Plan on about 40 minutes for the ride from YVR Airport to Delta. The distance is 25 km, and a standard rideshare costs about $47 at normal demand. The likely range is $42 to $55.
Building the estimate
We worked this out from average rates, so it is an estimate and not Uber’s own price. The app gives the real upfront figure when you request a ride.
The rate card is a $2.50 base fare, $1.15 for each kilometre, $0.35 for each minute and a $2.00 booking fee. Twenty five kilometres comes to $28.75, forty minutes comes to $14.00, and with the base fare the subtotal is $45.25. Adding the booking fee brings the price to roughly $47.
Busy times cost more
At a busy level (1.2 times) the price is about $56. At very busy (1.5 times) it is about $70, and at a peak (2 times) it is about $93.
Since the trip is long, a surge adds a lot in dollars. If you can wait a little, check again before you accept.
Comfort is about $59, XL (up to 6 seats) is about $68, and Premier is about $104.
Splitting an XL between several people can bring the cost per person close to what each would pay in separate standard cars. For a group of four, the XL works out to about $17 each, which is hard to beat if everyone is going to the same address.
The taxi option
Whalley Taxi and Royal City Taxi publish the same tariff, a $3.75 flag fee and $2.18 per kilometre. Over 25 km that gives a meter estimate of about $58. Waiting time and extras would come on top.
At normal demand that is about $11 more than a standard rideshare. You can phone Vancouver Taxi on 604-871-1111 or Yellow Cab Vancouver on 604-681-1111 and ask for a quote, and both list wheelchair accessible vehicles.
Before you leave the terminal
At an airport, pickup points can be some distance from the arrivals area, so read the instructions in the app first. Send the driver your exact destination address, and mention luggage if you have more than a couple of bags. Do this before you confirm rather than at the kerb, so the driver can arrive with the right size of car.
It also helps to keep the destination address saved or copied on your phone. A 40 minute ride is not the moment to be hunting for a street number while the driver waits, and a correct pin means the route in the app matches the price you were shown.