Shanghai ground transportation thread
Oct 17, 2023, 9:15 am
#76
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: PVG
Programs: MU Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 830
I've had this happen a few times since they re-opened earlier this year. I just let the guy take me to my apartment and then tell him I take this trip twice a month and it's never more than 180 RMB. They always accept my payment offer with a sheepish grin. When I notice the meter running hot mid journey I always figure it's better to get dropped off at home before pointing it out than arguing with the driver somewhere in the middle of Pudong.
For a tourist I'd recommend only taking the light blue or white taxis from the taxi rank at PVG.
(Edited to add: I think the yellow taxis are ok as well)
Last edited by YariGuy; Oct 17, 2023 at 9:21 am
Oct 17, 2023, 4:49 pm
#77
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,041
Definitely. I text my wife when I see something is off and tell her to wait for me with the compound guards. When we arrive I tell the driver that I've already alerted the police. I've only encountered one driver who hasn't acquiesced to my demands. But this is because I don't offer what's a "fair" fare, I offer zero and tell them to consider themselves lucky I'm not calling the police.. I tell them this is the price to pay for breaking the law. One guy got really pissed. Surprisingly my wife disagrees with my approach and says those guys have to make a living.
This is hard to do. I tell the queue administrator all the time that I don't want the red taxi and they get mad at me and tell me I can't choose. I tell them that 50% of the time I get ripped off by these taxis. They are not moved. I let people go ahead of me in the line until an acceptable taxi comes up, and this works most of the time. Recently I've taken to telling the cab driver my destination, and that it's 50.1km. I then tell them that there are many scammers and that I have to be careful. This signals to them that I'm aware of the scam and for them to use the correct meter setting. I'm sure they have a switch. I find that this method saves me grief. Though I do get some satisfaction from calling out scammers at the end of the trip, I find that it's not worth it for the blood pressure rise it causes me.
(Edited to add: I think the yellow taxis are ok as well)
This is hard to do. I tell the queue administrator all the time that I don't want the red taxi and they get mad at me and tell me I can't choose. I tell them that 50% of the time I get ripped off by these taxis. They are not moved. I let people go ahead of me in the line until an acceptable taxi comes up, and this works most of the time. Recently I've taken to telling the cab driver my destination, and that it's 50.1km. I then tell them that there are many scammers and that I have to be careful. This signals to them that I'm aware of the scam and for them to use the correct meter setting. I'm sure they have a switch. I find that this method saves me grief. Though I do get some satisfaction from calling out scammers at the end of the trip, I find that it's not worth it for the blood pressure rise it causes me.
(Edited to add: I think the yellow taxis are ok as well)
I want to reiterate that taxi fares are regulated pretty much everywhere in China, and PVG to Shanghai City should not cost more than 200 (based on 2023 rates), unless you detour (on purpose) via somewhere like Songjiang.
Oct 17, 2023, 7:46 pm
#79
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,888
The subway stations at both PVG and SHA are incredibly conveniently located (SHA-T1 excepted a little bit), and trains run every 2-3 minutes (i.e. much less wait time than the taxi queues). Furthermore, the maximum price you will pay is Y8 pp to reach any station within the 800 km system.
But, I want to highlight two points about the subway drill:
1. Some of the transfers entail 1000 meter walks
2. After you reach the station closest to your destination, you might want a taxi to go the last mile, and getting one might not be easy
-while the cars certainly exist, actually linking up with your car requires figuring out a good pick-up location
The other option is a taxi directly from the airport to your destination. Anyone who is concerned about point 2 (last mile) should avail of this because, while you will need to wait in the queue, your are pretty much guarantied a nonstop journey to your hotel's front door, and the price will be no more than 200 from PVG or 80 from SHA.
By the time you are ready to leave town, you might have figured out that People's Square, Exit 20 is a short walk away, that is doable even with heavy luggage.
But, I want to highlight two points about the subway drill:
1. Some of the transfers entail 1000 meter walks
2. After you reach the station closest to your destination, you might want a taxi to go the last mile, and getting one might not be easy
-while the cars certainly exist, actually linking up with your car requires figuring out a good pick-up location
The other option is a taxi directly from the airport to your destination. Anyone who is concerned about point 2 (last mile) should avail of this because, while you will need to wait in the queue, your are pretty much guarantied a nonstop journey to your hotel's front door, and the price will be no more than 200 from PVG or 80 from SHA.
