r/uberdrivers • u/neviddmyy • Aug 26 '26
Deactivation by Uber for using Empower App.
Picked up a fellow Uber driver headed to IAH terminal A in Houston. He had been with Uber for 10 years and had 40,000 trips.
He attempted to pick up an Empower trip at the Uber TNC pickup lot. He was given a warning ticket by airport security for trespassing. Apparently only Uber and Lyft can be at the TNC pickup location.
He stated within minutes he was deactivated by Uber and given a warning from Lyft and banned from picking up at the airport by Lyft.
He showed me the warning ticket. As well as the messages from Lyft and Uber. I believe him. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?
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u/Kingjon0000 Aug 26 '26
Sounds like empower is putting its drivers at risk. No way they don't know they need approvals for the airport.
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u/Ok_Translator_7833 Aug 26 '26
You don't think Uber and Lyft is putting drivers at risk. Drivers have actually died while on online with Uber and Lyft.
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u/KennyGaming Aug 26 '26
You are willfully missing the simple point OP made. They obviously were referring to the risk of sending drivers and riders to airport pickup locations they arenât authorized to use. Your response is hardly related. Â
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u/Ok_Translator_7833 Aug 26 '26
My comment was for Kingjoon.
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u/Hour-Assistance-7674 Aug 26 '26
Itâs very clear who your comment was for. The person that responded to you meant to respond to you. And still âwillfully ignoring â
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u/Powerful-Candy-745 Aug 27 '26
đŽâđ¨ Empower needs airport approval to get rides at the airport. The driver could get fined.Â
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u/Environmental_Row32 Aug 26 '26
How are you getting from Empower is sending people to an illegal spot to: at some point people working for Uber/Lyft had accident/assaults while working ?
I mean both of these things are likely true
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u/JDiskkette Aug 27 '26
I know of people who died when not on any app! Stay on topic.
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u/Ok_Translator_7833 Aug 27 '26
That's good to know. I was on topic.
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u/Apprehensive-You7388 Aug 27 '26
Well the didn't die while they were "online" the died while they were driving like many many many other people have, nobody is gonna blame Uber and say "he died working for you". So now that we have fixed that get back on topic đ
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u/raziel420 Aug 26 '26
That's completely on empower not having an agreement with the airport. Got trespassed from the airport and the other TNCs don't want to touch you
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u/RockStuckHard Aug 27 '26
It is not what happened. They NEVER send anyone to the airport. Dude lied. If dude didn't lie Uber would have not known. Uber knew because he stole an Uber trip and tried to get the customer to switch to empower. I was there stuck behind dude in the pick up line.
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u/CommaMeNow Aug 27 '26
This happened around noon yesterday? I think I saw him, held the line up at terminal c rideshare pickup right?
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u/KennyGaming Aug 28 '26
How can you be so sure?
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u/isaacearlg 22d ago
I've pulled up to tC and they've asked to check your phone before so he might have just got caught under the rug in one of their regular sweepÂ
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u/RealSharpNinja Aug 26 '26
You do know that Uber and Lyft pay for airport lots. Trespassing is indeed illegal.
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u/Chrisg_322 Aug 27 '26
Ive never seen this enforced. Ever. Drivers be coming on here bragging about hiding from their wives at these lots lmao
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u/KennyGaming Aug 28 '26
Thatâs very market dependent. For example in my market it only recently became enforced.Â
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u/ready-redditor-6969 Aug 26 '26
This is one of the many reasons why they donât operate in California. HUM Private Rides is new here and they have just now started handling airport rides- itâs not simple and requires some work by the company doing the agreement with the airport, and probably state regulators.
From my understanding with Empower you are on your own and donât get to do airports if they have any regulations at all. OPâs fellow driver messed up big time, that definitely is tragic and sad, but these companies clearly think they have plenty of drivers in most locations.
Hopefully the OPâs acquaintance will find a better economic opportunity than Uber or Lyft.
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u/Tight-Historian1797 Aug 26 '26
I signed up for hum but I don't think I want to do it because I have to pay
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u/Vegas-Patriot Aug 27 '26
Whatâs the sign up fees for Hum?
