Where are the most miserable cab drivers?
Sep 3, 2010 | 7:59 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: Mileage Plus, Velocity Awards
Posts: 130
It could be anywhere, but whenever the driver finds out the destination is a very short one e.g. the suburb next to the airport rather than the CBD or further. The driver has often waited a long time for a job and when he hears you give him a short fare, you can hear him muttering under his breath at best. At worst he'll refuse to take you!
Sep 6, 2010 | 2:41 am
#17
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: JAL Global Club & oneworld Sapphire, ANA SFC & Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 4,564
Did you get the cab number or license plate and call the company to complain??
While I've never had an experience as bad as yours, all of my worst cab experiences have been in Chicago. Rude drivers who leave the radio on and yak on their cell phones the whole way, drivers who don't know where they're going and get lost, smelly cabs, and plastic barriers between the driver and passenger seats that block the air conditioning and turn the cab into an oven in the summer...
For these reasons I now refuse to take a cab in Chicago for anything other than a 5-10 minute ride. I reserve limos for all my trips to/from the airport and any other long-ish drive.
Sep 6, 2010 | 8:07 am
#18
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA LT Gold; BA Silver; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,103
I've gotten this in NYC, too. One driver spent a lot of time talking to someone about signing up for a dating service, then proceeded to tell me about his rotten ex-wife after he got off the call. Another grumbled loudly enough for me to hear when I paid by credit card; apparently the tip I included didn't leave him what he felt he deserved after the bank fees were raked off. At least they don't get lost in NYC; they all have GPS units with a screen in the back that the passenger can see.
Sep 6, 2010 | 2:24 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: somewhere in F, hopefully
Posts: 670
Boston.
Every single time I have taken a cab in Boston and paid with credit card, the cabbie has tried to tell me his machine wasn't working. One time I said, "Oh well, sorry, I guess you're out of luck" and proceeded to get out, suddenly he was like, "Oh, well let's try to do it manually." Others have offered to take me to an ATM. Now I rent a car. Don't care what it costs, it's worth not having to deal with the hassle.
Every single time I have taken a cab in Boston and paid with credit card, the cabbie has tried to tell me his machine wasn't working. One time I said, "Oh well, sorry, I guess you're out of luck" and proceeded to get out, suddenly he was like, "Oh, well let's try to do it manually." Others have offered to take me to an ATM. Now I rent a car. Don't care what it costs, it's worth not having to deal with the hassle.
Sep 6, 2010 | 6:30 pm
#20
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: NW Florida
Posts: 283
Sep 6, 2010 | 8:57 pm
#21
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: JAL Global Club & oneworld Sapphire, ANA SFC & Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 4,564
Boston.
Every single time I have taken a cab in Boston and paid with credit card, the cabbie has tried to tell me his machine wasn't working. One time I said, "Oh well, sorry, I guess you're out of luck" and proceeded to get out, suddenly he was like, "Oh, well let's try to do it manually."
Every single time I have taken a cab in Boston and paid with credit card, the cabbie has tried to tell me his machine wasn't working. One time I said, "Oh well, sorry, I guess you're out of luck" and proceeded to get out, suddenly he was like, "Oh, well let's try to do it manually."
OTOH, this is another argument for reserving a limo. They all take credit cards and never hassle you about it. I've found that by shopping around it's pretty easy to find limos that don't cost much more than a taxi. On several occasions I've taken limos that cost about the same as a cab.
Sep 6, 2010 | 10:58 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
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Posts: 18,669
I'd say almost any city where the airport is a short distance from the central business district (hotel district). San Diego and Ft. Lauderdale immediately come to mind.
Sep 7, 2010 | 5:07 am
#23
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Cambridge, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,456
Boston.
Every single time I have taken a cab in Boston and paid with credit card, the cabbie has tried to tell me his machine wasn't working. One time I said, "Oh well, sorry, I guess you're out of luck" and proceeded to get out, suddenly he was like, "Oh, well let's try to do it manually." Others have offered to take me to an ATM. Now I rent a car. Don't care what it costs, it's worth not having to deal with the hassle.
Every single time I have taken a cab in Boston and paid with credit card, the cabbie has tried to tell me his machine wasn't working. One time I said, "Oh well, sorry, I guess you're out of luck" and proceeded to get out, suddenly he was like, "Oh, well let's try to do it manually." Others have offered to take me to an ATM. Now I rent a car. Don't care what it costs, it's worth not having to deal with the hassle.
I also find Boston taxi drivers to be reasonably friendly. The big problem is most of them seem to have arrived in the city the day before, been given a badge and a car and told to hit the streets. They have the worst local knowledge of any drivers I have experienced anywhere in the world. I usually end up giving directions from the back seat.
Sep 7, 2010 | 5:38 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: BRS
Posts: 336
I also find Boston taxi drivers to be reasonably friendly. The big problem is most of them seem to have arrived in the city the day before, been given a badge and a car and told to hit the streets. They have the worst local knowledge of any drivers I have experienced anywhere in the world. I usually end up giving directions from the back seat.
It's not JUST because I'm cheap that I prefer to take the shuttle or public transport when I'm in the states.
Sep 7, 2010 | 5:43 am
#25
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NRT
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
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My nastiest experiences were at Dusseldorf - asking for rides to an office near the airport rather than downtown. I was actually concerned for my safety on one occasion.
I made it my policy to pick up cabs outside the departures level rather than risking the ire of the guys who'd waited to pick someone up at arrivals.
I wonder if this has improved. It's a few years since I've been.
I made it my policy to pick up cabs outside the departures level rather than risking the ire of the guys who'd waited to pick someone up at arrivals.
I wonder if this has improved. It's a few years since I've been.
Sep 7, 2010 | 5:44 am
#26
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Location: NRT
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Coming from the land of The Knowledge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kno...#The_Knowledge, I am often stunned by the ignorance of local geography displayed by US cabbies. Their use of inefficient but simple routes often amounts to taking money by deception IMHO.
It's not JUST because I'm cheap that I prefer to take the shuttle or public transport when I'm in the states.
It's not JUST because I'm cheap that I prefer to take the shuttle or public transport when I'm in the states.
Sep 7, 2010 | 6:24 am
#28
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Cambridge, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,456
Sep 7, 2010 | 7:13 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: I am a lowly ant
Posts: 1,756
And the driver didn't seem very impressed at having to make the journey either. Obviously ludicrously overpaid and overprivileged (bus lanes for taxis?
).