[UberXTampa]

Unfortunately the airports are protected from surge.
In the middle of a surge that covered the entire Tampa Bay Area and the airport last year, I responded to a request from the airport thinking it might be a surge. Being new, I didn't know better. To my disappointment I learned that airports never surge. Even if all surrounding areas are surging such as in new year or Halloween day.

 

[UberXTampa]

But there ARE surges at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International (PIE), so then what's up with that? Or does it just show as a surge but it isn't really?

I believe this was discussed in another thread way back and everyone had said airports do not surge. I have not yet heard they do. Maybe Clearwater airport is exception. We can ask partner support to clarify.

 

[UberXTampa]

The fact that the airport attracts so many drivers really prevents the whole zone from surging most of the time, unless there is an event at Raymond James like the Bucs game tonight.

Has anyone here actually gotten a ping from the airport while the map was showing surge there? At one point tonight there were actually no drivers there at all, at a time when flights were still landing. I feel like in a situation like that, canceling the surge at the airport would make it impossible for pax find a ride because it removes driver incentive to to not skip.

Yes. I observed that happen more than once. All areas surrounding airport were surging. No car in airport and no surge. And I got non-surge airport pings while I was as far away as 3 miles.