Getting to SFO Airport from Union Square

[jlp879]

This may all be a lot of fuss over nothing.

Dave

Yes, it is. It is about a 6-7 minute walk downhill from your accommodation to the BART station. Easy, peasy. This is the area of SF that no one worries about. You're doing it during busy, high traffic weekday hours. It will even be a pleasant walk providing you don't have a lot of luggage. BART to SFO airport was made for people like us. Truly easy and convenient. 20 minute ride, $18 fare for two adults. Cheaper if anyone is a senior. Way more reliable than possible traffic delays.

If you need an escort, PM me and I'll pick you up/walk you to the station.

 

[DaveNV]

Yes, it is. It is about a 6-7 minute walk downhill from your accommodation to the BART station. Easy, peasy. This is the area of SF that no one worries about. You're doing it during busy, high traffic weekday hours. It will even be a pleasant walk providing you don't have a lot of luggage. BART to SFO airport was made for people like us. Truly easy and convenient. 20 minute ride, $18 fare for two adults. Cheaper if anyone is a senior. Way more reliable than possible traffic delays.

If you need an escort, PM me and I'll pick you up/walk you to the station.

Thanks, Janice. I think once we're there and see things, we'll have a better idea of what we'll need to do. It's great to have options, though. Nice of you to offer to walk with us.

Dave

 

[ottawasquaw]

Thanks, Janice. I think once we're there and see things, we'll have a better idea of what we'll need to do. It's great to have options, though. Nice of you to offer to walk with us.

Dave

I'm surprised everyday by the number of people who have not tried a ride sharing service such as Uber or Lyft. I first used it 7 years ago when my son moved to SF.
The time and cost of your proposed cab/BART combo will be greater than ride share, especially if you can find a discount for your first ride. I'm sure I can send you an invite that would give you a discount.
I used Lyft on a recent trip. My tip was more than the cost of the ride due to the discount I had on my app. My son used Lyft for the same trip from his home in SF to SFO. It was morning commuter traffic and he was amazed at record time they arrived at SFO.

 

[DaveNV]

I'm surprised everyday by the number of people who have not tried a ride sharing service such as Uber or Lyft.

I think for some us, it's because of where we live. I don't live in a big city, and I wouldn't need it at home. When I've recently been in a big city on vacation, I usually have a rental car. So opportunity counts for something. It's not that I have anything against it, I just haven't had a serious opportunity.

Dave

 

[ottawasquaw]

I think for some us, it's because of where we live. I don't live in a big city, and I wouldn't need it at home. When I've recently been in a big city on vacation, I usually have a rental car. So opportunity counts for something. It's not that I have anything against it, I just haven't had a serious opportunity.

Dave

oh yes! I agree. It absolutely is about location. I found the Lyft app super user-friendly. It's easier than ever. These programs have really improved over the years.

 

[VacationForever]

I'm surprised everyday by the number of people who have not tried a ride sharing service such as Uber or Lyft. I first used it 7 years ago when my son moved to SF.
The time and cost of your proposed cab/BART combo will be greater than ride share, especially if you can find a discount for your first ride. I'm sure I can send you an invite that would give you a discount.
I used Lyft on a recent trip. My tip was more than the cost of the ride due to the discount I had on my app. My son used Lyft for the same trip from his home in SF to SFO. It was morning commuter traffic and he was amazed at record time they arrived at SFO.

We don't use Lyft or Uber because their screening of drivers leave alot to be desired. Anyone can be a "virtual" Lyft or Uber driver because they apply online, put in "their" Social Security number and the background check is run based on this information. There is no protection for the consumer against a criminal who fakes their SS to pass their background check.

The other thing, a side note, a few months ago I had a fraudulent "test" charge ($1) using my credit card from Uber. The $1 charge is typically done to test if the credit card number is still alive. That night I had 3 charges, including one from a Chinese restaurant in NY and Amex caught it quickly and alerted me and cancelled my card. Basically, one of the charges was made by an Uber driver to test if the cc was alive, buying the cc number from syndicates that sold stolen cc numbers.

 

[turkel]

We were in SF last Sunday. We saw multiple people lugging luggage from the Bart at the Powell street exit. As long as you have rolling luggage you will be fine.

 

[iwanttoflyaway]

We use Uber VERY frequently, and now we live somewhere with lyft so we'll probably use them more often. As drinkers, they're lifesavers. Potentially literally. I liked them better in a smaller town where I got to know every single driver, but I'm adjusting.

Our first real Uber ride was a few years ago, the day after St Paddy's. Our cars were less than half a mile away, but none of us were in any shape to walk half a mile in the sun. We got the hotel valet to call us a cab, and we're told it would be ten to fifteen minutes. After fifteen minutes, we request they call for an update. Apparently, our driver was sent somewhere else, but they'll send another - it'll be ten to fifteen minutes. We sigh. I remember that someone had told us about that Uber thing... I download the app, what the hell. More waiting. I register, what the hell. More waiting. I'm like, I wonder how long it would take and how much it would cost. It says three minutes and it'll be less than a minimum rate cab ride, and no fee for extra passengers. After a few minutes, I click request - what the hell, right?? The uber driver pulls up a few minutes later - still no cab in sight, over half an hour since we first had the hotel call - and the driver mercifully offers us all cool bottled water. We told the valet guys they need a new cab company. I have not been in a cab since.

