Lyft now charges for driver wait time
Lyft is becoming more concerned about punctuality. According to Lyft spokesperson Katie Kim, the per-minute wait charge policy has been in force since December 2022, but the company only recently updated its support website to reflect the change.
The fee of waiting begins two minutes after a driver arrives, or five minutes for Lux Black and Lux XL excursions. Even if the driver arrives early, wait time charges will not begin to accrue until two minutes after your scheduled pickup time.
Lyft’s website does not specify any potential expenses, including how much it will charge each minute. Prices are said to “vary by location” and “extra wait time charges may apply to your trip depending on how crowded it is,” but no further information is provided.
Despite the fact that the Lyft support centre indicates that charges are calculated “per minute,” a screenshot of the pricing obtained by a Twitter user reveals that you may be charged per second. The screenshot shows that the user was charged $0.58 because the driver had to wait an additional 49 seconds. Fees are waived for “Shared,” “Access,” “Assisted,” and “Car Seat” rides. Allowing extra time to get in the automobile is beneficial for individuals who may require it.
Lyft also guarantees to repay “past wait time fee charges upon request” for customers who have obtained a waiver for wait time expenses because to a handicap. What happens if the driver cancels is unclear, however if you cancel and pay the cancellation fee, the business will not charge you for the wait time.
Lyft’s wait time fees are being implemented seven years after Uber began charging for them. Uber, like Lyft, charges for wait time two minutes after the driver arrives. The US Department of Justice sued Uber on charges that it discriminates against people with disabilities, which thrust the company into the limelight. In the end, Uber agreed to a $2 million settlement with the riders to repay individuals with impairments who had to pay wait time expenses.