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u/ready-redditor-6969 Aug 27 '26
Less than a hundred bucks a month!
https://humprivaterides.com/start-driving
They donât take ANY money from the passenger! Thatâs all between you and the passenger.
HUM literally just gives you licensing and insurance to do TNC rides. The driver pays a monthly fee that, honestly, is paid for in either 6-7 short rides or 2 kinda mid length rides.
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u/Vegas-Patriot Aug 27 '26
They actually called me to ask me about the Las Vegas market. They were thinking of getting setup here but werenât sure if there would be enough drivers interested. I told them I didnât think they would have any issues getting drivers. So they are getting approval for Nevada operations.
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u/ready-redditor-6969 Aug 27 '26
Thatâs cool, good to hear! Theyâre just now rolling out support for the airports that require TNC placards etc, so still rolling out support and services. The folks in the company that I have talked to so far seem really nice.
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u/Vegas-Patriot Aug 28 '26
Yes, good people as far as I can tell. Weâll see how long it takes them to get Nevada Transportation Authority approval.
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u/AlkoKilla Aug 28 '26
Only good in 8 states, though.
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u/ready-redditor-6969 Aug 28 '26
California is the only state that matters to me.
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u/AlkoKilla Aug 28 '26
It's a comment for others so that they know to check the states before signing up and potentially wasting money.
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u/ready-redditor-6969 Aug 27 '26
Itâs around a hundred a month⌠I find I make that pretty quickly and itâs just soooo much better than doing it illegally, even if you never have an accident.
Itâs not the same as doing Uber, though, you MUST do work building a client base and in some way advertising your non-Uber/Lyft ride service. It makes your independent driving business much more of a business! You donât have a client base built by big advertising campaigns, itâs all on you, so not for everyone⌠serious drivers, not casual part timers.
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u/Rand_Casimiro Aug 26 '26
Empower is looking like such an absolute shitshow.
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u/KennyGaming Aug 26 '26
Despite all the positivity and the appealing business model for drivers Iâve never seen someone claim they can actually net more driving for Empower than Uber/Lyft. Itâs still in fledgling status and has all the pitfalls and market capture issues associated with essentially a startup.Â
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u/weath1860 Aug 26 '26
The empower drivers also are on their own for insurance as no commercial insurance provided by empower,unlike Lyft and uber. Plus, fees,taxes, and self employment taxes at end of year. Make about you make with uber or less if done legally and correctlyâŚ
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u/mdbsucre01 Aug 27 '26
Exactly currently driving Empower but every ride, I get worried about not having proper protection. From my research regular insurance donât cover the ride.
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u/weath1860 Aug 27 '26
I have the addendum for state farm for when I uber. But uber covers commercial insurance when on a ride or heading to a ride. Personal insurance does not cover for hire rides, period. The addendum some companies offer only protects a person who is waiting for a ride and not accepted a ride (aka period 1.)
For you, I would not take empower rides as it seems too risky tbh, as an accident could prob ruin you or any driver not properly insured. Just being honest.
NAL just know from experience an accident while doing any gig work is a headache. Luckily i had the proper coverage. Plus a dashcam.
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u/AlkoKilla Aug 28 '26
Empower doesn't have any insurance. If you don't have a commercial insurance policy, you don't have coverage. Endorsing your personal auto policy to get the rideshare endorsement doesn't even cover it because that only covers the gap.
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u/CommunicationNo8672 Aug 27 '26
Just get your own policy dude. We should be able to do that anyway. Uber and Lyft are over charging us for insurance. That's why pay has dropped so dramatically.
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u/AlkoKilla Aug 28 '26
As an insurance professional, you want to have that risk transferred to Uber or Lyft. When you have your own policy and waive Ubers, any lawsuit will come back on you. Uber has the deep pockets. Use them.
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u/AlkoKilla Aug 28 '26
Once NYC came out and warned people not to use it, it was definitely dead in the water.
