in the far left lane or the commercial drop-off lane as you proceed to your passenger’s carrier of choice. Make sure not to linger in the drop-off area after you’ve completed a trip.
You can also use the re-match feature, which allows you to receive and complete a pick-up without going back to the waiting lot. But be careful because if you wait too long in the dropoff area, you can receive a citation.
When is the best time to drive at the Nashville International Airport?
To learn about arrival and departure times at BNA, check your Gridwise app. You can access this information by going to the Airports tab.
With Gridwise Plus, you can see flight information from three hours back and 24 hours forward. You can also create custom airport alerts for any arrivals, departures, or delays.
What are some good airport strategies?
Pick up a passenger on the way to the airport
Count on Gridwise to let you know when there’s a peak in airport departures, so you can hang around near hotels at that time to maximize your chances of an airport ride.
Don’t cancel on a passenger after you’ve accepted a fare
If you do, you’ll be pushed all the way to the bottom of the queue, making your waiting time start all over again. That’s not something you want to do.
The good news is, if it’s a short ride some companies let you jump back in line after you’ve dropped the passenger off.
Be ready to present your waybill and keep your app updated
A waybill is essentially a receipt of the last trip you completed. Be prepared to present this to airport officials or law enforcement while waiting for arrivals.
Always be prepared
As a driver, you want to be prepared for anything and everything, whether it’s law enforcement, passenger issues, or airport regulations. Make sure your Uber or Lyft decal is placed correctly on your vehicle. Also, always double-check that you have your driver’s license, registration, and insurance.
Now you should be ready to make some actual earnings at BNA like a pro. Happy driving!
