What Is Wingz?
Wingz is an on-demand service that provides airport rides.
That might sound like several other services you might know — Uber and Lyft, example — but what differentiates Wingz is that the company allows you to schedule and confirm a ride ahead of time, and has a flat rate to get you to the airport.
For nervous travelers, or people who don’t like getting surprised with surge pricing, it’s a nice option to guarantee that a car will show up when you want it, and you will know what you are paying ahead of time.
Wingz also has a bit of the early Uber vibe of insisting its drivers are more professional and its cars are a bit newer.
And it’s not just airport rides, though the name of the company does suggest that’s the case.
Wingz cars can be booked anywhere.
They recommend the service for any time you may be traveling to a large event where demand could be high, or an event you don’t want to chance it with a rideshare car being unavailable.
Think: sporting events, concerts, business meetings, doctor’s appointments, etc.
Anything you know about ahead of time and can adequately schedule, and want to make sure someone is there on time, is a good opportunity for Wingz.
How Does Wingz Compare to Other Rideshare Services?
Compared to other ride sharing companies, Wingz is a good option when…
- you can schedule the trip ahead of time
- you want to make sure a car is waiting for you when you need it
- you want to lock in a flat rate with no risk of surge pricing
Here’s a time you might want to think about Wingz.
Say you’ve got a 6:00 a.m. flight out of LAX. You want to leave your hotel at 4:00 a.m. to make sure you make the flight.
You hail an Uber…and see it’s going to take 15 minutes for one to get to you.
On top of that, the app informs you that surge pricing is in effect.
The roads are empty, but that means there are fewer drivers available, and because the supply of drivers can’t meet the demand of riders, they’re charging more.
Now you’re freaking out about missing your flight because a driver might not get to you in time, and you’re paying more for the ride than you wanted to.
Wingz is built for this situation.
You can book the car ahead of time, making sure it’s scheduled to arrive for you at 4:00 a.m.
You can lock in a price, confirm which driver is coming to get you (a lot of Wingz users say their favorite perk is knowing the drivers personally), and know you won’t have to think about it in the morning.
If you’re out on the town, leaving one bar and heading to another bar, Wingz most likely isn’t going to be the best option.
For more instant on-demand, you’re probably better off going with an Uber or a Lyft, apps that specialize in instant on-demand service and have a larger fleet.
That’s fine with Wingz — it’s not really what they do.
Also, it should be noted that Uber and Lyft do allow you to schedule rides ahead of time.
But you can’t lock in a price, and you can’t lock in the driver who will pick you up.
They will assign it out at the time you request a car, so while it will show up, you won’t know who will be driving.
The other way that Wingz sets itself apart is with its drivers and its fleet of cars.
Wingz drivers’ vehicles must be less than five years old, and have to pass a 19-point inspection.
You will find that level of vehicle in the town car options of competitors, but perhaps not in UberX or similar base-level car-hailing services.
Where Does Wingz Provide Service?
Wingz says its most popular routes are to the airports in San Francisco, Austin, and Seattle, though it’s all over the country and expanding rapidly.
Here is a list of some of the bigger cities and airports where Wingz is currently operating. For a complete list, visit the company website.
Austin
- Austin-Bergstrom Int’l Airport (AUS)
Dallas
- Dallas Love Field (DAL)
- Dallas/Fort Worth Int’l Airport (DFW)
Houston
- George Bush Intercon. Airport (IAH)
- William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
Los Angeles
- Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR)
- John Wayne Airport (SNA)
- Los Angeles Int’l Airport (LAX — drop off only)
Miami
- Miami Int’l Airport (MIA)
Phoenix
- Phoenix Sky Harbor Int’l Airport (PHX)
Portland
- Portland Int’l Airport (PDX)
San Diego
- San Diego Int’l Airport (SAN)
Seattle
- Seattle-Tacoma Int’l Airport (SEA)
SF Bay Area
- Mineta San Jose Int’l Airport (SJC)
- Oakland Int’l Airport (OAK)
- San Francisco Int’l Airport (SFO)
If You Travel Frequently, Wingz Is Worth a Look
Wingz isn’t the solution to all your ride-hailing needs.
For surprise trips or quick visits to the bar down the street, you’re probably better off going with a competitor like Uber or Lyft.
If you are planning ahead, however, and want to lock in a trip price and avoid surge pricing, Wingz could work for you.
For people who like working with a singular driver, as well, or planners who want to ensure that nothing happens ahead of time, Wingz is an option worth exploring.
These promo codes and referral links will get you started, so if you’re in one of the markets available, try it out.
