North Carolina airport information for drivers
To ensure a smooth airport experience for you and your passengers, make sure to familiarize yourself with the rules below. Tap each link to jump to detailed instructions on each section:
The following information applies to all airports:
Airport officials will issue administrative citations to drivers who do not follow the rules. You are responsible for paying any tickets you receive for violating airport rules and regulations.
Note: The time you spend waiting in an airport queue won’t be counted towards the 12-hour limit.
Lyft emblem
- Keep your Lyft emblem displayed in your lower right hand (passenger side) of your front windshield at all times while giving Lyft rides.
- If you are giving a non-Lyft ride at the airport, make sure to remove your emblem before entering airport property.
- If you’ve just been approved to drive, you should receive your Lyft emblem shortly. If you didn't get one or need a new one, place an order in your Dashboard. While waiting for it to arrive, you may print a temporary emblem.
Conduct at the airport
- Do not stop or pull over in crosswalks.
- Do not park in red zones or taxi/shuttle areas unless otherwise specified in the rules above.
- Always follow instructions given by airport personnel.
- If you run into any trouble, like a regulatory citation, reach out to our Support team. We're here to help 24/7.
Waybill
- Airport authorities may ask you for a waybill, which shows your latest ride. Click here to learn how to access your waybill.
Permitted Airports
Drivers on the Lyft platform are responsible for knowing and following all airport regulations in order to avoid receiving administrative citations from the airport. Lyft is available at the following airports in North Carolina:
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
Waiting for requests:
- Wait in the designated staging area. Only drivers within the designated staging area (pictured above) are added to the queue.
- The queue is first in-first out. The driver who has been waiting within the staging area in driver mode the longest gets the next request. Your physical location within the staging area does not affect your spot in the queue, but if you exit the staging area or log out of driver mode, you will lose your spot.
- If the staging area is full, you must leave the airport. You may not wait for requests anywhere else on airport property or use any other parking lots while in driver mode.
- Passenger cancellations don't affect your place in line. If your passenger cancels on you, head back to the staging area. As long as you're back within 15 minutes, you'll be placed at the front of the queue.
- Driver cancellations and missed requests do affect your place in line. You can miss or decline up to 3 rides before getting placed at the back of the queue.
- You can view your place in line in the app. Learn how to view your position in the queue here.
Pickups:
- Pick up passengers in the parking lot on the south side of the terminal as pictured above.
- The Lyft app moves the passenger's pin to an approved pickup area. If you're having trouble finding each other, make sure you have both gone to the pin's location and are on the correct level of the airport.
- Do not wait or circle back at the airport if the passenger is delayed when picking up. Instead, head to the staging lot and wait there.
- Short ride bump: If you receive a request for a short ride from the airport after waiting in the queue, you may qualify for a higher queue position after you drop off your passenger. You'll receive an SMS after dropping off to let you know you have the option to return to the staging area for a preferred spot in the queue. Please note, if you give a ride before returning to the staging area, you may still qualify for a preferred spot in line.
Drop-offs:
- Drop off passengers at Departures at the passenger’s carrier of choice.
- Do not wait at the airport after drop-off. You must leave airport property immediately after dropping off your passenger.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Waiting for requests:
- Wait in the designated staging area. Only drivers within the designated staging area (pictured above) are added to the queue. Do not wait for requests on Stafford Ave.
- The queue is first in-first out. The driver who has been waiting within the staging area in driver mode the longest gets the next request. Your physical location within the staging area does not affect your spot in the queue, but if you exit the staging area or log out of driver mode, you will lose your spot.
- If the staging area is full, you must leave the airport. You may not wait for requests anywhere else on airport property or use any other parking lots while in driver mode.
- Passenger cancellations don't affect your place in line. If your passenger cancels on you, head back to the staging area. As long as you're back within 15 minutes, you'll be placed at the front of the queue.
- Driver cancellations and missed requests do affect your place in line. You can miss or decline up to 3 rides before getting placed at the back of the queue.
- You can view your place in line in the app. Learn how to view your position in the queue here.