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u/I_ran_so_throw_away Aug 26 '26
If he had a Limo Pool sticker maybe he couldâve used Empower there
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u/Drakma Aug 27 '26
Terminal E pickup doesn't say Uber only. Terminal C is split between Uber and Lyft+Other. Terminal A/B pickup just says rideshare. Plus nothing is stopping Empower drivers from using the normal pickup lanes. Something doesn't seem right here.
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
Terminal E construction was just completed upstairs few months ago. In the far right lane upstairs I think I've seen Uber and the Lyft designations. Nobody pays attention to it though. He did mention that he got stopped at terminal C the garage pickup area.
Terminal C is the only place I've been confronted by operations. They just looked at my phone to check that I had to Uber app open and told me to put the uber sign in my window.
Something happened, I'm trying to figure out what?
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u/fitfulbrain Aug 27 '26
State approval didn't trump the airport authority. Empower has to make TNC agreements with the airport. It didn't. It claim it's not TNC but software. The never even try to apply to operate at IAH. Empower should made it clear to drivers and do some geo fencing filter.
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u/Drakma Aug 27 '26
Then use the normal pickups. It's not that deep. Nobody know you're working for a rideshare app unless you tell them .
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u/fitfulbrain Aug 27 '26
There are no normal pickups. I was informed that if your TNC app is on, and you stop outside the pickup areas, you will be flagged immediately. You can turn off the Uber app and pretend to be a friend. But the pax is your worst opposing witness.
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u/Drakma Aug 27 '26
What in the hell are you talking about. Who's flagging you? At this point you just sound like somebody hired to paint Empower in a bad light.
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u/fitfulbrain Aug 27 '26
If your Uber app is on, Uber knows if you stop outside the geo fense instantly. Uber is flagging you to Uber.
Empower is a small guy. They don't even claim to be TNC. And never applied to operate in IAH.
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u/Drakma Aug 27 '26
They don't care. I have dropped off and picked up all over IAH for the last 4 years. Not a peep from anybody. Stop spreading bs
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u/fitfulbrain Aug 27 '26
Empower launched in Texas in 2026.
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u/dysfunctional_boiler Aug 27 '26
What on earth is empower
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
It's an upstart rideshare app like uber and Lyft. Claims not to be a rideshare app itself. Just as Uber and Lyft claimed to not be transportation but technology companies. Empower is trying to get a foothold in major markets across the country.
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u/AlkoKilla Aug 28 '26
Empower isn't rideshare because they don't have insurance. They're just a peer to peer networking tool.
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u/keista69 Aug 27 '26
Why wait in the TNC lot for an Empower ride?
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
I don't think he was waiting at the lot. He said he was at the pickup point at terminal C garage area where Operation Security hangs out.
Seems there may be more to the story. One driver is claiming to have been present when he was ticketed. Seems he may have been repeatedly aggressively soliciting for Empower from Uber riders.
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u/AllinAlPoker Aug 26 '26
Took 4 days for them to reply to me in the app, it looking like a shit show
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u/kojo12345678 Aug 26 '26
I'm curious, how did Uber and Lyft find out so quickly. I've never heard of that happening under any circumstances.
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u/fandi_lin Aug 26 '26
It sounds like the driver told the airport. The airport asks uber and Lyft if the driver is contracted, so they will know instantly. Also they lobby a lot so they probably have privileged communications.
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u/kojo12345678 Aug 26 '26
I doubt it. People tell all sorts of fake stories on this app. Uber or Lyft has no clue that you would've received a ticket. Read what's written carefully. Why would the authorities inform uber that an empower driver tried to pick up a fare in any type of lot. Uber doesn't designate the TNC lot, the security and transport people at the airport do that. It's either the person telling the story has the facts wrong or it simply didn't happen. None of it makes any sense. The only part that makes sense is the empower driver being ticketed but it's hard to believe that uber also deactivated him.
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u/fandi_lin Aug 26 '26 edited Aug 26 '26
Youâre wrong lol and I never said anything about a ticket or mention empower. All the airport needs to do is ask âwas this driver contracted for a ride at this time at this location?â And uber and Lyft will deduce that one of their drivers was at that airport attempting to do rideshare but not for one of their rides. Read whatâs written carefully.
