Uber is a prominent rideshare service in Australia, with a network covering all major cities and many regional areas. It’s often a cheap and convenient way to travel to or from airports, offering substantial savings over taxis.

In this guide, we’ll provide an overview of Uber services and options at airports when travelling within Australia.

Earning points with rideshare and car booking services

First up – the rewards. When using Uber to get to and from airports in Australia, you’ll earn Qantas Points on eligible rides. We’ve covered all you need to know in our ultimate guide to earning Qantas Points with Uber, including how to link your accounts. There are ways to earn frequent flyer points with other rideshares in Australia, too.

You can stack the points by purchasing Uber gift cards at supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths during a bonus points promotion. You’ll often pocket 20x bonus points on the value of the gift card. So, for a $200 Uber gift card, you could earn 4,000 Flybuys or Everyday Rewards points. Converting these to their frequent flyer program partner would then earn you 2,000 Velocity Points or 2,000 Qantas Points, respectively. This is a great hack to keep up your sleeve if you have Uber rides coming up (say, travelling to the airport for work or getting around the city.)

Also read: Case Study: How I easily earned 10,000 bonus points with gift cards

What kind of Uber services are offered in Australia?

There are a range of Uber services you can request in Australia, but they differ between cities. For example, regional towns will usually only have UberX, while large cities may have cars suitable for transporting pets. Here are the most common types of Uber rides in Australia:

  • UberX – the most affordable option, with up to four seats in vehicles.
  • UberXL – high-capacity vehicles with seats for up to 6-7 passengers in an SUV or minivan, or extra room for luggage.
  • Uber Assist – an accessible option for people with disabilities or who require additional assistance. These vehicles can fit wheelchairs or other mobility aids.
  • Uber Comfort – an upmarket option with top-rated drivers and newer cars.
  • Uber Premier – a premium service with luxury vehicles. Prices can be up to double that of UberX.
  • Uber Pet – pet-friendly vehicles, often with higher prices.
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Getting dropped off by Uber at the airport

If Uber operates in your destination city, there are no restrictions on passengers getting dropped off at airport departures. Often, your Uber driver will drop you off in a general passenger drop-off zone, not in a dedicated rideshare or taxi drop-off area.

Uber is in all major Australian cities but might not be available in certain regional cities.

Getting picked up by Uber at the airport

Most major airports in Australia now have a designated Uber or rideshare pick-up zone, which is often well-signed. When requesting an Uber from an airport with a designated pick-up area, the app will often automatically select this as your pick-up point. This is a good way to locate the airport’s rideshare pick-up zone on the map.

For smaller airports without a rideshare pick-up zone, your Uber will normally collect you from the public pick-up areas.

The process for being picked up by an Uber also differs depending on the airport. For instance, larger airports like Melbourne and Sydney require you to queue in the Uber pick-up zone for the first available driver rather than being assigned a driver when hailing your ride on the app. You’ll then provide the driver with a PIN, shown in your app, to commence your ride. This process makes it more efficient for both the drivers and passengers. At most other airports, though, you can expect a driver to be assigned to you upon booking your ride on the app.

Almost all major Australian airports impose a rideshare pick-up fee for Uber and other providers. The fee varies by airport but is usually a flat rate of around $3-$4. The fee is added to the final cost of your ride.

Uber rideshare vehicle car
Uber vehicles vary across cities. [Photo: Viktor Avdeev, Unsplash.]

Other options for getting to or from Australian airports

We’ve covered all options for travelling to major Australian airports, including public transport, in our guides below.

Summing up

Uber’s prominence in Australia makes it one of the cheapest and easiest ways to travel to or from major airports. With various vehicles to choose from, an easy-to-use app and the ability to earn Qantas Points on airport rides, Uber remains a solid option for travellers.

This article was originally written by Matt Moffitt. Featured image: Charles Deluvio, Unsplash.


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How to use Uber to get to and from the major Australian airports was last modified: October 14th, 2024 by Victoria Kyriakopoulos