cblaisd

...or do I need to make sure I have cash?

FindAWay

By law, non-independent taxis must accept Credit Cards; but, YMMV.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...redit-card-cab

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g3...ago.Taxis.html

Many do and have readers, others may radio-in your CC info (which is when I bust-out cash), and I've even had the old manual carbon-paper swipe ones.

cblaisd

Thanks. What's a non-independent taxi? Like Yellow Cab?

milepig

But, being Chicago, if you ask beforehand and they don't want to take the CC their reader will be mysteriously broken.

I'm a big fan of the machines in NYC cabs. They're in the back seat and you swipe your card, and even get to add a tip in various percentages and you're done.

cjk177

If you have a smartphone, you can also try Uber (www.uber.com). Choose the taxi option and you pay regular taxi fare + 20% tip billed directly to the card on your account.

chgoeditor

Just tell the employee who's manning the line that you need a cab which takes credit cards--and confirm with the cab driver before loading your luggage.

FindAWay

Pretty much - but, as other suggested, just tell the driver you intend to pay with a CC before entering and make sure they'll take it.

XLR26

And that's why I never ask beforehand. When I get to my destination and the driver sees me offering a cc and say his machine is broken, I tell 'em if he can't take my cc then l'll give him the $2 in my pocket.

At that point, typically the machine magically starts working again or, worst case, they call it in. On the few times where they continue b**tching, I remind them about the requirement (you can read it straight from the consumer poster in the back of the cab). I then give them the choice of cc vs. what little cash I have, if any. I've gotten some free rides as a result.

All that said, I can't imagine having this problem if you're coming/going from the City to ORD/MDW as I'm sure most cabbies know that lots of ppl will want to pay with cc given the relatively higher cost.

glg

XLR26's method will work, but because I just don't want to deal with a bs-ing cab driver at the end of a trip, I go this route when I don't have cash.

aktchi

Cash is always a solution, but you could simply ask the cabbie about CC before getting in. If you do skip a cab, people behind you in the line will even be appreciative.

thebadger

Taxis absolutely accept credit cards - and are required by law to do so. You don't need to ask in advance - and at the end of the trip if you tell them that you only have a CC, they'll always "magically" be able to accept it.