 

[DavidnRobin]

LYFT.
Don’t succumb to fear.

Ride-sharing started in SF for a reason.

We have used Lyft often - nothing but great experiences.

You think taxi drivers don’t have issues? Think again...

Uber in NYC sucks - don’t let that be your measure.

Most use Uber/Lyft in Bay Area for a reason.

 

[Luanne]

I'm surprised everyday by the number of people who have not tried a ride sharing service such as Uber or Lyft. I first used it 7 years ago when my son moved to SF.
The time and cost of your proposed cab/BART combo will be greater than ride share, especially if you can find a discount for your first ride. I'm sure I can send you an invite that would give you a discount.
I used Lyft on a recent trip. My tip was more than the cost of the ride due to the discount I had on my app. My son used Lyft for the same trip from his home in SF to SFO. It was morning commuter traffic and he was amazed at record time they arrived at SFO.

We just haven't really needed to use Uber yet. I did download the app because of a previous experience in NYC when we couldn't get a cab (the time we lugged our suitcases for almost a mile). But, on our last trip got a cab right away. We tend to walk a lot when we travel, and in NYC we also use the subway. We also use private car services in NYC and the Bay area. More expensive? Probably.

 

[WalnutBaron]

+1 for Uber and Lyft, both of which I use when I am traveling in urban areas. Like Dave, I also live in a more rural area so I use ride-sharing services when I travel to cities either on business or for pleasure. My experiences have been uniformly great with both--and I much prefer ride-sharing to taking a taxi. The apps work great, pricing is generally reasonable (except when you're needing a ride during peak times of the day when prices increase), and the service is fast and efficient.

 

[ottawasquaw]

We don't use Lyft or Uber because their screening of drivers leave alot to be desired. Anyone can be a "virtual" Lyft or Uber driver because they apply online, put in "their" Social Security number and the background check is run based on this information. There is no protection for the consumer against a criminal who fakes their SS to pass their background check.

The other thing, a side note, a few months ago I had a fraudulent "test" charge ($1) using my credit card from Uber. The $1 charge is typically done to test if the credit card number is still alive. That night I had 3 charges, including one from a Chinese restaurant in NY and Amex caught it quickly and alerted me and cancelled my card. Basically, one of the charges was made by an Uber driver to test if the cc was alive, buying the cc number from syndicates that sold stolen cc numbers.

Your post is very confusing. Was it just a coincidence that your cc had a fraudulent Uber charge? I will specially recommend Lyft. For some, "uber" is now a verb but it is a company I will no longer use.

Keep in mind that a background check will only catch those who already have a record. I mention this because a friend recently confided that Dr. Larry Nassar had been involved in the youth ministry program at her church.

But always be smart and err on the side of caution.

 

[VacationForever]

Your post is very confusing. Was it just a coincidence that your cc had a fraudulent Uber charge? I will specially recommend Lyft. For some, "uber" is now a verb but it is a company I will no longer use.

Keep in mind that a background check will only catch those who already have a record. I mention this because a friend recently confided that Dr. Larry Nassar had been involved in the youth ministry program at her church.

But always be smart and err on the side of caution.

Essentially, someone ran a Uber charge against my cc for $1. A test charge ($1) is typically done buy potential buyers of stolen cc numbers. The buyers of cc numbers will run a test charge to make sure that the cc is still alive before making large charges, often at stores like Frys for high value items. Only a Uber driver or someone working within Uber can use their system to run a charge against a credit card when it shows up as an Uber charge.

 

[iwanttoflyaway]

Essentially, someone ran a Uber charge against my cc for $1. A test charge ($1) is typically done buy potential buyers of stolen cc numbers. The buyers of cc numbers will run a test charge to make sure that the cc is still alive before making large charges, often at stores like Frys for high value items. Only a Uber driver or someone working within Uber can use their system to run a charge against a credit card when it shows up as an Uber charge.

I think it's more likely that the scammer used your card to sign up a referral account, which gets a credit to the new account as well as the referring account. It puts a $1 charge on the card - confirming it's active - and then gives both accounts some free money for rides. Anyone with access to burner phones can do this.

I don't mean it's impossible that an Uber driver was the source, though I'm really not sure they actually have the ability to manually charge/test a card that a customer hands them. I just think the other situation is far more likely.

 

[VacationForever]

I think it's more likely that the scammer used your card to sign up a referral account, which gets a credit to the new account as well as the referring account. It puts a $1 charge on the card - confirming it's active - and then gives both accounts some free money for rides. Anyone with access to burner phones can do this.

I don't mean it's impossible that an Uber driver was the source, though I'm really not sure they actually have the ability to manually charge/test a card that a customer hands them. I just think the other situation is far more likely.

I do not know what is a referring account. A customer won't be charged $1 for a ride.

 

[iwanttoflyaway]

I do not know what is a referring account. A customer won't be charged $1 for a ride.

So, say someone has an Uber account on their phone. There is a link somewhere in the app that lets people 'refer' their friends - that link gives both the referrer and the person being referred some free credit towards their next ride. It looks like the referrer currently gets $10 and the referee gets $5 off their first four rides - I know it used to just be a flat credit of $20 to each of them. The referee's credit card is only charged $1, just to confirm that the card is active.

Again, I don't think Uber drivers have the ability to manually charge credit card numbers - so while it's possible someone connected to Uber was involved, I think it's far more likely that Uber was scammed too.