MEL taxi's? Hah! I need to be without choice to use one!

On Saturday, Ash permitting, I will be leaving home at 6:40am to catch a 10:45am flight, using two buses (#708 & #478) and two trains (Frankston/Craigieburn), mainly to avoid having to use a cab. The cost difference is a bonus (Myki fare is $3, Cab fare ~$130).

FWIW, I have been regularly travelling to/from Tullamarine for the last 17 years.

Living South of Mordialloc, I have seen the Home / Airport fare rise from about $60 to $130 and the City / Airport fare change from around $25 to $45. Factor in the 10% cabcharge cost and it's now over $140 to my home by the most direct route.

I have tried using used regular drivers, random taxis & Hire Car/Limousines.

The regular drivers were good, but it seemed the better ones began to farm their jobs out to other drivers. In other cases it often felt like you were in a mobile call centre.

The Hire Car/Limousines started cheaply enough but seemed to go up in price far too regularly.

As for random taxis, there were some good drivers but the less said about many of them the better.

For air 'transfers' I sometimes use a rental car. I might collect one at 5pm on a Weekday from the CBD and drive it home. Then drop it off at the airport in time for my flight the next morning.

By doing this I get a car less than 1 year old, a drive home, never have to wait in the morning because of "the Night driver being late" & a driver who knows where they are going (moi). This is all for about $65 (once I add in Fuel & toll costs).

Generally, the only times I use a taxi for airport transfers these days if a situation dictates no other option and almost never from Tullamarine. I'd use the Skybus to/from the Airport for $12 and take a taxi to/from Spencer st, Saving from $40.