Your holiday will no longer be ruined by a ridiculous cab fare after you land in Sydney, Australia.
On Thursday, Uber announced you can now book the ride sharing service at Sydney Airport and get the driver to meet you in a designated area at both the domestic and international terminals.
SEE ALSO:Uber delivers 15,000 emails with horse and cart in Australian protestIn good news for those on a budget, you won't be charged the $4.10 airport fee that is standard in a taxi, Uber confirmed to Mashable Australia. Uber will be using the public pickup zones to collect passengers, rather than the designated taxi rank, therefore avoiding the regulation taxis are subjected to.
Up until now, sneaky Uber customers would have to select a road just outside the perimeter of the airport to get a lift home. This could mean quite the walk for the weary traveller.
It is unclear if this will change in the future, as Uber continues to work with the airport to decide to the best way to move forward with including ride share options at the terminals. If, for instance, the company was provided with its own pickup zones, this may mean a cost could be passed on to consumers.
To assist with the change, Uber is rolling out a new form of technology, which will allow drivers to enter a virtual queue for arriving passengers. The drivers will also have a set time they can remain at the airport -- 10 minutes for domestic, 15 minutes for international.
“In response to the huge demand for uberX at Sydney Airport, we have opened functionality in the app for driver-partners to pick up riders from the airport," an Uber spokesperson told Mashable Australia.
"We have focused on making sure our technology makes the ground transport connections as seamless as possible for the thousands of passengers who open the app every week at the airport looking for an uberX ride."
It is believed once the state government legalised ridesharing in Sydney in December, it was only a matter of Uber removing its restrictions on the airport location to allow drivers to pick up from the area. The airport is currently still working with Uber, ridehsaring and other transport businesses to find the best solution.
"Sydney Airport is currently developing new arrangements to accommodate all booked service operators at the airport, including ridesharing services such as Uber, as well as limousines and pre-booked taxis," the airport advised in an emailed statement.
"We will shortly be consulting with our airport partners regarding these new proposed arrangements, as it’s essential to ensure we implement a solution that works for everyone and minimises traffic circulation through the airport precinct."
The New South Wales Taxi Council called the move "arrogant and irresponsible," saying it flouted local rules and would cause undue congestion at the airport. The council said it was in discussions with the airport to come up with the best solution for ridesharing, but Uber took matters into its own hands.
The main issue raised is a claim that Uber had suggested to drivers to park in surrounding areas while waiting for passengers. This has not been confirmed by Uber. "The instructions given to Uber drivers will clog carparks, increase traffic congestion and impact on the amenity of local residents and businesses," the Taxi Council said in an emailed statement.
"These will have direct negative impacts on people who are using Sydney Airport to catch a flight or to be picked up by their friends or families, as well disturbing local residents."
In April, Sydney Airport confirmed to Mashable Australia it was in discussions with Uber to allow its customers access to the service.
"Sydney Airport is currently developing new arrangements to accommodate all booked service operators at the airport, including ride sharing services such as Uber, as well as limousines and pre-booked taxis," a spokesperson said in an emailed statement at the time.
Correction: The article original incorrectly stated the $4.10 charge was part of state government regulation. This fee is an airport charge.
UPDATE: Sydney Airport statement and Taxi Council statement.
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