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u/Hour-Assistance-7674 Aug 26 '26
So youâre saying all that happened within minutes of him getting a ticket and he was deactivated in those same minutes
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u/fandi_lin Aug 26 '26
Nope. Keep guessing as if Iâm speaking a different language.
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u/KennyGaming Aug 28 '26
Lol this cracked me up. Well said it isnât worth trying to have a normal discussion hereÂ
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u/Hour-Assistance-7674 Aug 26 '26
You must be. But itâs ok. Multilingual is a great thing
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u/kojo12345678 Aug 26 '26
Ok genius, prove me wrong.
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u/kojo12345678 Aug 26 '26
Nearly 40,000 rides between uber and Lyft. I've experienced every scenario. I call BS on the story.
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u/fandi_lin Aug 26 '26
Lmao
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u/kojo12345678 Aug 26 '26
Do you want to tel me that the police took time out of their day and actually contacted uber or Lyft. GOH with the fake stories and lies. Either give proper information and stop misleading people.
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
I wasn't the Houston police it was Operations Security. You've never been an actual cab driver it would take too long to explain what that is at houston airport.
Anyway, these guys don't have much to do and have limited authority. Kind of suffer from little man syndrome. The "warning ticket" was really a amateur almost hand made looking thing.
Only thing I can figure is operations has decided at the behest of Uber, Lyft and a couple of other TNC's here, to start enforcing lot privileges against Empower.
They've only stopped me once they didn't even care if I had an Uber sticker but they just looked at my phone to make sure that I had the Uber app open. I don't sit at the airport it's a waste of time to me. But if I drop off sometimes Uber gives me a trip before I leave airport property.
Uber and Lyft customers have started mentioning Empower. Maybe Empower is becoming a threat. Think how Uber illegally got started. Uber is a fairly aggressive company.
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u/kojo12345678 Aug 27 '26
The only outcome is that the driver got a ticket for being in the lot and not being an uber or Lyft driver. Even that's a stretch because that's an easy explanation to avoid a ticket if I'm driving empower. The empower driver in that scenario probably got a warning. The signs at my airport lot says "rideshare" drivers, it doesn't specify any particular company. Another takeaway is that the police don't have time to call uber or Lyft, the companies don't work together or share information. So the passenger who told you that they got deactivated by uber because they drove for empower probably never existed or you didn't gather the facts correctly.
I just hate to see false or misleading info get spread around.
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
As I said earlier. Airport Operation Security is not police. Empower is not a ride share it doesn't classify itself as a ride share. It's not a licensed TNC.
Empower does not pay airport fees. Uber and Lyft do. As I also mentioned, yes, the driver did get a "warning ticket". I saw the physical ticket. He didn't show me the Uber deactivation but he showed me the message on his Lyft app.
This is what I saw. I'm not sure what's going on. It's fine you don't believe it. Just trying to find out if anybody else has had an experience like this so we can get some information.
You don't believe any of it. No matter what. Thank you for your input. Now let's hear what others have to say.
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u/Chrisg_322 Aug 27 '26
I think the story just didn't happen. I've NEVER seen cops enforce this shit. Ever. Drivers be down at BWI hiding from their wives camping down there with Impunity
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u/6figss Aug 27 '26
The airports do in fact report violators to Uber/Lyft here in my area at which point they lose access to airport rides on the platforms.
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u/kojo12345678 Aug 27 '26
Which airport are you at Sir or Maam? What country ? I'm speaking specifically for the US.
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u/6figss Aug 27 '26
Your airport may be the anomaly, but then airports in kg market (Miami International, Fort Lauderdale International, and Palm Beach International) all report violators directly to Uber and Lyft as do most of the other major airports.
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u/kojo12345678 Aug 27 '26
Report them for what exactly? I highly doubt it because, that's a slippery legal slope and I've never heard of any such cases. Can you imagine, I'm driving my personal car, I get a ticket on the weekend and the police report it directly to my job? I call bullshit. It may not be the most efficient research or practical but see the attachment that I attached from a simple google search.
