Bangkok metered taxis can now charge special fees for luggage

[josephbloggs]

15 hours ago, Katipo said:

This is definitely the best time to be implementing measures to make it more time consuming and expensive for tourists to come to Thailand. Such foresight. Much optimism.

Right, because adding 60 cents to a cab journey that is almost certainly much much cheaper than back home is going to cause people to cancel their trips.  

It is 20 baht.  Get a grip.

And time consuming???

[Dukeleto]

1 hour ago, TTSIssues said:

Hong Kong charges HK$ per item that needs to go in the boot. Size is likely in inches as that’s how airlines rate suitcases sizes. 

I travel there frequently and have never been charged for my suitcase going into the boot. Was this prior to Covid-19 bringing the world to a stand still?

[elgenon]

6 minutes ago, Dukeleto said:

I travel there frequently and have never been charged for my suitcase going into the boot. Was this prior to Covid-19 bringing the world to a stand still?

And the driver can determine the inches how?

[josephbloggs]

1 hour ago, joe999 said:

Why this outcry? Many places in Europe apply the same rules when it comes to handling luggage. 

Because this is TVF where there is an outcry over everything.  Where mountains are made out of molehills.  Where logic and reasoning go out of the window.  Where anything that can benefit Thais is "anti farang", "Thai greed" and a "rip off".  Where - judging by the posts - people obviously subsist on 100 baht per day and anything that takes them over that limit is railed against.

It is 20 baht for a suitcase.  20 baht.  Yet this will generate pages and pages.  20 baht.  And this will affect 95% of posters on precisely zero occasions but they will still have a good old whinge.

 

Welcome.

 

 

Edited November 18, 2020 by josephbloggs

[elgenon]

I can see the driver trying to charge me for a backpack I take inside the cab. Lots of fun ahead!

 

If I dress up the bag as a human and put it on the seat will I be charged?

 

My 30" bag doesn't fit in the trunk, will I be charged if it is put on the seat?

 

If the taxi driver doesn't use the meter he can still add to the quoted fare?

[new2here]

From the OP, 

 

“... Bt20 for every bag that exceed 26 inches in width, height or length.“

 

So long as it IS in fact any bag where >>one or more<< sides exceed 26in, then that to me seem fair as to the definition of “baggage” as opposed to a hand-carried item such as personal bag, back/computer pack, etc. that could reasonably fit in the passenger compartment.

 

What i did not see is any language addressing weight of said items- in other words is there a charge for an item whose individual weight exceeds X pounds/kilos?   i would have thought that along with addressing the definition of baggage as to its size, there would have also been some language to address weight.

[2long]

16 hours ago, outsider said:

Reminder to self: Take measuring tape along on next trip, in case I meet a cabbie who insists my 26-cm pouch is more than 26 inches.

I believe that somewhere in the small print there's also a fee for tape measures, plus an 'attitude fee' for those who dare carry such devices. 

[FritsSikkink]

15 hours ago, Katipo said:

This is definitely the best time to be implementing measures to make it more time consuming and expensive for tourists to come to Thailand. Such foresight. Much optimism.

If you can't pay 20 THB, you shouldn't be here to start with. Not everything here is about tourists btw, 70 million people live here.

[Xonax]

11 hours ago, Naroge said:

Why are the rules in Inches when Thailand use the metric system?

I guess because luggage sizes are sold by inches in Thailand.

[scorecard]

17 hours ago, scorecard said:

But... does this mean that the cabbie is required, by regulations, to help get the luggage  (apart from cabin luggage) in and out of the cab?

And I forget another item; help to get wheelchair in and out of the cab? 

 

Had this happen a couple of times, driver sits in his cab, obviously annoyed at the time it's taking for passenger (me) to get the chair folded and into the front seat, then slowly walk holding the doors for stability and get into the rear seat. And the same in reverse, doing nothing whatever to assist. Plus no help to get suitcase into the back seat. Other wheelchair users have shared the same story. 

Edited November 18, 2020 by scorecard

[Hayduke]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Bangkok metered taxis can now charge special fees for luggage

 

Another brilliant idea...and another bold step into a 'Brave New Bangkok".

 

The small fact that....fifty thousand different taxi drivers will have fifty thousand different definitions of "luggage"........just might create a problem or two.

 

Looks like we may be back to negotiating taxi fares.

 

 

[HeijoshinCool]

55 minutes ago, MasterBaker said:

Never used taxi in Thailand since Grab was introduced. Smelly, obnoxious taxi drivers treating you like a <deleted>.... no thank you

.

I've had numerable pleasant experiences with Thai taxi drivers. Even made some friends.

 

I expect that one's attitude when climbing aboard has something to do with this....

