Consolidated "Scenic taxi scam/longhauling - experiences, how to stop" thread
#76
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 399
I just google map'd airport to Bellagio. It looks like the shortest way is to go Paradise to E. Flamingo but google maps has it going off Paradise and onto Swenson. Are the streets one way?
Never mind, I zoomed in and they are one way. So by default Google says I 15 but I will tell him Swenson/Paradise to E. Flamingo?
Never mind, I zoomed in and they are one way. So by default Google says I 15 but I will tell him Swenson/Paradise to E. Flamingo?
#77
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA GLD, Marriott PLT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,900
I just google map'd airport to Bellagio. It looks like the shortest way is to go Paradise to E. Flamingo but google maps has it going off Paradise and onto Swenson. Are the streets one way?
Never mind, I zoomed in and they are one way. So by default Google says I 15 but I will tell him Swenson/Paradise to E. Flamingo?
Never mind, I zoomed in and they are one way. So by default Google says I 15 but I will tell him Swenson/Paradise to E. Flamingo?
#78
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
Tipping is a personal choice. I would suggest a standard tip, assuming standard service. A 'low-fare' ride is not the passenger's problem. If this was deemed a real issue, it would be covered by a minimum fare, a higher rate, or some sort of short trip scheme (like what exists at ORD, where the driver gets a special card allowing them to bypass the taxi line for their next trip).
#79
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
I just google map'd airport to Bellagio. It looks like the shortest way is to go Paradise to E. Flamingo but google maps has it going off Paradise and onto Swenson. Are the streets one way?
Never mind, I zoomed in and they are one way. So by default Google says I 15 but I will tell him Swenson/Paradise to E. Flamingo?
Never mind, I zoomed in and they are one way. So by default Google says I 15 but I will tell him Swenson/Paradise to E. Flamingo?
In any case, as long as you tell the driver not to tunnel, you should be fine.
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
Tipping is a personal choice. I would suggest a standard tip, assuming standard service. A 'low-fare' ride is not the passenger's problem. If this was deemed a real issue, it would be covered by a minimum fare, a higher rate, or some sort of short trip scheme (like what exists at ORD, where the driver gets a special card allowing them to bypass the taxi line for their next trip).
Mike
#82
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
Route is exactly what I did. In a joking but serious way I said "no tunnel, straight down Tropicana", and he laughed in the kind of way that we thought meant "people are catching on to this all of a sudden". All went well. I think the tip was about $4.
#83
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: cleveland, oh, usa
Programs: HHonors Gold, Priority Club Plat, AAdvantage, Delta Skymiles, others including Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 786
It's kind of funny reading this -- I'm going to LV first time in 13 years (many times before then lol) and the whole tunnel discussion was even going on back then!
Staying at Flamingo for location due to conference, any specifics I should mention to taxi driver or just the standard 'no tunnel' ? I kind of feel like an LV newbie again
Staying at Flamingo for location due to conference, any specifics I should mention to taxi driver or just the standard 'no tunnel' ? I kind of feel like an LV newbie again
#84
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Dallas, TX USA
Programs: Rapid Rewards/AAdvantage
Posts: 1,245
It's kind of funny reading this -- I'm going to LV first time in 13 years (many times before then lol) and the whole tunnel discussion was even going on back then!
Staying at Flamingo for location due to conference, any specifics I should mention to taxi driver or just the standard 'no tunnel' ? I kind of feel like an LV newbie again
Staying at Flamingo for location due to conference, any specifics I should mention to taxi driver or just the standard 'no tunnel' ? I kind of feel like an LV newbie again
#86
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
After falling for it too many times to count (including once to the MGM ) I've just started saying "I'm going to x and don't even think about taking the freeway". This is always met with an earnest denial that they'd never have taken me on the freeway. Maybe, maybe not, but I don't like taking chances with my $$
#88
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: LAS HNL
Programs: DL DM, 5.7 MM, UA 3.1 MM, MARRIOTT PLATINUM, AVIS FIRST, Amex Black Card
Posts: 4,479
This is correct, ALWAYS say "do not take the tunnel"! If they do after telling them not to, contact the Nevada Taxi Cab Authority at taxi.state.nv.us or
(702) 486-6532. They are testing a new tracking system on some cabs that use GPS to record every move the cab makes in real time (if approved it will be in all cabs in the future.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/busines...n-long-hauling
(702) 486-6532. They are testing a new tracking system on some cabs that use GPS to record every move the cab makes in real time (if approved it will be in all cabs in the future.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/busines...n-long-hauling
#89
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 269
Ripped off by cabbie?
Was at the Venetian and headed to McCarran on Sunday for a 1 PM flight. Shared a cab with some strangers who were dropped off at T1. The meter at that point after the cabbie had insisted on taking the freeway from the Venetian to T1 showed $32. The cabbie then drove and dropped me off at T3 for Virgin, and the meter showed something like $38. Felt like the cabbie ripped us off by insisting on taking the freeway.
#90
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992