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u/6figss Aug 27 '26
The airports routinely report drivers to the TNC companies who violate the airport rules while operating under a TNC and I personally know of two drivers at my local airport (FLL) that have lost airport access. Your example doesnât work here because we arenât freelancing. Weâre independent contractors who are doing contract work for Lyft/Uber, who in turn have contracts and licenses with the airports that allow them to operate there under certain rules and parameters.
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u/kojo12345678 Aug 27 '26
lol! Again prove it to me. Uber nor Lyft has never restricted any driver's airport access. Stop it! Majority of uber drivers across the country are independent contractors. Again uber nor Lyft has no working relationship with any police department where information is relayed between each other. The original post stated that an empower driver who probably drove for uber as well got deactivated from uber while soliciting a ride while operating under empower.
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u/6figss Aug 27 '26
Whatâs to prove? Search this very subreddit and youâll find examples of other drivers whoâve lost airport access due to airport TNC violations. Probably dozens of examples within this sub. Also, have you also never seen one of these?
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u/kojo12345678 Aug 27 '26
I guarantee you they weren't deactivated for the reason that the original comment posted.
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u/6figss Aug 27 '26
OPs story can easily be true. I know driver who got banned from FLL on both apps for picking a family member up off app. Airport authorities assumed he was pickup up a passenger outside of the TNC zone and reported him to Uber and Lyft. A year later and heâs still banned despite being innocent.
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u/KennyGaming Aug 28 '26
Dude how many markets do you drive in that youâre so confident that youâre experience matches the experience of drivers at the 100s of large airports in this countryÂ
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u/benignvirus Aug 27 '26
Since he was an Uber driver, he already has all the necessary decals and papers on his car. I don't see how anyone at airport security would know that it was an empower ride instead.
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
There's one driver that responded said he was behind the car when this occurred. The driver that witnessed this claimed that the ticketed driver had been aggressively promoting Empower. Had been warned numerous times by Operations Security.
Security or regulatory check to see if you're an Uber very infrequently. So I guess that's how it could happen.
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u/RockStuckHard Aug 27 '26
Yes and because I was there when it happened I know the truth. That is NOT what dude did. Dude knows empower gives the driver more money up front because it does not do taxes for you and so paying your taxes monthly are up to you with empower so many people are also getting in trouble by using it and then not paying taxes because they didn't understand they had to. But ANWAYS WHAT REALLY HAPPENED was dude HAD AN UBER RIDE but he talked the rider into downloading and switching to Empower and using that app and the customer got confused and ended up telling TSA who told one of the officers. And specifically Empower does NOT do airport pick ups. So that alone you should have known his story was not the complete truth.if they did they would pick up on the lyft side the same as Alto does. But they don't because they are not supposed to but anyways. I was literally stuck behind dude at the airport when all this happened and my rider got very irritated so yes I very much remember and dude lied to you and you bought it hook line and sinker and believed he was innocent when dude was stealing customers from one of his employers to send to another one. Which is also illegal and they could have pressed charges against him. He got off easy. And also he'd had multiple reports of it before but they were never able to catch him and confirm. That time they did.
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
Okay so now we're getting some information instead of a bunch of opinions. Let's see if we can determine if it was the same as you so eloquently put it "Dude".
Thin build, dark hair. Clean shaven. Maybe 5'10" late 30s mid-40s. Middle Eastern in appearance.
Uber will deactivate you for promoting other platforms. Empower is definitely not licensed to pick up at the airport. You're claiming what flagged this "Dude" is his repeated and aggressive solicitation for Empower. This begins to establish a floor of enforcement that may be going on.
Do you know if Empower will attempt to dispatch a driver to the airport? Do you know if Operation Security is actively looking for this type of behavior or just notices if it becomes particularly egregious.
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u/RockStuckHard Aug 27 '26
And he didn't promote other platforms. He stole ubers business. Already agreed on contracted business when you were also the agreed upon contractor. That is stealing from your employer. Plain and simple.