[AlfHuy]

Great.

Now you get charged by inches.

Next trip to the lady will be cheaper as I will require she charges not per hour but per inch.

[scorecard]

2 minutes ago, AlfHuy said:

Great.

Now you get charged by inches.

Next trip to the lady will be cheaper as I will require she charges not per hour but per inch.

Bragger!

[HeijoshinCool]

5 minutes ago, brommers said:

Only retards like the USA uses inches. Even the Brits have gone metric, so why measure things in a unit that almost no-one uses and many do not know!

.

 

No doubt, in your mind, 10.16 cm sounds bigger than 8 American inches....

[craigieboy1973]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Bangkok metered taxis can now charge special fees for luggage

By The Nation

 

 

The Transport Ministry has announced that as of Tuesday, Bangkok metered taxis will be allowed to charge passengers handling fees for large luggage items, but not for equipment such as wheelchairs or walking sticks.

 

Under the new regulations, taxis will be allowed to charge luggage handling fees as follows:

 

• Bt20 for every bag that exceed 26 inches in width, height or length.

 

• Bt20 for every additional item of luggage after the first two.

 

• No more than Bt100 per piece for sports equipment like golf bags, bicycles, surfboards or musical instruments that are 50 inches or more in size.

 

• No more than Bt100 for equipment, tools or appliances that are 50 inches or more in size.

 

The cabbie is required to inform the passenger in advance about the extra handling fees.

 

No charges will be allowed for carry-on baggage such as handbag, computer bag, backpack or personal belongings carried by the passenger.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398090

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-11-17

 

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Does this mean they will carry from taxi point and put in boot ? 

[Henryford]

Is this with or without their meter on?

[rkidlad]

Having a car and living right next to a BTS station can be heaven. I very rarely use taxis anymore (only when out downtown and need to get home late). I feel this will make using taxi an even more stressful experience. 

 

 

[khunjeff]

16 minutes ago, craigieboy1973 said:

Does this mean they will carry from taxi point and put in boot ? 

 

A fair question!

 

In some cities, taxi baggage charges only apply for items "handled by the driver", and Bangkok cabbies may or may not assist with luggage; some do and some don't.

 

And since most taxi trunks/boots here are virtually unusable because a retrofitted gas tank takes up all the space, this seems to raise the possibility of being charged for an item that the passenger handles him or herself, and has to squeeze onto the seat inside...which makes one wonder what exactly the charge is for.

 

And yes, I do realize that some cities do in fact charge exactly this way.

[johnarth]

yes good question, but no problem the old cloth tape measure has both foot and meter.

[malt25]

12 hours ago, Naroge said:

Why are the rules in Inches when Thailand use the metric system?

Don't you measure yours in inches ?

[scorecard]

18 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

Business is slow.

 

Solution - Raise the price.

But no mention or focus on actual service.

[SomchaiCNX]

17 hours ago, outsider said:

Reminder to self: Take measuring tape along on next trip, in case I meet a cabbie who insists my 26-cm pouch is more than 26 inches.

You are right. Thailand has the metric measurements so why it is in inches? Did the writer study in the US? The rest of the world changed to metric you know? Plenty of articles TV have this.

 

[Grumpy one]

17 hours ago, fangless said:

Next they will be weighing each passenger.  

I understand why aircraft charge for excess baggage etc where weight equals fuel use and take off performance.  I am no car engineer but I do not believe that weight is a consideration with taxis otherwise we would be charged an excess for each additional passenger.

Don't give them ideas 

[SomchaiCNX]

Stupid rule. Better check the drivers. Had one at the airport that seemed under the influence. Plenty of these cars would be removed from the road in many countries.

[Fairynuff]

Given that the gas tank is where your luggage is supposed to go there’s barely any space for bags anyway. Charging for bags is acceptable at a fair rate but the driver is likely to have a different definition of fair.... there may be trouble ahead.

Edited November 18, 2020 by Fairynuff

[Marvin424]

Do these new luggage requirements mean that meter taxis actually have to use the meter?  I have been in countless that would not and a few that did not actually have one.

[mogandave]

Taxis seem pretty cheap to me, and the drivers most always help me with my luggage. 
 

Perhaps this will result in reconfiguring the fuel tanks so you can actually put a few bags in the trunk. That would be worthwhile...

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, shady86 said:

Does that mean the driver will load the bags into the trunk and any compensations if bag damaged?

No he'll sit on his fat rear-end like normal, allow you to open the door and pull the lever to open the boot for you to load yourself.

[rupert the bear]

whats next ?extra for more than 1 passenger and if you both have small bags,the cars a trunk for a reason!!this doesnt make much sense at all.its just going to call more resentment and grabs gonna love it!!