Chicago - I calculate every day and drive for Uber/Lyft both on when slow. The lowest I can recall is $13/hour. Typical is around $20/hr, usually over than under. This summer (tourist season) it's an average of $22-$28 hr over an 8-10 hour shift. Worst possible week is Christmas to New Years Eve - take it off except for the holidays themselves. Also, low income when the weather is nice and 65-75 degrees here. Best income hours are 10pm-1am any day. Not looking forward to this years Fall slowdown, if consistently under $20/hour then I'm probably out.
To be clear, there are NO Rideshare pickups from Terminals 1 and 3 anymore(although they were always closer to Terminal 2 anyway).
From Terminal 1, go upstairs and walk out of Door 1G, turn right and keep walking until you see the different colored Rideshare loading zones near Door 2A
From Terminal 3, go upstairs and walk out of Door 3A, turn left and keep walking until you see different colored Rideshare loading zones near Door 2D
Expert TIP: If you are claiming bags, you have to walk outside first to get to Terminal 2. If you are NOT getting baggage, stay inside the secured area to walk to Terminal 2, then walk outside from the upper level of Terminal 2.
In the area outside of Upper level 2A through 2D doors, look for signs and the painted lines on the roadway, starting with BLACK, BLUE, ORANGE, and GREEN. All 4 color zones are literally right next to each other and can hold about 6 cars each for pickups.
Expert Tip: Choose ORANGE when its busy at O'Hare for a much easier pickup, especially Sunday and Thursday nights or when flights are delayed due to overcrowding and excessive traffic in the pickup areas.
Super Expert Tip: When crazy busy with bad traffic(like all Thursday nights) AND you are going towards downtown Chicago or the Lakefront with fewer, lighter bags, forgo the $5 extra ride share pickup tax and long wait for a car. Instead pay $5 per person to take the Blue Line(CTA Train-follow signs near baggage claim) to any stop East of O'Hare and then get a much faster ride share car from one of those stops. All stops from Rosemont through Addison are Expressway stations and are in safe neighborhoods. You are also likely to be whisked away from the so often O'Hare surge price zone as well.
Please check the above link as the pickup points may change again in the future. (Posted 07/15/19)
The above map and signs have changed for standard ride share pickups at the O'Hare domestic terminals for Uber-X/XL/Select and Lyft.
I noticed a pickup change as a passenger on 07/02/19, even though I am an Uber and Lyft driver and Uber's website driver information is not updated (07/14/19).
From the one of O'Hare's websites, my passenger experience, and my matching Lyft passenger app giving me NEW choices that don't match most information being posted:
"Loading zones for Rideshare services are at the following locations:
Terminal 2 - waiting area Upper Level between Door 2A and Door 2D
To be clear, there are NO Rideshare pickups from Terminals 1 and 3 anymore(although they were always closer to Terminal 2 anyway).
From Terminal 1, go upstairs and walk out of Door 1G, turn right and keep walking until you see the different colored Rideshare loading zones near Door 2A
From Terminal 3, go upstairs and walk out of Door 3A, turn left and keep walking until you see different colored Rideshare loading zones near Door 2D
Expert TIP: If you are claiming bags, you have to walk outside first to get to Terminal 2. If you are NOT getting baggage, stay inside the secured area to walk to Terminal 2, then walk outside from the upper level of Terminal 2.
In the area outside of Upper level 2A through 2D doors, look for signs and the painted lines on the roadway, starting with BLACK, BLUE, ORANGE, and GREEN. All 4 color zones are literally right next to each other and can hold about 6 cars each for pickups.
Expert Tip: Choose ORANGE when its busy at O'Hare for a much easier pickup, especially Sunday and Thursday nights or when flights are delayed due to overcrowding and excessive traffic in the pickup areas.
Super Expert Tip: When crazy busy with bad traffic(like all Thursday nights) AND you are going towards downtown Chicago or the Lakefront with fewer, lighter bags, forgo the $5 extra ride share pickup tax and long wait for a car. Instead pay $5 to take the Blue Line(CTA Train-follow signs near baggage claim) to any stop East of O'Hare and then get a much faster ride share car from one of those stops. All stops from Rosemont through Addison are Expressway stations and are in safe neighborhoods. You are also likely to be whisked away from the so often O'Hare surge price zone as well.
