I hate bring this up months later, but there is nothing illegal about picking up passengers from the departures level at LAX. I always have my wife pick me up there when I return.

The LAX PD even tweets that this is an acceptable alternative.
https://twitter.com/LAAirportPD/stat...13289219964928

I agree, pickups on the departures level are no problem. To say otherwise is just wrong.

I agree that for private parties it is perfectly legal to pick passengers up on the upper level; I've been doing it for at least twenty-five years. However, I'm not sure if the same rules apply to commercial services such as shuttles, taxis and buses.

There is no regulation prohibiting picking up on the upper level - the prohibition is against picking up passengers anywhere but at designated curb area. Taxi and shuttle/buses can only pick up from designated curb area and that happens to be at the lower level. The few times I used livery cars at LAX, I asked them to pick me up at T4 upper level and they had no problem with it.

Good to know.

Thanks.

Obviously you have not met the LAX Police...and since I have friends on that force, I can assure you they are looking out for - and have been ticketing - UBER pickups on the departure level. No driver from a car rental, hotel, bus service or parking lot can pick-up from the departure level, either. That also applies to taxi's and shuttle services.

Which is different than what you had said before (emphasis added):

How do they know it is Uber? It could be my BFF...

Livery cars are not required to pickup at designated curb area so they can pick up anywhere on the upper level, like private passenger cars.

Only taxi, van, and shuttle have designated pick up area.

So assuming it was legal for Uber to pickup at LAX at all, would they be a taxi or a livery?

That's the million dollar question :D

Uber would say they neither and not subject to anyone's rules :rolleyes:

LAWA probably will say they are livery service. :cool:

But the people using it likely is using it as an alternative to taxi. :confused:

Mrs. Guru and I are arriving LAX on Monday. Two week trip so we have 2 large suitcases plus 2 rollerboards. Last time this happened was in NYC and we user UberXL. Will Uber Black have the capacity we need?

Decided to stop at Trader Joe's before heading to the port at San Pedro. When best to tell the driver about the waypoint?

Let me make sure that I understand your question correctly. Are you looking for Trader Joe's store located between LAX and the Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center?

If so, there are several Trader Joe's locations that may work for you.

The one closest to LAX is at 8645 S. Sepulveda Blvd. - it is about half a mile north of the airport not too far from In-N-Out. It is in the opposite direction from San Pedro, but probably involves the shortest detour.

Additional stores located along the way to San Pedro and not too far from the 405 Freeway are at 1800 Rosecrans Blvd. in Manhattan Beach, 1821 Manhattan Beach Blvd., also in Manhattan Beach, and 19720 Hawthorne Blvd. in Torrance.

If you go to Find a Trader Joe's site, use Zip Code 90045 for the location.

Just a data point. I was unsuccessful in getting an UberX pickup from LAX. 4 times drivers accepted and then canceled. Apparently UberBlack or UberPlus are the only way to go, as they have some sort of permission to pick up at the airport. (this may change in the near future according to media).

I ended up taking the FlyAway bus to get downtown.
By the way, ever single Uber ride I took during my 4 days in LA was on surge, ranging from 1.4 to 2.5.