Popular Post webfact Posted July 8, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 8, 2021 Tanee Suebrerk, Deputy-Director of the Department of Land Transport, arrived in Phuket yesterday (July 7). Photo: PR Phuket By The Phuket News PHUKET: Tanee Suebrerk, Deputy-Director of the Department of Land Transport, arrived in Phuket from Bangkok yesterday to preside over a meeting with airport taxi operators to investigate and discuss issues regarding taxi fares charged while the COVID economic crisis continues. At the meeting, held at Phuket Vocational College, airport taxi operators “agreed” to charging “20% off” fares as long as the crisis continues, said a report by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket). Present at the meeting were Phuket Vice Governor Vikrom Jakthee, Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) Chief Banyat Kantha, along with other officials and representatives of local taxi companies. Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-airport-taxi-fare-probe-goes-nowhere-80610.php -- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-07-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post smedly Posted July 8, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 8, 2021 (edited) I can get a taxi from pattaya to BKK airport for Bt1000, a distance of about 100km How far is it from Phuket airport to Patong - seems to be around 25km maybe if they used the meter then no problem Edited July 8, 2021 by smedly 15 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post NanLaew Posted July 8, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 8, 2021 Don't blame the hard done by taxi drivers. “At these prices, they may not be able to cover the cost [of operating a taxi] because we need to handle many costs, including insurance, petrol and the concession,” said one of the representatives, not named by the PR Phuket report. ... It was not explained whether AoT, the Thai public company that resulted from the privatisation of the state-owned Airports Authority of Thailand (AAT), would offer any relief in the concessions to be paid for operating taxis at the airport." There's your problem right there. I don't think it's the taxi drivers or their owners or operators that are getting rich here. Follow the concession money. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post simon43 Posted July 8, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 8, 2021 My mad ex used to own a battered old taxi that was allowed to drop/collect at Phuket Airport. The concession fee that she had to pay for this lucrative privilege was 1 million baht (and that was more than 12 years ago...) 3 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lolalol Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 48 minutes ago, smedly said: I can get a taxi from pattaya to BKK airport for Bt1000, a distance of about 100km Wow. Only 1000 Baht? I usually pay 350+ going from Asoke to Don Mueang Airport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracker1 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Wonder if they paid off the officials? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ezzra Posted July 8, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 8, 2021 It is well established that given half a chance some Thai people will use any opportunity to price gouging and over charge with no qualms or shame, this is part of holidaying/living in this country... 6 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivinginKata Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 1 hour ago, smedly said: I can get a taxi from pattaya to BKK airport for Bt1000, a distance of about 100km How far is it from Phuket airport to Patong - seems to be around 25km maybe if they used the meter then no problem More like 50 km and no fare allowed on way back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Whale Posted July 9, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 9, 2021 My house to Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok is 32 km ..... 220 baht plus 50 baht surcharge.. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smedly Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 18 minutes ago, LivinginKata said: More like 50 km and no fare allowed on way back. Airport to Patong is not 50km - looking at google maps it is no further than 30km and that is tracking the road all the way there - it is more like 25km so 5km thrown in for error Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smedly Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 1 hour ago, lolalol said: Wow. Only 1000 Baht? I usually pay 350+ going from Asoke to Don Mueang Airport. don't get me wrong - I could easily pay 2500baht if I was sucker enough to pay it 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gim12 Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 i thought people flying in had to use hotel arranged SHAPlus transport, does this mean the shaplus hotels are part of this price rise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post nkg Posted July 9, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 9, 2021 40 minutes ago, smedly said: Airport to Patong is not 50km - looking at google maps it is no further than 30km and that is tracking the road all the way there - it is more like 25km so 5km thrown in for error Why guess? If you search for Google Maps Directions and type in the 2 places, it calculates the distance of the route for you. 36.1km taking 54 minutes by car. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoePai Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 46 minutes ago, smedly said: don't get me wrong - I could easily pay 2500baht if I was sucker enough to pay it Please PM me with the contact details of the 1,000 Baht taxi to Swampy - as I am always charged 1,200 Baht Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smedly Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 14 minutes ago, JoePai said: Please PM me with the contact details of the 1,000 Baht taxi to Swampy - as I am always charged 1,200 Baht pm sent 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HAPPYNUFF Posted July 9, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 9, 2021 A million baht concession to ply your taxi around Phuket airport.. Me thinks your mad ex was telling just a little porky pie, hoping you would help pay the bill. Ive noticed Thais always exaggerate the cost of anything they either buy or sell. An example, a woman near us was bragging how her farang boyfriend paid 1 million baht for land for her. My wifes Uncle owned and sold that land to her,, cost 450,000. Another claimed her boyfriend bought her a "chopper" style motor bike for 680,000 baht. Actual sale price was 300,000 baht, as it was clapped out... Me, Im rather shy, and tell the Im an extremely wealthy farang,, but a very mean one. 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post fangless Posted July 9, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 9, 2021 2 hours ago, ezzra said: It is well established that given half a chance some Thai people will use any opportunity to price gouging and over charge with no qualms or shame, this is part of holidaying/living in this country... It is well established that given half a chance some Thai people will use any opportunity to price gouging and over charge with no qualms or shame, this is part of holidaying/living in this country... