Originally Posted by axplat
Has anyone else tried getting a black cab from LHR away from London? I wanted to get to Slough from LHR but none of the black cabs on the rank would take me (even though there were only about 4 cabs on the rank), but in the end quoted me £60 (for a 5-mile trip!). In the end I found another cab at Departures (who are not allowed to pick up from there) who took me for £30.
Are black cabs allowed to charge a fixed fee like that from LHR? Aren't they obliged to put on the meter for a trip (which would come up to considerably less than £60 for 5 miles?!)
Yes, it is disgusting (and not a mistake I would make twice). We stayed at the Slough Marriott a few years back. We were going skiing flying from Terminal 4, the Slough at Marriott had a VERY reasonable park and fly rate. We thought, "we will try it and get taxis to and from Heathrow"... now I know WHY it was so reasonable (about £60).
The taxi to Heathrow charged about £30. Ouch, I thought, pretty expensive for a short ride... oh well, London/Heathrow prices AND we had lots of luggage.
On the way back, husband decided to go and get the car via taxi and come back to collect me (we had skis and everything - difficult to fit in a taxi). Taxi charged him £60 (no luggage)!
So the park and fly was cheap (£60), but we paid £90 in taxis! £150.... hmmmm, NOT such a good deal! And not a mistake to be repeated...
Still, you liv and learn...