Pickups:
- Pick up passengers from Arrivals on the lower level, at Zone D.
- The Lyft app moves the passenger's pin to an approved pickup area. If you're having trouble finding each other, make sure you have both gone to the pin's location and are on the correct level of the airport.
- Do not wait or circle back at the airport if the passenger is delayed when picking up. Instead, head to the staging lot and wait there.
- here. Pre-dispatch: While waiting for requests, you may receive an SMS and an in-app note directing you to head toward the terminal. While en route, you should receive a ride request. If you do not, head back to the staging area. As long as you're back within 15 minutes, you'll be placed at the front of the queue. More information on pre-dispatch can be found
Drop-offs:
- Drop off passengers at Departures, at the passenger's carrier of choice.
- Do not wait at the airport terminal after drop-off. If you'd like to wait for additional requests, proceed to the staging area.
Greensboro Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)
Waiting for requests:
- Wait in one of the designated 24 TNC parking spaces in the staging area. Only drivers within the designated staging area (pictured above) are added to the queue. Do not wait for requests in the metered parking spots.
- The queue is first in-first out. The driver who has been waiting within the staging area in driver mode the longest gets the next request. Your physical location within the staging area does not affect your spot in the queue, but if you exit the staging area or log out of driver mode, you will lose your spot.
- If the staging area is full, you must leave the airport. You may not wait for requests anywhere else on airport property or use any other parking lots while in driver mode.
- Passenger cancellations don't affect your place in line. If your passenger cancels on you, head back to the staging area. As long as you're back within 15 minutes, you'll be placed at the front of the queue.
- Driver cancellations and missed requests do affect your place in line. You can miss or decline up to 3 rides before getting placed at the back of the queue.
- You can view your place in line in the app. Learn how to view your position in the queue here.
Pickups:
- Pick up passengers from either of the 2 designated loading/unloading zones.
- Do not wait or circle back at the airport if the passenger is delayed when picking up. Instead, head to the staging lot and wait there.
- Short ride bump: If you receive a request for a short ride from the airport after waiting in the queue, you may qualify for a higher queue position after you drop off your passenger. You'll receive an SMS after dropping off to let you know you have the option to return to the staging area for a preferred spot in the queue. Please note, if you give a ride before returning to the staging area, you may still qualify for a preferred spot in line.
Drop-offs:
- Drop off passengers at either of the 2 designated loading/unloading zones.
- Do not wait at the airport terminal or accept additional ride requests after drop-off.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Waiting for requests:
- Wait in the designated staging area. Only drivers within the designated staging area are added to the queue. To get there, make a left from Airport Blvd and enter on Dept Dr and enter the code LYFT (5938) to open the gate (Open in Google Maps).
- The queue is first in-first out. The driver who has been waiting within the staging area in driver mode the longest gets the next request. Your physical location within the staging area does not affect your spot in the queue, but if you exit the staging area or log out of driver mode, you will lose your spot.
- If the staging area is full, you must leave the airport. You may not wait for requests anywhere else on airport property or use any other parking lots while in driver mode.
- Passenger cancellations don't affect your place in line. If your passenger cancels on you, head back to the staging area. As long as you're back within 15 minutes, you'll be placed at the front of the queue.
- Driver cancellations and missed requests do affect your place in line. You can miss or decline up to 3 rides before getting placed at the back of the queue.
- You can view your place in line in the app. Learn how to view your position in the queue here.
Additional staging area rules:
- Keep your Lyft emblem affixed to the lower right hand side of your windshield (not resting on the dashboard).
- Do not tailgate the vehicle in front of you when entering and exiting the staging area.
- When entering the staging area stay to the right side of the red line painted on the ground and park in designated spaces.
- Do not speed in the staging area. The speed limit in the terminal and staging areas is 20 mph.
- Be respectful and courteous to others drivers and to RDU Personnel.
- Always display your Lyft emblem when giving rides or waiting for requests on airport property.
- Do not leave your vehicle unattended.
- Do not clean or perform any maintenance work on your vehicle in while in the staging area.
