Located just 15 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City International Airport served nearly 27 million passengers in 2019. It is a gateway to 100 golf courses statewide, including the world famous Alpine courses in the nearby Wasatch Mountains, and is only an hour away from 10 major ski resorts.
It’s easy to see why this airport is a popular hub for rideshare drivers. Those millions of passengers need rides to and from the aviation hub—and that’s where you come in.
In order to expand your earnings, and be safe, you’ll need to know some different rules and strategies for driving at the Salt Lake City International Airport. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help rideshare drivers navigate SLC. We’ll cover the following topics:
- What should you do before arriving at Salt Lake City International Airport?
- Do you need any permits to drive at Salt Lake City International Airport?
- Where is the rideshare waiting area at Salt Lake City International Airport?
- What are the passenger pick-up rules at Salt Lake City International Airport?
- What are the passenger drop-off rules at Salt Lake City International Airport?
- When is the best time to drive at Salt Lake City International Airport?
- What is the best driving strategy at Salt Lake City International Airport?
Let’s dive in!
What should you do before arriving at Salt Lake International Airport and entering the airport queue?
To pick up passengers at SLC you’ll need your trade dress, which (as you know) is the Lyft or Uber decal that goes on your front passenger windshield facing outward.
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 rideshare waiting area at Salt Lake City International Airport?
There is one staging area at SLC, and when you enter you’ll be placed in a queue. The driver who has been waiting the longest in the staging area gets the next rider request. If the staging area is full, you’ll have to leave and come back or you could risk a citation.
Make sure you’re always in driver mode so you don’t lose your spot in the queue. If a passenger cancels on you, you will not be sent back to the queue; as long as you return within 15 minutes, you’ll be placed in the front of the queue.
How should Uber and Lyft drivers pick up passengers at Salt Lake City International Airport?
After you’ve received a request, you’ll make your way to the airport following the signs that say “Drop-offs,” NOT pickups (which we know is a bit confusing). Once you enter the drop-off area, you will either be picking up passengers across from Door 7 or Door 12, which are in Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. There will be signs that indicate where Uber and Lyft drivers are designated to pick up passengers.
How should Uber and Lyft drivers drop off passengers at the Salt Lake City International Airport?
Dropping off passengers is simple at SLC. Just follow the sign that says “Drop-offs” while you’re entering the airport. Then pull up to the first island to drop off your passengers in the middle lane between terminals 1 and 2.
When is the best time to drive at the Salt Lake City International Airport?
All this information can be found on the Gridwise app in the Airports tab.
In Salt Lake City, the evening seems to be the ideal time to pick up passengers.
What are some good airport strategies?
Pick up some passengers on the way!
You’re already heading to the airport so picking up passengers on the way will only help you more. Hanging around some hotels that are near the airport is a great way to pick up passengers who are airport-bound.
Do not cancel on a passenger after you’ve accepted a fare
If you do, you will be bumped to the bottom of the queue and your wait starts all over again. (This also happens if you log out of driving mode or leave the property while in the queue.) 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.
Always be prepared
Airport officials or law enforcement can appear at any time, so be sure to have your driver’s license, car insurance, and registration nearby in case you need to present it. Again, make sure your decals are displayed in the right area(s) of your vehicle as well.
Sometimes, airport authorities can ask to see your waybill, which shows your last rides on your app. Always be prepared to show that if needed.
That’s pretty much all you need to know to pick up and drop off passengers at Salt Lake City International Airport.
Happy driving!
