Uber and Lyft are ride-sharing services that employ a location-based mobile application to link passengers to drivers. Using the apps, passengers select their pickup location, destination, and vehicle. After submission, Uber and Lyft provide the driver’s name and license-plate number, plus an estimated collection time. Users are required to submit a valid debit or credit card and are are billed through their Uber/Lyft accounts. Passengers can rate drivers and drivers can rate passengers.
Fares are calculated from an algorithm using a standard base and a per-minute or per-mile rate. When demand is high (rush hour, rain, big events), both Uber and Lyft implement "surge pricing," and the fares can rise way above what a taxi would cost for the same trip.
Uber had a long battle in Nevada. Ride-sharing through both companies was banned in 2014 for not complying with permit and licensing protocols. On September 15, 2015, however, the Nevada Transportation Authority approved Uber and Lyft to operate in the Las Vegas area.
In December 2015, ride-sharing began at McCarran Airport. Pickup locations at the airport are in the parking garages: At Terminal 1, it’s Level 2M; at Terminal 3, it’s at Level V (for valet); look for and follow the signs for Ride Sharing.
Uber and Lyft drivers can drop you off right at the departing-flights curb, so you only have to haul your bags to the parking garage on arrival, not departure.
During non-surge periods, expect to pay $10-$13 from the airport to center Strip.
Uber claims to have completed more than one million rides to and from McCarran in the first year of operation. Statewide, Uber says is has about 11,000 drivers and 882,000 active riders (equivalent to about a third of Nevada’s population).
As for pickups around the city, on the Strip, most hotels have dedicated areas Uber and Lyft. Look for the signs. At some properties, such as MGM Grand, it can be a bit of a walk, but these parking areas are generally convenient, and drivers can usually drop you off at a place of your choosing.
Sometimes a driver will want to pick you up at a less crowded, but less convenient place, and that can be a bit problematic. We’ve heard that Lyft’s app shows the actual address, while Uber’s doesn’t; it just gives the driver a pin at a location, which can be confusing and costs the driver time and money and the passenger time.
Lyft, as well, seems easier to use for finding Strip pickup spots, with a web page that contains a long list of links.
Uber claims to have a map, but every time we clicked on it from a Google link or a link within an article discussing it, we arrived at the driver sign-up page.
Downtown, pickup spots are more variable. We’re advised that if you ask at hotel front desks, you’ll be pointed to the place. At the Container Park, you probably have to work out a pickup spot with the driver.
As for tipping, originally, Uber’s fares included tips, but now, it says that tipping isn’t included. It isn’t expected or required, but riders can tips and drivers can accept them.
Lyft, on the other hand, has an app-based tipping option for $1, $2, $5 or other.
Note that we put together this report based on what we’ve heard and read. We all have cars here, so we don’t use these services. Please, if you do, and know more about it, let us hear from you. We’ll update and amend this answer as we receive knowledgeable feedback.