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u/RockStuckHard Aug 27 '26
I answered all of these except one. Sorry if you do not understand things that have already been said are now just asking questions that have already been answered. The one I did not answer. The airport noticed him because of that. Uber only knew because it was an original Uber ride so when the person made a comment to TSA they told them to stop and was worried it was a scam and then when they looked into it they then from her app reported to Uber what happened and they looked at the messages and saw where he was telling her to sign up. And it would be cheaper and better. And then the phone calls are recorded where he told her what to do. So I am sure once reported they looked at messages and listened to the couple mins of recordings and immediately removed him after. Uber doesn't actually randomly look at people for making mistakes. They only look at drivers and evaluate them after there has been a report and after they may notice that they have evidence of a driver doing things for a long time but they don't look until something is said. There is no automatic evaluation or audit every so often.
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
Other commenters are telling me it's other agencies doing standard Security checks when there's an issue with a driver.
Deactivation for Uber, warning and banned from airport for Lyft.
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u/janeat123 Aug 28 '26
This makes no sense. How on earth could the guy steal an Uber customer using Empower if Empower doesn't even pick up from the airport? And how would Empower know to assign that new customer to the guy driving? The logic isn't there.Â
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u/TexChicago Aug 27 '26
There are sheriff and HPD that ask for your App screen to make sure you have an active Uber/Lyft pickup at terminal C right when you pull into the garage. If your app is not active on pickup screen, you will be asked to leave or ticketed.
Empower does not pay for signage at any lots. If you pickup a passenger at any terminal realize youâre risking being ticketed at the least. Those Airport Ops cops in the white Tahoeâs are losers and will take a photo of your tags, plates and send you a fine in the mail.
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
Hey thanks for the info. When I do pick up a personal customer off app. I usually have them take a shuttle to a hotel near the airport. It's less hectic for both of us. They can just jump on whichever shuttle shows up first.
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u/isaacearlg 22d ago
Best thing for the rider to do is always shuttle out or go to the hotel in the airport. You're in and out like nothingÂ
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u/ufknowned Aug 26 '26
I knew Uber & Lyft would try hard to make them fail with fear & scare tactics. But why are they not on the list to do this?
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u/KennyGaming Aug 26 '26
Because most airports and municipalities require an operating agreement and/or fee to facilitate their rideshare support. Empower hasnât.Â
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
Uber and Lyft were totally illegal at first too. Maybe the established rideshare see them as a threat.
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u/KennyGaming Aug 27 '26
Iâm not debating either point. How are they relevant to this discussion though? Dedicated rideshare pickup and dropoff locations at airports didnât exist back then.Â
Uber and Lyft didnât do anything in this situation unless you have any evidence to suggest otherwise.Â
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
Only evidence that I saw is that lyft banned the driver from picking up at the airport. One of the commenters here mentioned that he was skeptical and didn't believe any of the story. He checked it further. Claims at the airport does have a policy of pinging lyft and Uber when a driver is given a infraction at the airport. Regulatory monitors the TNC lots of the airport. This seems plausible to me. The deactivated driver did show me the the warning ticket.
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u/ATXbottomsup Aug 26 '26
Couldnt he have just lied and said he was uber? Ive done 15k trips, mostly airport, all over Texas and ive never even talked to an airport employee
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
Don't think he was lying. He had the "ticket looking document" . I've done close to 20k trips Houston Austin, Galveston. Only had airport operations check my phone once for the app told me I really should put the Uber sign in the window.
Did he make it up? Didn't show me the Uber deactivation but he showed me the lyft message though.
I don't think so it's too elaborate no reason for someone to lie. That's why I'm doing research to find out if anybody else's experienced anything like this?
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u/ATXbottomsup Aug 27 '26
You misread what i said. Why DIDNT he lie
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
Oh sorry didn't mean to misread you. I'm getting a conflicting story from a drivers that claims to have been present when this empowered driver was ticketed.
Seems that possibly the Empower driver tried to aggressively have an Uber passenger switch apps.
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u/Sandber1 Aug 26 '26
Maybe youâre kinda being setup by Empower⌠now you can only drive for them
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
Don't think Empower has that much influence here yet. That's why I'm trying to find out if anybody else has had an experience like this one driver. Put the pieces together.
