Uber to the airport (Knoxville, Maryville: home, live, price)

[linnemj]

We will be taking a trip to Ireland and I am thinking of using Uber to go to and from our home to the Knoxville airport. The price is reasonable. We live outside Maryville in Blount County about 20 minutes from the airport. The way the app works is you request a ride when you want to leave. What am I am uncertain about is how long it takes someone to pick you up? Has anyone used Uber and what was your experience?

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by linnemj

We will be taking a trip to Ireland and I am thinking of using Uber to go to and from our home to the Knoxville airport. The price is reasonable. We live outside Maryville in Blount County about 20 minutes from the airport. The way the app works is you request a ride when you want to leave. What am I am uncertain about is how long it takes someone to pick you up? Has anyone used Uber and what was your experience?

When you start to request an Uber it will estimate how long it will take them to get from their location to your location to pick you up. You can actually try it yourself right now without committing to anything.

Uber experiences vary but most of mine have been positive.

[geranium]

We've used Uber several times with no problems. As suggested, try out the app without actually ordering a ride.

[linnemj]

Thanks! I know it will vary depending on how close a driver who might commit is to your location. I didn't know I could start the booking process and not have to pay. I will try it at the day and time of day we plan to leave one week in advance.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by linnemj

Thanks! I know it will vary depending on how close a driver who might commit is to your location. I didn't know I could start the booking process and not have to pay. I will try it at the day and time of day we plan to leave one week in advance.

Great, just keep in mind that everything varies and your experience will be unique to your actual day you travel. You never know how many Uber Drivers there are on a particular day, in your area, etc. So, allow plenty of time and leave early (as you would anyway, even if you drove yourself).

[DaveinMtAiry]

I'd not only try the app I'd go ahead and take a ride just so you get the hang of it. Big trips are stressful, you want this part figured out before the day you leave.

[drive carephilly]

If you're traveling with a lot of bags you might want to try booking an UberXL instead of the regular UberX. The driver will come with a bigger car so there's no drama trying to make sure everything fits in the trunk.

Also, if Lyft is available there, you can schedule your pick up time and location up to 48 hours in advance.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by drive carephilly

If you're traveling with a lot of bags you might want to try booking an UberXL instead of the regular UberX. The driver will come with a bigger car so there's no drama trying to make sure everything fits in the trunk.

Also, if Lyft is available there, you can schedule your pick up time and location up to 48 hours in advance.

Not from around here are you? I see XL in big cities mostly; not in Blount County. I saw the Philly in your name. ;-)

[hiknapster]

XL vehicles are here in the area as well. It really depends on the vehicle, but a lot of UberX vehicles can fit a LOT of bags. However, if there are four people, four really big bags and four carry-ons, by all means, get an XL.

You can schedule an Uber 30 days in advance and seven days ahead with Lyft.

In any event, "scheduling" is a misnomer. You can set the ride up, but the secret is that it really doesn't matter. In the end, whether there is a driver around or not will matter. You see, Uber doesn't set up the ride with a driver ahead of time.

However, don't panic. Uber has become very popular in the almost three years that it's been in the area. There is always SOMEONE around to pick you up. Lyft, on the other hand, has struggled. Even in the middle of the afternoon, a rider can sometimes wait 30 minutes for a ride.

There are less drivers in Maryville, whereas in Knoxville there are too many, in my opinion. When you need the ride will be important. At any given time, there are usually at least one to sometimes 17 drivers sitting at McGhee Tyson. Getting a ride from the airport is almost never a problem. Think middle of the night, big event going on in Knoxville. Even then, there are probably a couple of drivers sitting at the airport. The running joke amongst the drivers is that some of those drivers sit at the airport - even if there are 15 drivers in que! - because at least they can tell their significant other that they have a job. They get to read or play video games for hours!

The point is that if you are in Maryville, if you ask for a ride via the app, if there are no drivers in Maryville, someone at the airport will get the ping and go pick you up.

And to answer your question, almost all Knoxville drivers arrive within 10 minutes. On rare occasions, the wait is a little longer. In Maryville, it might be the same, but sometimes the wait is longer. The good news is that I've seen more drivers in the Maryville area in the past week, so be good to your drivers and they might not quit.