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Driving at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

Airports can be complicated places, especially for drivers. But knowing the basics, and getting information in advance about your local airport, can help make sure you’re prepared for your first pickup or dropoff.

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Airport regulations for driver-partners

Per airport regulations, driver-partners must adhere to the terms below. Failure to do so may result in the receipt of a citation or even restriction of access to airport trips. Please note that Uber will not pay for any citations that driver-partners may incur.

  • When on airport property, the Uber driver app must be open at all times (driver-partners must not go Offline until exiting the airport area).
  • We’ve instituted a special first vehicle in is the first one out (FIFO) system at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The FIFO system only works within the designated, geofenced area and driver-partners waiting elsewhere will not receive trip requests through the Uber driver app unless there are no drivers in the geofenced queue.
  • The Uber sticker (trade dress) must always be displayed on the front passenger windshield facing outward.
  • All pickups must occur on the arrivals level.

Pro tips

  • Driver cancellations: Trip cancellations can take away from the great Uber experience that both riders and driver-partners expect. Please remember that driver-partners who improperly use the app and intentionally disrupt the service, including excessively canceling rides or asking riders to cancel rides, may lose the ability to receive trip requests to and from the airport through the Uber Driver app.
  • Ground transportation and airport security staff: Airport rules are as important as traffic rules. Airports expect driver-partners to follow the instructions of the airport staff.
  • Accessing your waybill: You may be asked to show your waybill. To access it, tap the “info” button that appears in your app.

Pickups at the airport

How pickup requests work

It is easy to receive trip requests from riders leaving the airport. However, these trips work a little differently than other requests.

Waiting for requests

Uber’s technology uses a first-in-first-out (FIFO) queue. This means that, in order to receive a trip request, you need to enter the designated waiting area, located within a “FIFO zone.” You will then be placed in a virtual queue where the first driver-partner to enter will be the first to receive a trip request.

Based on the operating agreement with the airport, the waiting areas are located at the following locations:

  • Ground Transportation Staging Lot on 2323 E Sky Harbor Circle North
  • GPS Staging Lot by the Sky Train Station
  • Transportation Hold Lot on Washington and 44th St

Some things to know about FIFO queues:

  • Proximity to the terminal within the FIFO zone does not create an advantage for driver-partners or move you closer to the top of the queue.
  • If there are no driver-partners in the FIFO zone, trip requests will go to Uber driver-partners in the area – outside of the FIFO zone – based on proximity and other factors.
  • You can lose your place in line if:
  • You go offline on your Uber driver app
  • You drive outside the FIFO zone
  • You do not accept multiple incoming trip requests in a row
  • You cancel multiple rides (if the rider cancels, you will remain at the top of the queue)
  • Airport Cancellation Protection is now live at PHX. With this new feature, if your rider cancels when you’re already on your way to the terminals, you will be eligible to receive another trip request without returning to the Staging Lot.

Picking up your rider

Once you accept a trip request, the pickup locations at the airport are located at the following places:

  • Terminal 3:

    • Rideshare pickup zone: Outer curb, outside Door 2
    • Prearranged pickup zone: Outer North curb, between Doors 3 and 5

  • Terminal 4:

    • North rideshare pickup zone: Outer curb, outside Door 1 near the beginning of the terminal
    • South rideshare pickup zone: Outer curb, outside Door 8’s designated rideshare area
    • North prearranged pickup zone: North outer curb, outside Door 3

  • FBO Charter Flight Pickup: 2710 E Old Tower Rd

  • Rental Car Center Pickup: 1805 E Sky Harbor Circle South. Look for the six designated ground transportation parking spaces in the lower level visitor lot.

  • Sky Train Pickup: 4299 E Washington St, on the north side of the station

Drop-offs at the airport

How drop-off requests work

Based on the operating agreement with the airport, riders can be dropped off at their requested terminal on the departures level. If you’d like to receive a trip request afterwards, you’ll need to keep the Uber Driver app on to maintain your place in the FIFO queue.

Rematch feature

We’ve also launched the Rematch feature at this airport. To qualify for Rematch, driver-partners must first complete a drop-off at the airport. Rematch then allows any driver-partner who just completed an airport drop-off to temporarily receive a pickup request without having to go to the Staging Lot. Once you drop off at the airport, if you wish, you can head towards any of the Staging Lots to wait in the FIFO queue for an airport request. While driving to the waiting lot, you may receive a Rematch request. Airport regulations prohibit loitering in the terminal area. Idling at the curb may result in a citation from airport authorities.

*Trips completed at the rental car center are not eligible for Rematch.

TNC Staging Lots at PHX

You can receive airport pickup requests at the PHX waiting areas at:

  • Ground Transportation Staging Lot on 2323 E Sky Harbor Circle North
  • GPS Staging Lot by the 44th Street Sky Train Station
  • Transportation Hold Lot on the southeast corner of Washington and 44th St

Pro tips:

  • You are automatically entered into the queue when entering the lots
  • The FIFO queue is still in place. The driver who has been in the staging lot longest will receive the next request.
  • Your location in the lots will not affect the queue order
  • If you go offline or drive outside of the waiting zone for any reason, you will lose your spot in the line
  • If a rider cancels on you, you will be placed at the front of the queue