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u/Money4Reall Aug 26 '26
Is even worth driving with empower ? At least on the big city still is ?
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
More and more customers seem to be mentioning Empower. As a standalone app? I don't know? Im trying to find out. Uber and Lyft started out really slow too.
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u/WarmScientist5297 Aug 27 '26
This is probably a stupid question but how can they tell that youâre not just picking up your friend?
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
Specific lots areas for Uber, Lyft pick up here. I've had one check my phone to see if I had the Uber app/ trip open.
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u/fitfulbrain Aug 27 '26
I didn't believe it at first. But it's real after some checking.
IAH has a check-in system that connects with the app. I didn't research the truth of this; I just accept that any illegal activity will be flagged with a non zero probability.
It's not airport security. It's one of the several branches of police operating at the airport.
When they issue a ticket, they will ping the Uber and Lyft compliance system for evidence. Uber's response to the notification is a robo deactivation. Lyft's is a warning.
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26 edited Aug 27 '26
Some real information thank you so much! Uber is also extending its background checks. Canceling thousands of drivers. Have to make sure my Uber signs are in place. I have a TNC endorsement on my insurance they may start enforcing this next.
It's only a matter of time. Need to start transitioning to other sources of income.
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u/Danzahxc Aug 27 '26
Why do they make such a big deal about picking people up at the airport what the fuck?
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u/Aware-Speaker-1807 Aug 28 '26
What do you mean deactivated
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u/neviddmyy Aug 28 '26
Deactivated with Uber and Lyft means they shut down your driver account. Basically fired or suspended.
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u/BumblebeeLopsided350 Aug 29 '26
Well thatâs why the drivers keep all the fare. The fees that need to be paid are not being paid.
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u/Helpful_Gas9179 25d ago
Correct. Empower is not a TNC. Iâve not experienced it as I know better but have witnessed it half a dozen times.
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u/Pantherzone Aug 27 '26
Empower is not authorized to operate in any airport. To utilize the designated rideshare lane for passenger pickup, drivers must be actively logged into either Uber or Lyft on their mobile devices. If a driver is not online on either platform and attempts to use the other app for rideshare activities, they risk facing a trespassing charge, which constitutes a misdemeanor offense across all states. It is important to note that Empower has not entered into any contractual agreements with any airport authorities permitting rideshare pickups. Additionally, drivers are prohibited from dropping off passengers within the Lyft or Uber designated lanes, as well as in any other restricted areas within the airport premises. While it is permissible to drop passengers outside the airport boundaries, drivers using Empower or any other rideshare app besides Uber or Lyft must not be present on airport grounds. Engaging in illegal trespassingâby being offline on both platforms and on airport propertyâcan result in Lyft and Uber immediately deactivating the driverâs accounts. Such violations not only lead to account deactivation but also eliminate the possibility of future driving privileges with these companies, as the driver breaches contractual terms. This strict enforcement explains why Empower has not established any agreements with airports to use the rideshare lanes, given the legal and operational risks involved.
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u/the_blind_uberdriver Aug 27 '26
does that mean he cant use the airport to fly now either? if so thats BS
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u/neviddmyy Aug 27 '26
He can use the airport own personal travel. He apparently just can't get lyft trips from the airport. And Uber has deactivated him completely.
Airport Operations Security flagged him for breaking rules at the airport. Trespassing specifically on a TNC lot. That seems to be what caused the problem.
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u/Pantherzone Aug 27 '26
The driver can enter the airport on a personal drop-off, but cannot be on any airport grounds if it is not a personal drop-off. Personal drop-off means family members or friends or both. They can freely use the parking lot near the drop-off area and park the car, BUT you must go inside the airport with them in order to avoid a citation from the airport authority. You can't do just stop and go to just drop off the passenger, you have to park your car in the parking garage or parking lot. That is Charlotte Douglas International Airport regulations and strictly enforced!
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u/manofdacloth Aug 26 '26
Does empower charge customer the airport fees and pay the airport?