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 "Probe goes nowhere" It should go right to the very top... tell the governor, sort it out or you're out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MajorTom Posted July 9, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 9, 2021 1 hour ago, nkg said: Why guess? If you search for Google Maps Directions and type in the 2 places, it calculates the distance of the route for you. 36.1km taking 54 minutes by car. Not far off. To be exact, under normal conditions you would never go the shorter coastal route. You would follow the main road(402). Thats 38km to the north end of Patong. So if you are going to a hotel near the beach i think its fair to say its closer to 45km. (One way systems in patong) All that said, the 800B is very expensive. This one way taxi system in Phuket where they are not allowed to return with passengers cant be fixed IMO. It needs to be completely replaced by meter taxis only. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MajorTom Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 And to add to that: Airport Taxis are not the worst problem in Phuket. Taxi from Patong to Kathu which is 5km will cost you 400B!!! If you argue maybe 300B, never less. Patong to Phuket town is 500.... Thats 13km. This is absolutely insane. Using those rates, a taxi to the airport should cost about 3-4000... Not to mention a 100m tuk-tuk ride in patong at 200B. (similar will cost 10B in Pattaya) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmitch Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 12 minutes ago, MajorTom said: Not far off. To be exact, under normal conditions you would never go the shorter coastal route. You would follow the main road(402). Thats 38km to the north end of Patong. So if you are going to a hotel near the beach i think its fair to say its closer to 45km. (One way systems in patong) All that said, the 800B is very expensive. This one way taxi system in Phuket where they are not allowed to return with passengers cant be fixed IMO. It needs to be completely replaced by meter taxis only. I don't think the "regular" fares to and from the airport are expensive, particlularly when you consider the one way system, which also applies when going from, for example, Karon to Patong; 7km for 400 baht, which is well overpriced. As you rightly point out, this is what needs to be sorted, though whether tha would change the fares is possibly doubtful. Now is the time to get this sorted, before the masses of taxis return to the roads in anticipation of the return of tourists. A Phuket taxi thread; the first for ages. One tiny step closer to normality Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khun Yogi Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 3 hours ago, lolalol said: Wow. Only 1000 Baht? I usually pay 350+ going from Asoke to Don Mueang Airport. Its about 80 km from Pattaya to the airport. B 1000 is pretty normal. Most taxis use LPG which is a lot cheaper than petrol. Going to the airport is no problem, its the getting a taxi at the airport to your destination where the problems start. Touts, Taxi companies etc etc rule the roost. Expats know how to avoid this, tourists don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MajorTom Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 3 minutes ago, madmitch said: I don't think the "regular" fares to and from the airport are expensive, particlularly when you consider the one way system, which also applies when going from, for example, Karon to Patong; 7km for 400 baht, which is well overpriced. I think its overpriced. If you could take a BKK taxi and put it in Phuket Airport with BKK rates, the trip would cost you about half. I don't see any reason in that. But as mentioned, Airport taxis is not the main problem in Phuket. Its the local stuff that's just plain robbery. A friend of mine lived in Kathu for many years. He wold go out in Patong sometimes, and the 5km taxi back home was 400B. He now lives in Jomtien. He showed me this Bolt app: Jomtien to Pattaya beach which is about the same distance was around 60B... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Sticky Rice Balls Posted July 9, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 9, 2021 Reason #98609273560239576 why I dont go to Phuket Once was more than enough for me.....oooooo..sand! a beach! water! price gouging!! meh. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuang Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 (edited) 20 hours ago, smedly said: I can get a taxi from pattaya to BKK airport for Bt1000, a distance of about 100km How far is it from Phuket airport to Patong - seems to be around 25km maybe if they used the meter then no problem They need to pay so-called tea money...dont like taxi use car rental or shuttle bus...why all the fuss. ...try taking a taxi from tokyo airport to town.. Edited July 9, 2021 by chuang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ganesh108 Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 2 hours ago, HAPPYNUFF said: A million baht concession to ply your taxi around Phuket airport.. Me thinks your mad ex was telling just a little porky pie, hoping you would help pay the bill. Ive noticed Thais always exaggerate the cost of anything they either buy or sell. No, the 1 million Baht story is true. I'm on good terms with a few drivers and know the hospitality industry in Phuket. The fees to run an airport limo are prohibitive. So most of the fare actually goes to some higher ups, not the drivers or the limo owners. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunPer Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 The article says... "The representatives explained that the fare from the airport to Patong, a distance of “about” 38.9 kilometres, used to be B800, but right now they were charging only B640, the report added." If the Koh Phuket taxis run their meters after island-rates - like on Koh Samui - it would be 36.9 kilometers of 20 baht each = 738 baht, plus 100 baht meter fall including the first two kilometers, i.e. total 838 baht, so viewed in that light then 800 baht doesn't look too high, and 640 baht is a bargain. But of course, if compared to Bangkok rates, 800 baht is (very) expensive. And if compared to Koh Samui's no-meter fixed-price taxi fares, 800 baht is half price only...????(Rolling On The Floor Laughing-emoji) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropicalevo Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 As far as I can ascertain, for 2021 the numbers are :- 10.7 million is the Thai population of Bangkok 438,000 is the Thai population of Phuket <60,000 is the Thai population of Koh Samui Of course taxi fares are more expensive on the islands. The potential customer bases are much smaller. It is not not realistic to compare Bangkok with the smaller cities. Taxi fares in Bangkok would not be as cheap if there were less than half a million people there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chalawaan Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Negotiating with criminals. Ladies and Gentlemen, meet the Thai Government that promised to stamp out corruption. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harveyboy Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 3 hours ago, Khun Yogi said: Its about 80 km from Pattaya to the airport. B 1000 is pretty normal. Most taxis use LPG which is a lot cheaper than petrol. Going to the airport is no problem, its the getting a taxi at the airport to your destination where the problems start. Touts, Taxi companies etc etc rule the roost. Expats know how to avoid this, tourists don't. bell bus 200 baht door to door drive same speed arrive approx time .used them for many years sorted .. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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