The next stop for Uber and Lyft: LAX

The airport votes to allow them to pick up passengers, though there are details to be ironed out

A couple of years ago I landed in LAX, and immediately tried to get an Uber out of there, without any luck. So thenI tried to get a Lyft. Again, nobody could come get me. I wound up using a regular taxi service, and while it was fine, I didn't really want to pay cash for my ride. The whole thing surprised and, frankly, annoyed me. 

What I didn't realize was that those services were actually banned from LAX, as they are from many airports around the country. 

Now steps have been taken that will likely mean an end to that ban at LAX, as officials from Los Angeles International Airport voted in favor of granting full airport access to app-based taxi services, the Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday. 

That will mean that both Lyft and Uber would be allowed in, which is slightly ironic considering that another California agency just this week fined Uber, and threatened to suspend its operating license in the state altogether over a squabble involving data. But such is the life of an e-hailing service.

These services can currently drop off at most major airports, but so far only twelve around the country, including San Francisco International Airport, have allowed cab drivers from these companies to pick up passengers. LAX would not only be the thirteenth airport to revise its rules, it would also be the biggest one to do so yet.

While noting that the rulling was "one big step," a spokesperson for Lyft noted that getting access to LAX is not yet finalized, and there is still much to before that happens.

"We thank the Los Angeles World Airports Board and Mayor Garcetti for taking a big step in the right direction toward allowing consumers to choose Lyft at LAX. We are committed to finalizing the process and look forward to beginning operations at LAX soon," the spokesperson said.

Vator also reached out to Uber for comment on the ruling, but the company was not available for comment at this time. We will update this story if we learn more.

What comes next seems to be an ironing out of the details under which both Uber and Lyft can operate.

For example, the Times is reporting that Lyft is fighting against a provision that drivers would be barred from LAX if their license has been suspended in the the last seven year, with the company wanting to drop that down to three years. 

Another contentious issue involves drivers only being able to drop off and pick up passengers on the upper departure level, something that both companies came out against.

Other rules include drivers having to wait in a holding area until receiving a request for a ride, and there being a limit of no more than 40 ride-hail drivers allowed in the holding area at one time.

The rules have to be approved by the city attorney, which could happen in the next three to four weeks. So, if all goes well, you'll be able to get a ride from LAX by September. 

(Image source: westsidetoday.com)