Surge on Uber? 99 gives you a second app at CWB
At Curitiba-Afonso Pena (CWB), rides with 99 typically cost in the same band as Uber for a 20–30 minute trip into central Curitiba, and it’s worth opening both apps before you leave T1. You’re riding from a single terminal here, so there’s no guesswork about pickup zones between terminals.
99 pickups at CWB use the same general public arrivals curb used by regular taxis outside Terminal T1, on the ground floor, after you exit baggage claim. Plan on a 3–10 minute wait for a driver during daytime hours, with more variability after 23:00 when airport traffic drops. Check the app map before you request so you walk to the point your driver is actually approaching.
For pricing, a ride from CWB to the Centro area (for example, Rua XV de Novembro) usually runs in the range of R$40–R$70 depending on time of day, demand, and traffic on BR-376. Late-night trips after 22:00 and rainy rush hours tend to spike more, which is exactly when 99 can undercut Uber or vice versa, so compare both before you confirm.
Using 99 at CWB is straightforward if you already have a Brazilian SIM or eSIM with data; activation and verification by SMS can take a few minutes, and some foreign numbers fail, so have this set up before landing. You can pay in-app by card, and some drivers also accept cash, but card in the app is smoother and avoids needing small bills after a long flight into T1.
Step-by-step from plane door to 99 car at CWB usually runs about 20–30 minutes: 5–15 minutes to clear the jet bridge and walk into T1, another 5–10 minutes for checked bags, and then a 2–5 minute walk from baggage claim to the curb outside arrivals. Add 5–10 minutes of app wait time, especially in early morning hours between 04:00 and 06:00.
How to use 99 at CWB in 5 steps:
- 1. Before travel, install 99, add a payment card, and confirm SMS works with your number at least 24 hours before your CWB arrival.
- 2. After landing in T1, connect to mobile data or airport Wi‑Fi and open both 99 and Uber to check estimated fares to your exact hotel address.
- 3. Once bags are collected in T1 baggage claim, follow signs to “Saída” (exit) and walk to the public arrivals curb just outside the main doors.
- 4. In 99, pin the pickup point at the arrivals curb, double-check the license plate and car model, and only get in once both match the app.
- 5. On arrival in Curitiba, confirm the meterless fare in the 99 app, rate the driver, and save the trip receipt in case your airline or employer requires documentation.
One last tip: screenshot your hotel address and keep it in Portuguese, with street number and CEP, so if mobile data drops on BR-376 your 99 driver still has the exact destination.