Grab car service now in Bangkok (Uber sold to Grab in SE Asia)
Dec 29, 2018, 1:52 am
#346
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
I used Grab in Bangkok last week quite successfully paying automatically on my credit card as usual. The driver paid the tolls to the airport and added the charge to the final bill which went on my card. I've not had a real problem with pick-up failures in Bangkok.
I never, however, try to use it from the airport because (a) despite the 50/50 chance of the airport taxi using the meter I know the correct fare and don't overpay and (b) some years ago I tried using Uber from the airport a couple of times and it was just impossible to meet up with them so I gave up on using app services from BKK airport.
I've used Grab in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam successfully with no problems and they all bill to my credit card.
I never, however, try to use it from the airport because (a) despite the 50/50 chance of the airport taxi using the meter I know the correct fare and don't overpay and (b) some years ago I tried using Uber from the airport a couple of times and it was just impossible to meet up with them so I gave up on using app services from BKK airport.
I've used Grab in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam successfully with no problems and they all bill to my credit card.
Dec 29, 2018, 4:34 am
#347
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,305
Just as a word of caution ...
Grab pay can be problematic if you change phone numbers .. I think they treat each phone number as a different account, although there is a login in with google option in the grab app now.
I'm using my US t-mobile number this year, and set up grab again, which it assumed is a new account. Adding any credit card already in use by other grab accounts gets flagged by them and you lose the ability to use grab pay until you clear it up with them. You can still pay cash and use grab car/taxi, you just can't use grab pay or possibly can't use any card they flag this way in grab pay.
Wait times in town for grab car have been ridiculous.
-David
Grab pay can be problematic if you change phone numbers .. I think they treat each phone number as a different account, although there is a login in with google option in the grab app now.
I'm using my US t-mobile number this year, and set up grab again, which it assumed is a new account. Adding any credit card already in use by other grab accounts gets flagged by them and you lose the ability to use grab pay until you clear it up with them. You can still pay cash and use grab car/taxi, you just can't use grab pay or possibly can't use any card they flag this way in grab pay.
Wait times in town for grab car have been ridiculous.
-David
Dec 29, 2018, 4:45 am
#348
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
Ideally, its best to have a local Thai mobile number, not so much for GrabPay (which I don't use), but for contact with the driver.
I wouldn't expect a Thai driver to ring me on my T-Mobile number (U.S.), it would cost him ~ 40 baht/minute assuming he could figure out how to dial it.
LINE Man (Taxi, Food, delivery, etc.) is also an option which I forget to mention. Use it for food delivery all the time, have used it for taxi dispatch a few times.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...manth&hl=en_US
https://linecorp.com/en/pr/news/en/2018/2202
In Thai but gives you a feel...
I wouldn't expect a Thai driver to ring me on my T-Mobile number (U.S.), it would cost him ~ 40 baht/minute assuming he could figure out how to dial it.
LINE Man (Taxi, Food, delivery, etc.) is also an option which I forget to mention. Use it for food delivery all the time, have used it for taxi dispatch a few times.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...manth&hl=en_US
https://linecorp.com/en/pr/news/en/2018/2202
In Thai but gives you a feel...
Dec 29, 2018, 4:52 am
#349
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
The problem with having a local Thai number is that if they call me I can't speak Thai! If you're at a hotel, though, often the door staff will call the Thai driver and communicate for you (they usually give u the drivers number)
Ideally, its best to have a local Thai mobile number, not so much for GrabPay (which I don't use), but for contact with the driver.
I wouldn't expect a Thai driver to ring me on my T-Mobile number (U.S.), it would cost him ~ 40 baht/minute assuming he could figure out how to dial it.
LINE Man (Taxi, Food, delivery, etc.) is also an option which I forget to mention. Use it for food delivery all the time, have used it for taxi dispatch a few times.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...manth&hl=en_US
https://linecorp.com/en/pr/news/en/2018/2202
In Thai but gives you a feel...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXrm_nIUBvw
I wouldn't expect a Thai driver to ring me on my T-Mobile number (U.S.), it would cost him ~ 40 baht/minute assuming he could figure out how to dial it.
LINE Man (Taxi, Food, delivery, etc.) is also an option which I forget to mention. Use it for food delivery all the time, have used it for taxi dispatch a few times.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...manth&hl=en_US
https://linecorp.com/en/pr/news/en/2018/2202
In Thai but gives you a feel...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXrm_nIUBvw
Dec 29, 2018, 5:24 pm
#350
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
Just as a word of caution ...
Grab pay can be problematic if you change phone numbers .. I think they treat each phone number as a different account, although there is a login in with google option in the grab app now.
I'm using my US t-mobile number this year, and set up grab again, which it assumed is a new account. Adding any credit card already in use by other grab accounts gets flagged by them and you lose the ability to use grab pay until you clear it up with them. You can still pay cash and use grab car/taxi, you just can't use grab pay or possibly can't use any card they flag this way in grab pay.
