BKK Airport Taxi Situation?
#16
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Macau, Hong Kong, Shanghai
Posts: 648
Originally Posted by jpatokal
C'mon, I think 50 baht is a reasonable price for the service you get: your destination is translated into Thai, and you get a slip with the taxi's details so they can't rip you off. Most airports around the world have taxi surcharges, usually much more than US$1, and they usually don't provide either service!
#18
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: CO plat, BR gold, SPG gold
Posts: 320
Originally Posted by ajc1970
you misunderstood his post. he was refering to paying the 50-baht surcharge upstairs on the departure level, where you don't get those services.
Originally Posted by ajc1970
if you can't do that, then you need to hand that slip of paper to your driver, so good luck on using it not to get ripped off! lol, i remember drivers trying to take that paper from me even after they'd confirmed to me that they understood where i wanted to go... see, on the back of it is a complaint form with their cab license number on it. once you give it to them, you'll never get it back.
At Suvarnabhumi the taxies have the slips pre filled out under the wiper blade on the window with the driver’s # and the counter attendants were personally and very pointedly taking the forms, checking them, tearing off the passenger’s portion with the complaint number and terms in English and handing it directly to the passenger, then handing the drivers portion directly to the driver. I took the way it was done to be a very deliberate attempt of making sure everything went by the book and I imagine if they keep that up it might save a few minor hassles for first time arrivals.
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
From The Nation, Nov. 27, 2006
Hundreds of cabbies blocked the taxi terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport last night in protest at a police arrest and ticketing of a driver.
As many as 300 police were deployed to the protest.
The arrested driver had failed to turn on his meter when ferrying a passenger to the airport from Chon Buri province.
One of the protesting drivers said the blockade demanded justice for the arrested driver.
He said taxis travelling interprovincial routes did not have to use meters.
The protest organiser, who asked to not be identified, alleged staff at a company that operated an Airports of Thailand taxi concession were corrupt.
They allowed "ghost taxis" to freely pick up passengers at the airport while those who paid Bt50 to enter the airport had to wait "hours" to collect a fare.
Staff received Bt20 kickbacks from each unauthorised taxi.
Hundreds of taxis blocked entrances and exits to the commuter area while others blockaded the Thai Airways catering building, causing traffic congestion in the airport compound.
Hundreds of cabbies blocked the taxi terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport last night in protest at a police arrest and ticketing of a driver.
As many as 300 police were deployed to the protest.
The arrested driver had failed to turn on his meter when ferrying a passenger to the airport from Chon Buri province.
One of the protesting drivers said the blockade demanded justice for the arrested driver.
He said taxis travelling interprovincial routes did not have to use meters.
The protest organiser, who asked to not be identified, alleged staff at a company that operated an Airports of Thailand taxi concession were corrupt.
They allowed "ghost taxis" to freely pick up passengers at the airport while those who paid Bt50 to enter the airport had to wait "hours" to collect a fare.
Staff received Bt20 kickbacks from each unauthorised taxi.
Hundreds of taxis blocked entrances and exits to the commuter area while others blockaded the Thai Airways catering building, causing traffic congestion in the airport compound.
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MileagePlus Premier Gold
Posts: 11,522
Interestingly, even though most advise against cabbies negotiating a rate instead of using the meter, I think I got lucky.
I posted earlier that my BKK-->Silom area fare including the 20+45 Baht toll and 50 Baht airport fee came to about 500 baht.
On departing from BKK, I also hailed a cab from Silom, and the driver asked if 400 Baht including tolls was okay. Since tolls are 65 Baht, I figured it was a good deal. I also figured that since I was in a rush, it was in both his and my interest to take the most direct route if he were paid a fixed fare rather than a fare that varied by distance.
I posted earlier that my BKK-->Silom area fare including the 20+45 Baht toll and 50 Baht airport fee came to about 500 baht.
On departing from BKK, I also hailed a cab from Silom, and the driver asked if 400 Baht including tolls was okay. Since tolls are 65 Baht, I figured it was a good deal. I also figured that since I was in a rush, it was in both his and my interest to take the most direct route if he were paid a fixed fare rather than a fare that varied by distance.
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
FWIW, the line at the official taxi dispatch desk (level 1, near doors 8/9) today at 4 PM was quite long, maybe ~ 75 people waiting. I think there are similar desks mid-terminal and near door 1 (domestic arrivals), but I took the elevator up to level 4 (departures) walked out to the far curb where several taxis were waiting. I opened the door of the first taxi, said my destination and "meter OK", and off we went. There were police nearby but no issues. Traffic really wasn't bad at all in-bound, maybe + 5 minutes over off-peak travel times; I go to/from Ploen Chit/Wireless Road. (I have also taken taxis leaving the airport at level 2.)