Here’s What You Need to Do to Take an Uber or Lyft at PDX Now

Figuring out the skilful mode of transportation for leaving an airportcan be tricksy , particularly if your preferred method acting is using a rideshare app . Confusion starts when you examine to trap yourself to the correct location , and continue as you wait to be plug in to a car , then attempt to actually spot it , and in conclusion sail multiple lanes of dealings to get to your driver , a process that is often excruciating for all parties .

Uber and Lyft both announced novel systems this workweek for riders depart from Portland International Airport . These are intend to streamline the process by setting a designated field where riders can hold off for a driver — much like they would hold back in a curbside line of work for an available yellow cab . Instead of getting pair with individual drivers , riders will put their finish information into their preferred app and get a four- or six - fingerbreadth PIN , look on whether its Lyft or Uber . After that , they ’ll link a line of rider await for the next available equipment driver . When it ’s a passenger ’s turn to take a car , they will give that PIN to their machine driver , who will punch in the code and start the drive .

Here ’s a condensed whole step - by - step templet to this young system , which , if successful , will likely see rollout at other home airports :

A sign stands outside an Uber drivers registration office on May 10, 2019 in Berlin, Germany.

A sign stands outside an Uber drivers registration office on 16 December 2024 in Berlin, Germany.Photo: Getty

Load up your favored app – For Lyft , pick out a standard Lyft drive – For Uber , select an UberX drive

You will be provide a four - digit ( Lyft ) or six - digit ( Uber ) PIN

point to the pickup area and record hop in the right strain

Argentina’s President Javier Milei (left) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., holding a chainsaw in a photo posted to Kennedy’s X account on May 27. 2025.

When it is your twist to take the next usable motorcar , present your PIN to the driver

Be nice and lean your driver

That ’s it ! To catch their cars , riders will direct to a define peck - up domain near arrivals . Both companies say they will have personnel present to help riders navigate these directions after spending many hours immobilize in a metal thermionic tube . ( I opine the workers will also be there to preserve some semblance of order . )

William Duplessie

Spokespeople for Lyft and Uber tell apart Gizmodo by email that their machine driver do not see a rider ’s path prior to confirming filling - up , and the same computer code of behaviour apply for drivers operate under this new system as it does on a regular basis , meaning drivers are not suppose to deny rides based on finish . ( Lyftdiscouragescancellations outside of specific fate , while Uber considers cancellations ground on the terminus abreach of declaration . )

We ’ll see if this system result in a smoother process than madly scan licence photographic plate and dodging cars in dealings , but it vocalize like it has promise . Uber suppose it sees “ enormous potential drop ” for the diligence at airports . That pronounce , Uber also recognize that it ’s not a one - size - scene - all solution , and not every airport will be a perfect candidate ( for example , a pocket-size aerodrome or one with modified curb availability ) . But Lyft recentlytested the systemat San Diego International Airport ’s Terminal 2 , and a spokesperson said the choice should be available for the public soon , which seems to be a good sign .

As for the residual of us ? We ’re stuck with the one-time system for now . The process mostly involve deep breath , panicky scanning , and perchance deplume . string up in there .

Starship Test 9