Airport Taxi Surcharge To Increase

[sriracha john]

Cab fares set to rise under AoT

Taking a cab from the airport could cost more after Airports of Thailand (AoT) takes over running the taxi queues at Suvarnabhumi from March 1. AoT president Chana U-sathaporn said the agency plans to charge cabbies 10 baht per trip and raise the airport taxi surcharge from 50 baht to 75 baht. He would discuss the planned increases with the Land Transport Department before submitting the proposal to Transport Minister Santi Prompat for approval. Chana said it was agreed the AoT would take over the taxi queues at a meeting with cab operators on Feb 21. Some operators opposed the proposed 10-baht charge, which he said would help pay the monthly bills for water and electricity and finance the building of facilities such as toilets and rest areas. He said it currently costs the airport 1.7 million baht a month to hire a private company to manage the taxi queues. Some queue operators were found to have overcharged tourists. By taking over queue management the AoT could end overcharging and reduce its costs. Suvarnabhumi airport Director Serirat Prasutanont said the AoT would draft details of the agreement, which was expected to take effect this Saturday.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/25Feb2008_news07.php

[samran]

geez,

maybe TV does work!

[sriracha john]

how do you mean?

[ilyushin]

I have now started to take mini van DMK-BKK for Baht 50 per way. Takes about 30-45 mins. or take Air con buses 554 or 555 for Baht 34 each way. Tired of the rip offs even when I drive my own car it costs Baht 90 for tolls plus fuel and the parking sticker.

Must be a cheaper way for the tourist to get into town. Train?

We all can send messages to AOT

I really hate flying into BKK and having these lumps ( taxi companies) charging far too much for the substandard services.

Just was in Singapore for the air show. Great operation down there. Wish the AoT could manage 10% of the quality and ability of the Sings. Food court costs the same as outside, taxi same as any other place you go and a fine facility for the passengers.

[sriracha john]

I have now started to take mini van DMK-BKK for Baht 50 per way. Takes about 30-45 mins. or take Air con buses 554 or 555 for Baht 34 each way. Tired of the rip offs even when I drive my own car it costs Baht 90 for tolls plus fuel and the parking sticker.

Must be a cheaper way for the tourist to get into town. Train?

We all can send messages to AOT

I really hate flying into BKK and having these lumps ( taxi companies) charging far too much for the substandard services.

Just was in Singapore for the air show. Great operation down there. Wish the AoT could manage 10% of the quality and ability of the Sings. Food court costs the same as outside, taxi same as any other place you go and a fine facility for the passengers.

...and... a very efficient and cost-friendly train system into the city that conveniently leaves right from the terminal...

Edited February 25, 2008 by sriracha john

[peter991]

I am missing something here. According to AOT President, Chana U-sathaporn, 'it currently costs the airport 1.7 million baht a month to hire a private company to manage the taxi queues'.

Let's say the private company has 10 staff on duty, each working 7 days a week, 3 x 8 hour shifts a day. That's 30 staff to manage the taxi queues. Let's say they are paid (I am being generous here) 10,000 baht a month each. Wage bill of 300,000 baht a month.

Where is the other 1.4 million a month going?

I think I'll organise a Work Permit, start a Thai company and do the job for a million baht a month!

Peter

[cclub75]

I am missing something here. According to AOT President, Chana U-sathaporn, 'it currently costs the airport 1.7 million baht a month to hire a private company to manage the taxi queues'.

Let's say the private company has 10 staff on duty, each working 7 days a week, 3 x 8 hour shifts a day. That's 30 staff to manage the taxi queues. Let's say they are paid (I am being generous here) 10,000 baht a month each. Wage bill of 300,000 baht a month.

Where is the other 1.4 million a month going?

Peter

Very easy : it's the cost for the privilege to work with this private company.

We all know. We all saw on the ground... Those shaddy "employees"... looking bored... sitting on A PLASTIC CHAIR (now, but at the opening of the airport, on the ground floor, they had... tables too).

Voila this is the "service taxi" in the main thai airport.

To summarize the AOT's proposal :

-for customers : increase of 50 % (from 50 to 75 THB per trip)

-for drivers : they would gain 15 THB (+ 30 %)

-for AOT : 10 THB per trip.

There is no inflation in Thailand.

And of course the beauty is that some drivers complain : because they would give 10 THB to AOT.... but they forget that they would gain 15...

[sriracha john]

I am missing something here. According to AOT President, Chana U-sathaporn, 'it currently costs the airport 1.7 million baht a month to hire a private company to manage the taxi queues'.

Let's say the private company has 10 staff on duty, each working 7 days a week, 3 x 8 hour shifts a day. That's 30 staff to manage the taxi queues. Let's say they are paid (I am being generous here) 10,000 baht a month each. Wage bill of 300,000 baht a month.

Where is the other 1.4 million a month going?

I think I'll organise a Work Permit, start a Thai company and do the job for a million baht a month!

Peter

Musn't forget, the employees are provided with bottled water daily.

Edited February 25, 2008 by sriracha john

[candoman89]

the other 1.4 M Baht goes to, let see, local police, airport security to look the other way when they rip you off, an, oh yeah...toilet facilities.

