Airport Taxi's... Pls Help With Confusion

[TravelBUG]

So the taxi touts on arrival level are a scam/rip off..... your not suposed to get a taxi from level 4 arrivals that are dropping off passengers.... and now it seems the taxi stand on ground level are also a scam...

So where should one get a reliable, legal taxi from that wont ridiculously overcharge? (besides getting in a bus to get to the outside taxi stand??).

[rak sa_ngop]

and now it seems the taxi stand on ground level are also a scam...

Not sure how true this statement is. In my experience if you are 'streetwise' you will only pay the meter price plus 50 baht and tolls. Maybe if you are negotiating an out-of-town fixed price things are different?

[lazeeboy]

if you go to the ground floor ,tell the desk where you are going ,you pay the metre plus 50b plus any tolls,if you go to the desk and ask how much they will quote you a price ,if you eccept then the meter stsys off, there is no scam .

[Payboy]

So where should one get a reliable, legal taxi from that wont ridiculously overcharge? (besides getting in a bus to get to the outside taxi stand??).

singapore or hong kong.....

Edited September 27, 2007 by Payboy

[sjaak327]

There were reports of "scams" at the ground level taxi stands. But to be honest on my last holiday (which ended 4 days ago), I have been gettting a cab three times, and it was just business as usual. State your destination, get a receipt, get in taxi, driver turns on meter, you pay meter + 50 baht surcharge.

If they try to pull anything, just insist on meter.

[Eleron]

I arrived in Bangkok on the 21st (arrived home on Saturday the 29th) at 11pm. My parents arrived 2 hours before me at 9pm. They went to the taxi desk and said they wanted to go the the Narai Hotel and were asked "450 Baht ok?". They said yes and paid 450 baht. 2 hours later I asked at the same taxi desk to be taken to the Narai hotel and was asked "450 baht ok?" Since I'd read these forums and was expecting that I said "No - I want metered taxi". The lady behind the desk then pointed to the 50 Baht service fee sign, I said OK and it cost me 350 baht to go to the Narai.

Just have to say that it was an interesting introduction to Bangkok on my first visit there, at about 12pm at night, doing 140k down the freeway with others passing us as if we were standing still, and the taxi driver playing elvis on car stereo and singing along

[billp]

they will quote you a price ,if you eccept then the meter stsys off, there is no scam .

It's illegal for taxis in Bangkok to be carrying passengers without using the meter, and that includes the airport. There's simply no reason for any taxi driver to charge a flat rate except to rip you off. These airport flat rates are being foist on those who are new and naive or too tired from a long flight to resist. And apparently the taxi drivers are paying a small kickback to the dispatchers for the "service" of pushing a flat rate. So, yes, it is most certainly a scam.

[tingtong]

since Tingtong leaves a bit out of town ( bang bua thong, about 60 km from airport), the last 2 arrivals my options semmed to be only the fix price, both times 550 baht, pay to taxi driver. express way extra, but no additional 50 baht.

Due to midnight arrives, i didnt feel to bargain for 50-100 baht with meter...i know, bad me. but after some 20 hours flight the last i feel to do.

Hands to heart: where is the place in the west where taxi from airport to city( my case out, 60 km distance!) cost only 16$?????

ps: interesting enough, the price both times were identical. and i guess the guy had to make an empty trip back to bkk, 'cos late night not much action here.

[Crossy]

A flat rate is both normal and AFAIK legal to 'out of town' locations. I have no objection since the driver is most likely going to make an empty trip back. The taxi dispatcher has a list of these fares so they're at least consistent (it's only in Thai though) and to my location at least, about a 50% loading on the meter rate that I get going to the airport.

[TaoNow]

I'm a bit tardy with this trip report but thought I should add it to the thread since it's an experience I haven't seen reported on elsewhere.

I arrived at SVP at about 5 p.m. on September 21. No problems avoiding the touts and finding the meter taxi stand. I speak Thai pretty fluently and told the dispatcher my destination (Thewet area, not far from Banglumpoo). She wrote out the slip, handed it to me and I got into the taxi. At that point I let my guard down and started chatting with the driver. About halfway to my destination I realized I couldn't see the meter and didn't hear the usual beep-beep-beep as it clicks up the fare. So I asked the driver where the meter was. He then removed a piece of paper that had been folded over the meter display -- totally hiding it. The meter seemed to be running properly, given the distance and time elapsed so I didn't make an issue of it. But, for newcomers to SVP, after getting into the meter-taxis, make sure you see the meter in the middle of the dashboard and that it is turned on.

Hope this helps someone, somewhere.

[Artisi]

A flat rate is both normal and AFAIK legal to 'out of town' locations. I have no objection since the driver is most likely going to make an empty trip back. The taxi dispatcher has a list of these fares so they're at least consistent (it's only in Thai though) and to my location at least, about a 50% loading on the meter rate that I get going to the airport.

Depends what you mean by "out of town", if you mean just outside of metro' Bkk I can't comment - however, if you mean inter-city, all taxis I have been in in Bkk have either on display or with the driver a full list of destinations in both Thai and English giving fixed price for the trip. Only last week as I was heading for Don Muang I was asked where was I going and when I informed the driver he handed me the price list and asked if I wanted to go by taxi - you can also negotiate a rate if you want which can be a lot less than the official price.

[Crossy]

Depends what you mean by "out of town", if you mean just outside of metro' Bkk I can't comment - however, if you mean inter-city, all taxis I have been in in Bkk have either on display or with the driver a full list of destinations in both Thai and English giving fixed price for the trip. Only last week as I was heading for Don Muang I was asked where was I going and when I informed the driver he handed me the price list and asked if I wanted to go by taxi - you can also negotiate a rate if you want which can be a lot less than the official price.

Yeah, I mean outside metro Bangkok (Bangkadi - go to Rangsit and turn left).

[kalasin]

I never had any problems. Just look for the taxi counter - they speak english - tell them where you are going, and they will tell the driver.