BOS uber/lyft availability latenight
Jan 20, 2022, 4:35 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: boston,ma
Programs: JetBlue Mosiac, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 215
BOS uber/lyft availability latenight
Has anyone tried to catch a uber/lyft after midnight lately out of BOS? Is boston still having issues w/ uber/lyft not being available? I don't want to be left in the cold with unavailable rideshare apps 
It would be a saturday night/early sunday timeframe....just wondering if I should book a car service to be safe. Thanks in advance!
It would be a saturday night/early sunday timeframe....just wondering if I should book a car service to be safe. Thanks in advance!
Jan 20, 2022, 5:03 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic, UA Plat, Bonvoy Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,777
I've not gone after midnight but shortly before (Uber, not Lyft) and it's been much better than it was last summer and into the fall. Haven't had trouble getting a ride at all (usually just a 3 min wait). If you do see long waits make sure to try all the different types of rides (Comfort, Black). When drivers are short sometimes Black is cheaper than UberX, and available. I'd think you'll be fine; worst case you can get a taxi.
Jan 20, 2022, 7:45 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AS MVPG, DL KM, Bee Six, Bonvoy Plat, Avis PC, Natl Exec, Greyhound Road Rewards Z"L
Posts: 16,701
At the airport there are always taxis available. Uber and Lyft should be available but if not, there's always a line of taxis and they are not as overpriced as they are in other cities. Metro Cabs is my preferred operator but they are all pretty safe. Unless it is the same price or cheaper (or unless you need a large or luxury vehicle), I would not book a car service in advance.
-J.
-J.
Jan 26, 2022, 2:59 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
I hate getting Uber/Lyft at Logan late at night. Drivers will play games and shop around for rides, and the price is always sky high.
My usual trick is, if I arrive early enough where the silver line is still running, I'd hop on the silver line (it's free, there are luggage racks on board so don't worry about lugging your bags onto a bus) and request a ride when I get to South Station where it usually isn't surging, yet rides are usually available due to it being downtown (with nightclubs, bars, restaurants, etc), and the bus terminal has buses arriving and departing around the clock. If all else fails, I'd grab a taxi there (I've never had to though).
Of course this isn't useful if you're heading north from the airport, but if you're heading in almost any other direction, this will at least get you a little closer to home/wherever you're going. If you're heading north, grab a hotel shuttle (if they're still operating) and request your ride from there, or, grab a massport shuttle to the Airport MBTA station, walk across the bridge and through the park to Bremen st, and request your ride from there.
My usual trick is, if I arrive early enough where the silver line is still running, I'd hop on the silver line (it's free, there are luggage racks on board so don't worry about lugging your bags onto a bus) and request a ride when I get to South Station where it usually isn't surging, yet rides are usually available due to it being downtown (with nightclubs, bars, restaurants, etc), and the bus terminal has buses arriving and departing around the clock. If all else fails, I'd grab a taxi there (I've never had to though).
Of course this isn't useful if you're heading north from the airport, but if you're heading in almost any other direction, this will at least get you a little closer to home/wherever you're going. If you're heading north, grab a hotel shuttle (if they're still operating) and request your ride from there, or, grab a massport shuttle to the Airport MBTA station, walk across the bridge and through the park to Bremen st, and request your ride from there.
Last edited by diburning; Jan 26, 2022 at 3:05 am
Jan 31, 2022, 7:31 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: B6, Amtrak, DL, AA, Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 274
MassPort could substantially improve the late night situation by paying for a few extra SL1 runs. I hardly blame TNC drivers for not wanting to take a risk on going to BOS for a late-night pickup. Last flights arrive long after there are any fares to be had going to Logan, so they have to take a risk on a tunnel toll to find a fare. Don't find that fare? Then they're paying a full round trip for nothing.
(A former colleague of mine first suggested this approach back before COVID-19...don't want to take credit for the idea!)
(A former colleague of mine first suggested this approach back before COVID-19...don't want to take credit for the idea!)
Feb 2, 2022, 12:51 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
The dead spot is around 1AM to 3AM. Before 1AM, flights are still arriving, and the silver line is still operating. Between 1AM and 3AM, very few if any flights arrive at those times unless they're late. At 3AM, things pick up. There are people who arrive around 3AM for international (or are connecting to international) flights that depart around 4:30 or 5AM, so there will be an influx of drivers coming in to drop people off by then.