[tartempion]

Some operators opposed the proposed 10-baht charge, which he said would help pay the monthly bills for water and electricity and finance the building of facilities such as toilets and rest areas. He said it currently costs the airport 1.7 million baht a month to hire a private company to manage the taxi queues.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/25Feb2008_news07.php

And the 50 baht we pay now, where does it go? Not to pay the monthly bills then? To fill who's pocket then?

To the driver someone mentionned? Really, that would be nice if true or too good to be true

Would like to see these 1.7 million bills also.

Whilst I don't mind paying what's on the meter, and an increase of the meter per km is overdue, I would hate to pay more than the 50 baht for whatever service is offered through the actual system.

I do have 14 in/outs of Savanaboum planned in 2008.

These minivans and 554/555 depart form level 1 now?

Edited February 26, 2008 by tartempion

[dumball]

Some operators opposed the proposed 10-baht charge, which he said would help pay the monthly bills for water and electricity and finance the building of facilities such as toilets and rest areas. He said it currently costs the airport 1.7 million baht a month to hire a private company to manage the taxi queues.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/25Feb2008_news07.php

And the 50 baht we pay now, where does it go? Not to pay the monthly bills then? To fill who's pocket then?

To the driver someone mentionned? Really, that would be nice if true or too good to be true

Would like to see these 1.7 million bills also.

Whilst I don't mind paying what's on the meter, and an increase of the meter per km is overdue, I would hate to pay more than the 50 baht for whatever service is offered through the actual system.

I do have 14 in/outs of Savanaboum planned in 2008.

These minivans and 554/555 depart form level 1 now?

You need to take the FREE shuttle bus to the bus terminal to take advantage of the B35 to On-Nut , i am aware that money matters , but i feel this rip off by the airport taxi service needs to be curtailed sooner than later .

[frenchFARANGbkk]

Hey guys, still don't know that the best cabs can be found at the arrival floor?

They usually are very happy not to go back to BKK alone, and they never overcharge 50 thb as the airport does.

But then, if some people prefer to queue and pay airport tax... up to them!

;-)

[PadThaiGuy]

Maybe, one of these years, the airport management will figure out how to run a fair, efficient taxi service?

I really doubt the airport ground transport mafia will let it happen.

Look for continued reports of visitors(victims) getting scammed.

[tracer5050]

they will alway find a way to get alittle more. Some time i ge there at 12.00 am. not a lot there at that time.

[marshbags]

Some operators opposed the proposed 10-baht charge, which he said would help pay the monthly bills for water and electricity and finance the building of facilities such as toilets and rest areas. He said it currently costs the airport 1.7 million baht a month to hire a private company to manage the taxi queues.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/25Feb2008_news07.php

And the 50 baht we pay now, where does it go? Not to pay the monthly bills then? To fill who's pocket then?

To the driver someone mentionned? Really, that would be nice if true or too good to be true

Would like to see these 1.7 million bills also.

Whilst I don't mind paying what's on the meter, and an increase of the meter per km is overdue, I would hate to pay more than the 50 baht for whatever service is offered through the actual system.

I do have 14 in/outs of Savanaboum planned in 2008.

These minivans and 554/555 depart form level 1 now?

Where do they go to at D.Muang ? last time i heard they didn,t go into the domestic terminal, but dropped you off outside ?????

Not a ball of fun for those with 20 kg,s of luggage or more, if this is where they terminate.

marshbags

[Zpete]

Auckland airport has a surcharge of about 450 Baht = $NZ11.00

Plus ya fare into CBD, another ................570 Baht = $NZ24.00

And a lot shorter taxi journey.

You people are grizzling about 50 baht...... <deleted> .......= $NZ2.00

Ya dunno when ya well off.

Edited March 3, 2008 by Zpete

[Crossy]

Sooo, here we are on 3rd March, has anything changed with the taxi routine??

Back in LoS on friday, don't want anything to delay my arrival at home where the missus is waiting

[bendix]

Auckland airport has a surcharge of about 450 Baht = $NZ11.00

Plus ya fare into CBD, another ................570 Baht = $NZ24.00

And a lot shorter taxi journey.

You people are grizzling about 50 baht...... <deleted> .......= $NZ2.00

Ya dunno when ya well off.

Last time I was in Auckland, the total fare to CBD was NZ$50-60.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I can't think of a cheaper airport to CBD taxi service ANYWHERE in the world, with the possible exception of Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh.

Even the much lauded Singapore that someone refers to above. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the airport surcharge is $6-$8 singapore and the total ride to the Conrad in the CBD regularly costs me $20-22 which is around 500-600 baht.

But, as you say, some people just like to whinge and complain over a few pennies.

[PadThaiGuy]

Auckland airport has a surcharge of about 450 Baht = $NZ11.00

Plus ya fare into CBD, another ................570 Baht = $NZ24.00

And a lot shorter taxi journey.

You people are grizzling about 50 baht...... <deleted> .......= $NZ2.00

Ya dunno when ya well off.