Wait times in town for grab car have been ridiculous.
-David
Grab pay can be problematic if you change phone numbers .. I think they treat each phone number as a different account, although there is a login in with google option in the grab app now.
I'm using my US t-mobile number this year, and set up grab again, which it assumed is a new account. Adding any credit card already in use by other grab accounts gets flagged by them and you lose the ability to use grab pay until you clear it up with them. You can still pay cash and use grab car/taxi, you just can't use grab pay or possibly can't use any card they flag this way in grab pay.
Wait times in town for grab car have been ridiculous.
-David
Moving forward we each set up new accounts with different phone numbers (which we already had) and burned down points on the old accounts. Uber was much more responsive in dealing with problems, CS, and catching second accounts by members; GRAB less so and screw them.
Dec 29, 2018, 10:50 pm
#351
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,305
Ideally, its best to have a local Thai mobile number, not so much for GrabPay (which I don't use), but for contact with the driver.
I wouldn't expect a Thai driver to ring me on my T-Mobile number (U.S.), it would cost him ~ 40 baht/minute assuming he could figure out how to dial it.
I wouldn't expect a Thai driver to ring me on my T-Mobile number (U.S.), it would cost him ~ 40 baht/minute assuming he could figure out how to dial it.
Not really the point of my post, however, it's no longer necessary. They can communicate via the app these days or use whatsapp, etc.
And as estnet noted above, what are you supposed to do when a non-english speaking Thai person calls and you aren't at a hotel and/or aren't with a Thai speaker?
-David
Last edited by LIH Prem; Dec 29, 2018 at 10:59 pm
Dec 30, 2018, 4:39 am
#352
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
The problem with having a local Thai number is that if they call me I can't speak Thai! If you're at a hotel, though, often the door staff will call the Thai driver and communicate for you (they usually give u the drivers number)
Understood but the chances of communicating with a driver when you do not have a local number are zero. Having a local number, again "IDEALLY", makes it "possible". I didn't mean to imply it was required or necessary.
I didn't know one can "communicate" directly with a driver via "the Grab app"? IME, with more than one hundred journies using Grab, drivers often call, especially if they're lost. Even LINE Man food providers and delivery people call.
Understood but the chances of communicating with a driver when you do not have a local number are zero. Having a local number, again "IDEALLY", makes it "possible". I didn't mean to imply it was required or necessary.
I didn't know one can "communicate" directly with a driver via "the Grab app"? IME, with more than one hundred journies using Grab, drivers often call, especially if they're lost. Even LINE Man food providers and delivery people call.
Dec 30, 2018, 8:46 am
#353
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,192
The problem with having a local Thai number is that if they call me I can't speak Thai! If you're at a hotel, though, often the door staff will call the Thai driver and communicate for you (they usually give u the drivers number)
Understood but the chances of communicating with a driver when you do not have a local number are zero. Having a local number, again "IDEALLY", makes it "possible". I didn't mean to imply it was required or necessary.
I didn't know one can "communicate" directly with a driver via "the Grab app"? IME, with more than one hundred journies using Grab, drivers often call, especially if they're lost. Even LINE Man food providers and delivery people call.
Understood but the chances of communicating with a driver when you do not have a local number are zero. Having a local number, again "IDEALLY", makes it "possible". I didn't mean to imply it was required or necessary.
I didn't know one can "communicate" directly with a driver via "the Grab app"? IME, with more than one hundred journies using Grab, drivers often call, especially if they're lost. Even LINE Man food providers and delivery people call.
Dec 30, 2018, 5:13 pm
#354
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
Dec 31, 2018, 1:35 am
#355
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Dec 31, 2018, 3:15 am
#356
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
Dec 31, 2018, 6:01 am
#357
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Dec 31, 2018, 8:33 am
#358
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
Dec 31, 2018, 10:24 pm
#359
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Was just commenting on the limits of a google translation using grab app if I don't have a Thai speaker handy
It's a quirk b/c of the specific location - when I am in the taxi I always have to tell (or point out) the turn into the property, but good to know for other locations that there is the option.
Dec 31, 2018, 10:45 pm
#360
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVPG & BoardRoom
Posts: 289
Both my and +1's account were blocked for unstated 'community standards' from using any promotions last year with no further explanation. Lost a 60THB and 70THB earned discounts because of it. While it could be because we both had the same CC in our accounts I'm not sure this is the problem as prior to doing this FAQs specifically addressed and allowed the action.
Moving forward we each set up new accounts with different phone numbers (which we already had) and burned down points on the old accounts. Uber was much more responsive in dealing with problems, CS, and catching second accounts by members; GRAB less so and screw them.
Moving forward we each set up new accounts with different phone numbers (which we already had) and burned down points on the old accounts. Uber was much more responsive in dealing with problems, CS, and catching second accounts by members; GRAB less so and screw them.
My math is a bit rusty...I keep showing that to be about $4 USD.