- Do not throw trash on the ground or on the roadways — use the trash cans and ashtrays that have been provided.
- You must vacate the staging area no later than ½ hour after the last flight arrives every night. Violators will be ticketed.
Pickups:
- To get to the pickup area, drivers must take the 2nd exit which says Terminal 1-2, P- Express Parking, P- Economy 4, and Rental Car Return. Do not take the 1st exit which says Return to Terminal Parking.
- Pick up passengers from the Commercial Curb, Prearranged Ride Zones (Zone #1 at Terminal 1, Zone #8 at Terminal 2) on the ticketing and baggage claim level.
- The Lyft app moves the passenger's pin to an approved pickup area. If you're having trouble finding each other, make sure you have both gone to the pin's location and are on the correct level of the airport.
- If your passenger is delayed do not stage curbside. Please circle back and always observe the requests of airport management.
- Do not hand out referral cards while on airport property.
- here. Pre-dispatch: While waiting for requests, you may receive an SMS and an in-app note directing you to head toward the terminal. While en route, you should receive a ride request. If you do not, head back to the staging area. As long as you're back within 15 minutes, you'll be placed at the front of the queue. More information on pre-dispatch can be found
- Short ride bump: If you receive a request for a short ride from the airport after waiting in the queue, you may qualify for a higher queue position after you drop off your passenger. You'll receive an SMS after dropping off to let you know you have the option to return to the staging area for a preferred spot in the queue. Please note, if you give a ride before returning to the staging area, you may still qualify for a preferred spot in line.
Drop-offs:
- Drop off passengers at Departures, at your passenger's carrier of choice.
- Do not wait at the airport terminal after drop-off. If you'd like to wait for requests, head to the staging area.
Wilmington International Airport (ILM)
Waiting for requests:
- Wait in the designated staging area. Only drivers within the designated staging area (pictured above) are added to the queue.
- The queue is first in-first out. The driver who has been waiting within the staging area in driver mode the longest gets the next request. Your physical location within the staging area does not affect your spot in the queue, but if you exit the staging area or log out of driver mode, you will lose your spot.
- If the staging area is full, you must leave the airport. You may not wait for requests anywhere else on airport property or use any other parking lots while in driver mode.
- Passenger cancellations don't affect your place in line. If your passenger cancels on you, head back to the staging area. As long as you're back within 15 minutes, you'll be placed at the front of the queue.
- Driver cancellations and missed requests do affect your place in line. You can miss or decline up to 3 rides before getting placed at the back of the queue.
- You can view your place in line in the app. Learn how to view your position in the queue here.
Pickups:
- Pick up passengers in front of the terminal as pictured above.
- The Lyft app moves the passenger's pin to an approved pickup area. If you're having trouble finding each other, make sure you have both gone to the pin's location and are on the correct level of the airport.
- Do not wait or circle back at the airport if the passenger is delayed when picking up. Instead, head to the staging lot and wait there.
- Short ride bump: If you receive a request for a short ride from the airport after waiting in the queue, you may qualify for a higher queue position after you drop off your passenger. You'll receive an SMS after dropping off to let you know you have the option to return to the staging area for a preferred spot in the queue. Please note, if you give a ride before returning to the staging area, you may still qualify for a preferred spot in line.
Drop-offs:
- Drop off passengers at Departures at the passenger’s carrier of choice.
- Do not wait at the airport after drop-off. You must leave airport property immediately after dropping off your passenger.
All Other Permitted Airports
The rules below for pickups and drop-offs apply to the following airports:
- Fayetteville Regional Airport | FAY
- Jacksonville Albert J. Ellis Airport | OAJ
- New Bern Coastal Carolina Regional Airport | EWN
- Rowan County Airport | SRW
Pickups:
- Pick up passengers from Arrivals, at your passenger’s carrier of choice.
- Do not wait or circle back at the airport if the passenger is delayed when picking up.
Drop-offs:
- Drop off passengers curbside at the terminal entrance, at your passenger’s carrier of choice.
- Do not wait at the airport terminal or accept additional ride requests after drop-off.