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Tennessee 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
  1. Keep your Lyft emblem displayed in your lower right hand (passenger side) of your front windshield at all times while giving Lyft rides.
  2. If you are giving a non-Lyft ride at the airport, make sure to remove your emblem before entering airport property.
  3. 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.
Image of the Lyft emblem.
Conduct at the airport
  1. Do not stop or pull over in crosswalks.
  2. Do not park in red zones or taxi/shuttle areas unless otherwise specified in the rules above.
  3. Always follow instructions given by airport personnel.
  4. If you run into any trouble, like a regulatory citation, reach out to our Support team. We're here to help 24/7.
Waybill
  1. 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 Tennessee:
Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA)
Map of the staging area at the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport
Map of Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport
Waiting for requests:
  1. Wait in the designated staging area pictured above located here. Only drivers within the designated staging area are added to the queue.
  2. The staging area is a strictly no-smoking zone. The staging area is located close to airplane fuel reserves and therefore is a potential fire hazard for open flames and lit cigarettes.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. You can view your place in line in the app. Learn how to view your position in the queue here.
Pickups:
  1. Enter the gate code 2856 to access the pickup area.
  2. Pick up passengers from the parking lot at the end of the Arrivals terminal.
    1. 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.
  4. Do not wait or circle back at the airport if the passenger is delayed when picking up. Instead, head to the staging area or ask the passenger to cancel and request another ride when they are ready.
  5. 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:
  1. Drop off passengers curbside at the Departures terminal, at your passenger’s carrier of choice.
  2. Do not wait at the airport terminal after drop-off.
Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
Map of Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport
Waiting for requests:
  1. Wait in the designated staging area pictured above. Only drivers within the designated staging area are added to the queue.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. You can view your place in line in the app. Learn how to view your position in the queue here.
Pickups:
  1. Pick up passengers from Arrivals, at the location of your passenger's pin in the app.
    1. 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.
  3. Do not wait or circle back at the airport if the passenger is delayed when picking up. Instead, head to the staging area or ask the passenger to cancel and request another ride when they are ready.
  4. 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:
  1. Drop off passengers curbside at the terminal entrance, at your passenger’s carrier of choice.
  2. Do not wait at the airport terminal after drop-off.
Memphis International Airport (MEM)
Map of Memphis International Airport
Waiting for requests:
  1. Wait for requests in the Cell Phone Lot (Open in Google Maps). You must park in one of the 10 available spaces designated for Lyft. If there are no available spaces, you must leave airport property.
Pickups:
  1. Beginning 3/1/2018, Lyft will be piloting "Rematch" at MEM. This feature enables you to be matched with additional passenger(s) shortly before or after completing a drop-off. This means you can receive a pickup request up to 2 minutes after dropping off a passenger without returning to the staging area.
  2. Starting on 3/1/2018, pick up passengers from departures on the upper level at the 3 designated areas by each terminal's crosswalk. When you approach the upper level, veer to the left and pick up your passenger from the outer left lane (Commercial Vehicle Lane).
    1. The Lyft app moves the passenger's pin to the 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.
  4. Wait in the Cell Phone Lot if your passenger is delayed when picking up. You must park in one of the 10 available spaces designated for Lyft. If there are no available spaces, you must leave airport property.
  5. Do not pick up passengers at the curbside terminal entrance.
  6. 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 here.
Drop-offs:
  1. Drop off passengers at Departures on the upper level at your passenger’s carrier of choice. Be sure to unload passengers in the outer lane (Commercial Vehicle Lane) unless otherwise specified by the passenger or if they require special assistance.
  2. Do not wait at the airport terminal after drop-off. If you'd like to wait for additional requests, head to the Cell Phone Lot.
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Map of the staging area at the Nashville International Airport.
Waiting for requests:
  1. Wait in the designated staging area. Only drivers within the designated staging area (pictured above) are added to the queue.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. You can view your place in line in the app. Learn how to view your position in the queue here.
Map of the Ground Transportation Center at the Nashville International Airport.
Pickups:
  1. Beginning 12/20/2018, pickups take place inside the new Ground Transportation Center in the far right lane. To access this building, take the first right onto the ramp after exiting the Rideshare staging lot. There will be signs directing you towards the appropriate area.
    1. The Lyft app moves the passenger's pin to the 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.
  3. If your passenger needs longer than 20 minutes, use the designated staging area (pictured above). If there are no available parking spaces, you will need to leave airport property.
  4. Do not pick up passengers on Level 2.
  5. Express Match Zone: While waiting for requests, you may receive an in-app notification directing you to head towards the Ground Transportation Center and while enroute, you may receive a ride request. If you do not, you are permitted to wait in the Express Match Zone for up to 60 minutes. The designated waiting area is Zone A at the Ride App pickup area, located in the Ground Transportation Center in Garage 2. Please pull forward to the first available spot on the curb to wait for a ride.
    1. All drivers looking to do an airport ride should still start at the staging area.
    2. Do not go straight to the curb unless directed to do so by the app.
  7. 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:
*Starting 4/27 through 5/8/21, drivers will be required to drop off passengers at the Valet zone from the hours of 8 PM-4 AM. All lanes to the departure level will be closed during this time. Please follow on the ground signage while navigating at BNA Airport.
  1. Drop off passengers on the Departures (Level 3) at the passenger’s carrier of choice.
  2. Do not drop off passengers on Level 2.
All Other Permitted Airports
The rules below for pickups and drop-offs apply to the following airports:
  1. Blountville Tri-Cities (TRI)
  2. Clarksville-Montgomery (CKV)
Pickups:
  1. Pick up passengers from Arrivals, at your passenger’s carrier of choice.
  2. Do not wait or circle back at the airport if the passenger is delayed when picking up.
Drop-offs:
  1. Drop off passengers curbside at the terminal entrance, at your passenger’s carrier of choice.
  2. Do not wait at the airport terminal or accept additional ride requests after drop-off.

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