Getting to and from the San Diego Airport using Uber is two completely different experiences. Getting to the airport is the easy part. It’s the process of hailing an Uber which might have you cussing like a constipated drill sergeant.
- Drop offs: There is no designated drop off area for Uber when arriving at the airport. Simply tell the driver which airline or terminal you’re departing from (or include that information when booking a ride), and they will drop you off right at the main entrance closest to your airline.
- Pick ups: Both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have designated ride share pickup locations. The process for getting an Uber is similar for both.
How Uber works at San Diego Airport (both terminals 1 and 2)
As you’re about to see, the process of getting an Uber in both terminals 1 and 2 is fairly similar. It’s not rocket science, but it may be different than what you’re used to at other airports.
Terminal 1
Proceed to the rideshare pickup location located on the arrivals / baggage claim level directly across from the terminal. You’ll see signs leading the way.
The Uber / rideshare pickup area is located between two roadways adjacent to the taxi pickup area. It’s rideshares on one side and taxicabs on the other.
The rideshare pickup area is broken up into nine different zones. The Uber app will tell you which zone your driver will pick you up from.
Terminal 2
Similar to how it is in Terminal 1, proceed to the rideshare pickup location located on the ground level directly across from the terminal. If you’re not quite seeing it, just look for the taxi stand (and all the cab drivers standing around looking desperate for a fare). It’s adjacent to that.
Once you’ve arrived at the Uber pickup location, use the app to initiate a ride just as you normally would. Have patience! It’ll probably take a few minutes to secure a ride at peak times.
When a driver has been assigned to you, take note of the instructions on the screen. The app will tell you which column to stand next to as you wait for him or her to arrive. Trust me – the assigned column thing reduces a lot of the frustration (for both the driver and you) when things are really busy.
San Diego Airport Uber FAQs
Hopefully everything that I’ve shown and described above gives you a pretty good sense of how to use Uber at the San Diego Airport. However, in order to make sure I’m covering all the bases, I thought it might be a good idea to list out a few FAQs as well:
How long of a walk is it from the Terminal (1 or 2) to the designated rideshare pick up area?
Less than 2 minutes (walking at an average pace) from the baggage claim exit of either terminal. Double that if you’ve got multiple angry toddlers (and large suitcases) in tow.
How much does an UberX typically cost from the airport to downtown?
It varies slightly depending on the time of day (surge pricing is a thing), but you can typically expect to pay $15-$20 for a ride into downtown.
How much does it cost for a ride to La Jolla / University City?
In my experience, it usually costs anywhere from $45-$55. Note that I used to pay upwards of $45 one-way for a taxi ride going the same distance. Uber isn’t any cheaper!
Will drivers be upset with you for taking a short ride just off airport property?
In my experience, yes. They will be. Since it can sometimes be a very long wait for drivers to reach the designated pick up area, it should be totally understandable that they would be miffed to get paired up with a rider who only needs to go a couple miles.
For what it’s worth, I’d recommend taking a taxi if you don’t need to go far. This will prevent an angry driver from giving you a bad rating.
This… so familiar: “Double that if you’ve got multiple angry toddlers (and large suitcases) in tow.”
You would know! 🙂
Same instructions for Lyft?
Exactly the same – the Lyft pickup area is located adjacent to the Uber pickup area in both Terminals 1 and 2.
Hahahah Scott this is great! I work at Information desk so this is basically what I tell people all day. I’ll start telling them to read this post!
Thanks James! Yeah, it’s a lot of work to stay up-to-date with Uber situation at SAN (due to all the recent construction), but I’m trying my best lol.
Scott, as of a few days ago getting Uber in T1 is a lot easier. Right across the street now, basically same as T2!
That’s good to hear! Thanks for letting me know – I’ll be sure to get pics next time I’m at T1 (so I can update this article).