Last time I was in Auckland, the total fare to CBD was NZ$50-60.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I can't think of a cheaper airport to CBD taxi service ANYWHERE in the world, with the possible exception of Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh.

Even the much lauded Singapore that someone refers to above. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the airport surcharge is $6-$8 singapore and the total ride to the Conrad in the CBD regularly costs me $20-22 which is around 500-600 baht.

But, as you say, some people just like to whinge and complain over a few pennies.

I'll gladly pay the going rate for a taxi from any airport in the world, no problem.

1$... $100 ... whatever it takes.

What I don't appreciate is the airport management allowing systematic scamming of arrivals into paying more like they do at Bangkok.

[sriracha john]

Songsak set to wipe out taxi queue mafia gangs

Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri has pledged he will get rid of all influential gangs controlling taxi queues at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. He said he wants the Airports of Thailand (AoT) to regulate taxi queues with fair practices and collect the profiles of taxi drivers at the queues. He also plans to allow any taxi drivers who drop off departing passengers to queue up and wait for arriving passengers at Suvarnabhumi airport. This policy should eliminate influential groups controlling taxi queues there, he said. Currently, taxis taking departing passengers to Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang are barred by some influential groups, said to be linked to some hugh-ranking AoT officials, from queueing and picking up arriving passengers. Only official airport limousines and unauthorised taxi limousines under the control of the influential gangs are allowed to pick up passengers at the airports. Songsak disagrees with AoT's plan to set up a new taxi queue at the public transport centre within Suvarnabhumi airport which is a few kilometres away from the passenger terminals, and impose a 10-baht charge on each taxi driver.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/06Mar2008_news15.php

[kevc]

Friend just came in last night, waited an hour for a taxi (none there) when he finally got one he wouldn't put the meter on got out and was told to go to the back of the line he called the police over and the guy got him the next cab by meter, when he got outside the airport there were lines of cabs lined up cabbie told him they were boycotting because AOT would only let them use meters, no set fairs and he only took him because he was returning to Pattaya.

[wpcoe]

Songsak disagrees with AoT's plan to set up a new taxi queue at the public transport centre within Suvarnabhumi airport which is a few kilometres away from the passenger terminals, and impose a 10-baht charge on each taxi driver.

Uh oh, is this being considered again?

[Crossy]

Songsak disagrees with AoT's plan to set up a new taxi queue at the public transport centre within Suvarnabhumi airport which is a few kilometres away from the passenger terminals, and impose a 10-baht charge on each taxi driver.

Uh oh, is this being considered again?

Deja-vu can be scary

Anyone know more about this alleged "protest"? I'm getting in at 4AM on saturday, the last thing I need is a mega-wait for a taxi If I have to I'll get a limo.

[CbrLad]

Auckland airport has a surcharge of about 450 Baht = $NZ11.00

Plus ya fare into CBD, another ................570 Baht = $NZ24.00

And a lot shorter taxi journey.

You people are grizzling about 50 baht...... <deleted> .......= $NZ2.00

Ya dunno when ya well off.

Most major airports charge an airport surcharge. The one I dislike is Canberra airport (yes know not a major airport). The AIRPORT charges taxi's to use their parking area. They claim the cost is to pay for things like meal rooms etc. The crap thing though is if a taxi comes to drop someone off, even if there are no taxi's waiting to get people (which is very common), he still has to make a lap of the airprot, which takes about 2 minutes, go through the airport park, pay his $2 (or what ever it is now) then go pick up the passenger. Same too with empty cabs, they must go pay.

[simon43]

With the airport rail link looking like it will open maybe later this year, one would have thought that all parties concerned with the airport taxis would be thinking of ways to retain and improve customer satisfaction, not how to p*ss them off even more.

Hang on, I'm thinking logically - sorry !

Simon

[DeathbyDurian]

Hey guys, still don't know that the best cabs can be found at the arrival floor?

They usually are very happy not to go back to BKK alone, and they never overcharge 50 thb as the airport does.

But then, if some people prefer to queue and pay airport tax... up to them!

;-)

He is right. Why wait in a line and pay 50B?

Just go to the second floor (arrivals) wait 2 seconds for someone to get out of their taxi and just hop in.

Simple, quicker and cheaper than waiting in the line!

[junkofdavid2]

Hop on Bus 551 from the bus stop right outside airport's exit 1 (together with airport employees going home), and it will take you to Praram 9 MRT and eventually to Victory Monument for 34 baht.

24 hours service, but less frequent late at night.

[junkofdavid2]

Hop on Bus 551 from the bus stop right outside airport's exit 3 on the lower floor (together with airport employees going home), and it will take you to Praram 9 MRT and eventually to Victory Monument for 34 baht.

24 hours service, but less frequent late at night.

[Crossy]

I got in to Swampy at 04.30 on saturday (from Bangalore).

As far as the taxis are concerned nothing seems to have changed, same smiling lady on the desk (box), same fixed fare to my home (out of town, no chance of meter).

I was home in Pathum Thani arousing the missus within an hour and a half of landing, no problems with immigration, all the taxi touts were sleeping (as was the taxi driver)