For me, I had arrived in Terminal 1 and chose the Black Zone which is closest to the old Terminal 1-2 pickup. I then called the driver and changed my pickup zone color, because Black(and Green) are too busy. All 4 colors are literally right next to each other.
I've heard from my passengers that the Uber app automatically picks the zone color for you. If it picks the Black zone, walk as close as possible to the Blue zone for a smoother pickup and let your driver know. If it picks the Green zone, walk as close as possible to the Orange zone for a smoother pickup and let your driver know.
DRIVERS: As of 07/23/19, Uber has "Re-Match at O'Hare" and I got one with Uber on that date. I dropped off at Terminal 3 and Picked up immediately after in the Black Zone. DO NOT follow the app Navigation, due to illegal lane usage through a "DO NOT ENTER except authorized vehicles" sign. Rideshare vehicles are NOT authorized vehicles.
To follow the quickest loop back without traffic, initially follow the "Return to Terminals/Cell Phone Lot" sign in the LEFT lane, then just before the cell phone lot, exit RIGHT to "Main Parking". At the STOP SIGN (end of the loop ramp), cross straight yielding to traffic on your left carefully 1st then turn LEFT(same traffic exiting the main garage), you will then immediately see a LEFT U-turn type ramp that will allow you to legally and quickly get back to the approach to the Departure lanes on the right for pickups. I have passed many a police sitting just past the STOP SIGN, and NONE have pulled me over as it is a legal maneuver in that area. Also, do NOT follow this loop path unless you've been assigned a ride already, Uber will NOT give you a new ride 60 seconds after drop-off anyway.
RIDEGURU
Chicago - I calculate every day and drive for Uber/Lyft both on when slow. The lowest I can recall is $13/hour. Typical is around $20/hr, usually over than under. This summer (tourist season) it's an average of $22-$28 hr over an 8-10 hour shift. Worst possible week is Christmas to New Years Eve - take it off except for the holidays themselves. Also, low income when the weather is nice and 65-75 degrees here. Best income hours are 10pm-1am any day. Not looking forward to this years Fall slowdown, if consistently under $20/hour then I'm probably out.
<self-deleted and moved to a separate comment>
The pickup point(s) for standard ride share pickups at the O'Hare domestic terminals for Uber-X/XL/Select and Lyft have changed.
I noticed a pickup change as a passenger on 07/02/19, even though I am also an Uber and Lyft driver.
From the one of O'Hare's websites, and my matching Lyft passenger app giving me NEW choices that don't match most information being posted:
"Loading zones for Rideshare services are at the following locations:
Terminal 2 - waiting area Upper Level between Door 2A and Door 2D
Terminal 5 - waiting area Lower Level Door 5C"
https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/tofrom/taxi/pages/default.aspx
To be clear, there are NO Rideshare pickups from Terminals 1 and 3 anymore(although they were always closer to Terminal 2 anyway).
From Terminal 1, go upstairs and walk out of Door 1G, turn right and keep walking until you see the different colored Rideshare loading zones near Door 2A
From Terminal 3, go upstairs and walk out of Door 3A, turn left and keep walking until you see different colored Rideshare loading zones near Door 2D
Expert TIP: If you are claiming bags, you have to walk outside first to get to Terminal 2. If you are NOT getting baggage, stay inside the secured area to walk to Terminal 2, then walk outside from the upper level of Terminal 2.
In the area outside of Upper level 2A through 2D doors, look for signs and the painted lines on the roadway, starting with BLACK, BLUE, ORANGE, and GREEN. All 4 color zones are literally right next to each other and can hold about 6 cars each for pickups.
Expert Tip: Choose ORANGE when its busy at O'Hare for a much easier pickup, especially Sunday and Thursday nights or when flights are delayed due to overcrowding and excessive traffic in the pickup areas.