By the time you are ready to leave town, you might have figured out that People's Square, Exit 20 is a short walk away, that is doable even with heavy luggage.
I have too many bad memories of being physically pushed and squeezed taking the metro from SHA.....
Definitely. I text my wife when I see something is off and tell her to wait for me with the compound guards. When we arrive I tell the driver that I've already alerted the police. I've only encountered one driver who hasn't acquiesced to my demands. But this is because I don't offer what's a "fair" fare, I offer zero and tell them to consider themselves lucky I'm not calling the police.. I tell them this is the price to pay for breaking the law. One guy got really pissed. Surprisingly my wife disagrees with my approach and says those guys have to make a living.
This is hard to do. I tell the queue administrator all the time that I don't want the red taxi and they get mad at me and tell me I can't choose. I tell them that 50% of the time I get ripped off by these taxis. They are not moved. I let people go ahead of me in the line until an acceptable taxi comes up, and this works most of the time. Recently I've taken to telling the cab driver my destination, and that it's 50.1km. I then tell them that there are many scammers and that I have to be careful. This signals to them that I'm aware of the scam and for them to use the correct meter setting. I'm sure they have a switch. I find that this method saves me grief. Though I do get some satisfaction from calling out scammers at the end of the trip, I find that it's not worth it for the blood pressure rise it causes me.
(Edited to add: I think the yellow taxis are ok as well)
This is hard to do. I tell the queue administrator all the time that I don't want the red taxi and they get mad at me and tell me I can't choose. I tell them that 50% of the time I get ripped off by these taxis. They are not moved. I let people go ahead of me in the line until an acceptable taxi comes up, and this works most of the time. Recently I've taken to telling the cab driver my destination, and that it's 50.1km. I then tell them that there are many scammers and that I have to be careful. This signals to them that I'm aware of the scam and for them to use the correct meter setting. I'm sure they have a switch. I find that this method saves me grief. Though I do get some satisfaction from calling out scammers at the end of the trip, I find that it's not worth it for the blood pressure rise it causes me.
(Edited to add: I think the yellow taxis are ok as well)
Oct 17, 2023, 8:27 pm
#80
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,315
Do note that the taxi fare rises by 30% after 11pm in Shanghai, so it's not always a scammer. But yeah I've encountered a scammer at PVG and simply pointed it out to him after he arrived at my compound, and he happily accepted my offer of a normal trip fare - 10Y.
Oct 18, 2023, 4:54 am
#81
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,358
Many years ago, I got the RMB100 bill-switcheroo-to-a-fake one at a time when all taxis had removed their badges/ID from their cars during a big trade-show.
Shanghai, of course.
Never got cheated in Beijing.
Oct 18, 2023, 11:56 am
#82
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,041
I remember those stories too, as well as the general disdain for the Longyang Rd taxi queue, but I wonder if they still hold true during today's age of greatly increased transparency.
Oct 18, 2023, 7:00 pm
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,903
Oct 18, 2023, 9:48 pm
#84
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 1,874
Yep, I've been charged 300+RMB to get to my parents' place from PVG when arriving at midnight or 1am, and thought I might have been scammed until I did it again with Didi and it cost only 15RMB less. I don't do this often, though, they live somewhere that's a 2 RMB bus ride from SHA T1 so I strongly prefer arriving at SHA when practical.
Oct 24, 2023, 11:05 am
#86
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,041
By way of example, about 30% of my current batch applies to shared rides only...good value if you're traveling solo and your destination is 5 minutes away, but not such a hot deal if you need to walk 1000 meters to the pick-up point and/or are third in line for drop-off.
Example 2: 25% off Luxe still costs much more than the normal Select rates.
While I understand that Didi charges more than some other ride apps, I don't mind the 20% premium because I know they will actually get me a car, and we're only talking about an extra Y5 in most cases.
As I've mentioned up-thread, when coming FROM an airport, normal taxis are often the best course of action. Sure, you'll need to wait an extra 15 minutes, but you won't have to spot your driver among a sea of 1000 cars.