My SOP for the surcharge is simply to bail and click on the Lyft app or hail a taxi if that is an option. I see no reason to pay a surcharge unless I am absolutely desperate and need to get somewhere immediately.

Also wondering how many people bail when the assigned driver is minutes away? My over/under is around 5 minutes - anything longer and I hit the "cancel" button and I start walking or hail a taxi or lyft. I simply don't have time to wait for some guy who takes a suboptimal route to my pickup, as is often the case. Time is money.

Don't get me wrong - I am a big fan of Uber but I'm not about to get jacked when there is a lower cost option or one that gets me to my destination faster.