Super Expert Tip: When crazy busy with bad traffic(like all Thursday nights) AND you are going towards downtown Chicago or the Lakefront with fewer, lighter bags, forgo the $5 extra ride share pickup tax and long wait for a car. Instead pay $5 per person to take the Blue Line(CTA Train-follow signs near baggage claim) to any stop East of O'Hare and then get a much faster ride share car from one of those stops. All stops from Rosemont through Addison are Expressway stations and are in safe neighborhoods. You are also likely to be whisked away from the so often O'Hare surge price zone as well.
Please check the above link as the pickup points may change again in the future. (Posted 07/15/19)
The above map and signs have changed for standard ride share pickups at the O'Hare domestic terminals for Uber-X/XL/Select and Lyft.
I noticed a pickup change as a passenger on 07/02/19, even though I am an Uber and Lyft driver and Uber's website driver information is not updated (07/14/19).
From the one of O'Hare's websites, my passenger experience, and my matching Lyft passenger app giving me NEW choices that don't match most information being posted:
"Loading zones for Rideshare services are at the following locations:
Terminal 2 - waiting area Upper Level between Door 2A and Door 2D
Terminal 5 - waiting area Lower Level Door 5C"
https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/tofrom/taxi/pages/default.aspx
To be clear, there are NO Rideshare pickups from Terminals 1 and 3 anymore(although they were always closer to Terminal 2 anyway).
From Terminal 1, go upstairs and walk out of Door 1G, turn right and keep walking until you see the different colored Rideshare loading zones near Door 2A
From Terminal 3, go upstairs and walk out of Door 3A, turn left and keep walking until you see different colored Rideshare loading zones near Door 2D
Expert TIP: If you are claiming bags, you have to walk outside first to get to Terminal 2. If you are NOT getting baggage, stay inside the secured area to walk to Terminal 2, then walk outside from the upper level of Terminal 2.
In the area outside of Upper level 2A through 2D doors, look for signs and the painted lines on the roadway, starting with BLACK, BLUE, ORANGE, and GREEN. All 4 color zones are literally right next to each other and can hold about 6 cars each for pickups.
Expert Tip: Choose ORANGE when its busy at O'Hare for a much easier pickup, especially Sunday and Thursday nights or when flights are delayed due to overcrowding and excessive traffic in the pickup areas.
Super Expert Tip: When crazy busy with bad traffic(like all Thursday nights) AND you are going towards downtown Chicago or the Lakefront with fewer, lighter bags, forgo the $5 extra ride share pickup tax and long wait for a car. Instead pay $5 to take the Blue Line(CTA Train-follow signs near baggage claim) to any stop East of O'Hare and then get a much faster ride share car from one of those stops. All stops from Rosemont through Addison are Expressway stations and are in safe neighborhoods. You are also likely to be whisked away from the so often O'Hare surge price zone as well.
For me, I had arrived in Terminal 1 and chose the Black Zone which is closest to the old Terminal 1-2 pickup. I then called the driver and changed my pickup zone color, because Black(and Green) are too busy. All 4 colors are literally right next to each other.
I've heard from my passengers that the Uber app automatically picks the zone color for you. If it picks the Black zone, walk as close as possible to the Blue zone for a smoother pickup and let your driver know. If it picks the Green zone, walk as close as possible to the Orange zone for a smoother pickup and let your driver know.
DRIVERS: As of 07/23/19, Uber has "Re-Match at O'Hare" and I got one with Uber on that date. I dropped off at Terminal 3 and Picked up immediately after in the Black Zone. DO NOT follow the app Navigation, due to illegal lane usage through a "DO NOT ENTER except authorized vehicles" sign. Rideshare vehicles are NOT authorized vehicles.
To follow the quickest loop back without traffic, initially follow the "Return to Terminals/Cell Phone Lot" sign in the LEFT lane, then just before the cell phone lot, exit RIGHT to "Main Parking". At the STOP SIGN (end of the loop ramp), cross straight yielding to traffic on your left carefully 1st then turn LEFT(same traffic exiting the main garage), you will then immediately see a LEFT U-turn type ramp that will allow you to legally and quickly get back to the approach to the Departure lanes on the right for pickups. I have passed many a police sitting just past the STOP SIGN, and NONE have pulled me over as it is a legal maneuver in that area. Also, do NOT follow this loop path unless you've been assigned a ride already, Uber will NOT give you a new ride 60 seconds after drop-off anyway.