Both Uber or Lyft rides are allowed at Oakland International Airport (OAK). If you are new to rideshare services at OAK, this guide may address most of your questions.
Drop-Offs
If you’re taking an Uber or Lyft ride to OAK, simply inform your driver the airline you are taking, then you will be taken to the curbside in the departures area serving your airline.
UberX or Standard Lyft is probably the best option for most travelers who on a time constraint. With both services, you will be driven directly to the airport. If you are traveling with a group, you may consider an UberXL, which seats up to four riders. Although it costs more than UberX, it is still a rather low cost option for a group with several pieces of luggage. Alternatively, an UberSUV or Lyft Plus with slightly higher cost can seat up to six passengers and comes with a high-end black vehicle driven by a commercially licensed driver.
UberPOOL or Lyft Line is not recommended for trips to the airport. These two services work line a van pool and usually take much longer than UberX or Standard Lyft and may experience unexpected delays. The systems match you up with other passengers going in similar directions. Sometimes there are may be two or three pickups and drop-offs along the way, which can cause significant delays. Unless you have a lot of extra time to spare, avoid taking UberPOOL or Lyft Line to OAK.
Both Uber and Lyft now offer scheduled rides, which allow riders to schedule a ride days or hours in advance. If available in your area, this is an excellent option for airport rides. Visit our schedule rides page for more information.
Pick-ups
All Uber and Lyft passengers are picked up curbside at the “Smartphone App Rides” pickup area at 2E
The 2E pickup area is located on the second curb from the terminal, separated by the island.
After you have collected your luggage, request your ride, then head to the pickup area.
If the pickup area is crowded, consider standing in a less crowded area and contacting your driver to provide additional information about yourself to help the driver identify you in the crowd. Calling your driver is better than texting because the driver cannot respond to text messages while driving. In the meanwhile, refer to Uber or Lyft app to note the driver’s name and license plate number, and be on the look out for your driver as he or she approaches.
Ride Options
Please consider your luggage size when requesting a ride. The following options are available at SFO.
Uber
UberX: Low-cost; ideal for 1 to 2 passengers with luggage
UberXL: High capacity vehicle for a larger group with multiple bags
UberSELECT: Mid-tier luxury sedan for 1-2 passenger with luggage; a step above UberX
UberBLACK: High end luxury sedan driven by a professional driver
UberSUV: High-capacity version of UberBlack for up to 6 passengers.
UberASSIST: UberX or UberXL with drivers trained to assist passengers with accessibility needs
UberPOOL: Lowest cost option; split cost with other riders; Not recommended if under time constrain
LyftÂ
Standard Lyft: Low-cost; ideal for 1 to 2 passengers with luggage
Lyft Plus: High-capacity vehicle for up to 6 passengers.
Premier: High end luxury sedan or SUV
Lyft Line: Lowest cost option; split cost with other riders; Not recommended if under time constrain
Fare Estimates for Popular Destinations
| From → To | UberX | Lyft |
|---|---|---|
| OAK → Oakland Coliseum | $11-13 | $11-13 |
| OAK→ Downtown San Jose: | $39-52 | $41-52 |
| OAK → Downtown San Francisco | $31-39 | $33-40 |
| OAK → Fisherman's Wharf | $32-41 | $33-42 |
| OAK → UC Berkeley | $22-29 | $23-29 |
OAK → Downtown San Francisco: UberX: $31-39, Lyft: $33-40
OAK → Oakland Coliseum: UberX: $11-13, Lyft: $11-13
OAK→ Downtown San Jose: UberX: $39-52, Lyft: $41-52
OAK → Fisherman’s Wharf: UberX: $32-41, Lyft: $33-42
OAK → UC Berkeley: UberX: $22-29,Lyft: $23-29
Fares to and from OAK vary depending on vehicle options and travel time. Please use Uber Fare Estimator or Lyft app to get a more accurate fare estimate. For all OAK rides, Uber and Lyft also collect a $3.15 drop-off or pickup surcharge. This surcharge will be paid directly to Oakland International Airport.
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TAHIRA HENDERSON
February 11, 2019 7:44 pmWhat is an estimate of the cost for a ride of two people to the San Francisco airport from East Oakland hills by the Zoo?
Rideshare Connection
February 11, 2019 8:32 pmFor Uber X, the cost is roughly $70 from SFO to Oakland Zoo. The fare may change depending on the time of the day and how busy the area is. Hope this helps.
Daniel Gross
March 22, 2019 12:36 pmWe don’t have Uber or Lyft in our small town in Indiana. My daughter will be flying into Oakland Airport with a friend this Sunday. How does Uber or Lyft accept payment? Cash or credit card?
Rideshare Connection
March 22, 2019 2:10 pmHi Daniel,
Uber and Lyft accept payment by credit cards/debit cards/PayPal through their mobile apps. Cash is not accepted. Since your daughter will be the one using Uber/Lyft, before she leaves, download Uber and/or Lyft app(s) on her mobile phone, set up an account and add a payment method. Once she arrives in Oakland, simply schedule a ride using the phone apps. Ride fares will be paid by the payment method set up in the account.
Devery Wallace
February 7, 2022 9:38 amWhat is the estimate cost for a ride for 2 people from Petaluma to Oakland airport? Do the drivers pickup at 5:00 am? Our flight schedule is 9:55am to Hawaii.