Poor Taxi Service Process

[scorecard]

Returned to swampy last Saturday evening.

- Taxi touts even harrassing people as they waited at the luggae belt. One tout demanidng from his taget victim "you have to give me your name and destination, this is the taxi process from this airport". Eventually an older Thai lady intervened and strongly told the tout to disappear and offered to take the arriving visitor to the meter taxi desk.

- Girl at taxi meter desk totally engaged in conversation with her colleague, not listening to customers, writes a few words on the slip and pushes it towards customer, no eye contact whataver, no politeness whatever. Area around this desk very dirty.

- Other taxi drivers on the upper level above the desk shouting down at the queue "YOU, YOU".

Great for the image of this airport.

- Taxi driver askes again and again "did I want to go to a good hotel". My repated message that I lived in Bangkok and wanted to go home to my condo totally ignored.

[Absingjul]

Changi is the best in this regard: put 'em all in a box and poke 'em if they make any noise.

[barky]

Quick answer. It won't get fixed. The system is working perfectly well thank you.

The comfort of the traveller is totally irrelevant when it comes to making some money out of them.

And, no, before you ask, "Don't they worry that this creates a bad image for Thailand and some of it's people, and aren't they worried the repercussion will be that visitors might not return and may even tell their friends about the shoddy treatment they got at the airport upon arrival.

The answere is again no.

These people think about how much money they can get out of the tourist/travellor now!

[ajarnmark]

Returned to swampy last Saturday evening.

- Taxi touts even harrassing people as they waited at the luggae belt. One tout demanidng from his taget victim "you have to give me your name and destination, this is the taxi process from this airport". Eventually an older Thai lady intervened and strongly told the tout to disappear and offered to take the arriving visitor to the meter taxi desk.

- Girl at taxi meter desk totally engaged in conversation with her colleague, not listening to customers, writes a few words on the slip and pushes it towards customer, no eye contact whataver, no politeness whatever. Area around this desk very dirty.

- Other taxi drivers on the upper level above the desk shouting down at the queue "YOU, YOU".

Great for the image of this airport.

- Taxi driver askes again and again "did I want to go to a good hotel". My repated message that I lived in Bangkok and wanted to go home to my condo totally ignored.

Swampy?

I wish you must have seen other airports in this region.

I would say that Suwarnnabhumi airport is one of the best airports in this region.

I was flying from Tan Son Nhat (Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City) few months ago and going back to my country, with a couple of nights stay in BKK. Girl at the airpot said the following:

Girl: You can not fly mister

Me: Why not?

Girl: Your passport expired

Me: No it is not, check expiry date carefully ma'am

Girl: (after scanning my passport) Ok, but your visa to Thailand is not appropriate

Me: I have travelled on this visa many times before

Girl: wait here mister

Me: (I waited for 15 minutes then asked to goto another counter) Yes ma'am

Girl 2: We sent an email to Thai immigration to check if you can fly

Me: Let me show you my passport (showing them previous travels in the same manner)

Girl 2: Ok let me talk to my boss (a long discussion with another man then....) ok, mister, you can fly

Me: (annoyed) I knew I can go (no thank you, went back to check-in counter to Girl 1) go ahead with check-in process

Girl: (not believing in me, went back to girl 2 and chatted for a while) ok, mister you can fly

Me: I know I can fly, now check me in

Girl: (very pissed off, but cant do anything because she was just a check-in counter girl) here is your boarding card

Me: Where is my passport?

Girl: Its with other girl

Me: Go and get it, I will not go, why did you leave my passport there

Girl: (very pissed off) Wait here mister (came back after getting my passport) here it is

Me: Ok (trying to look very annoyed)

Flew safely. Now its not that I am an old man (I m 33, so I guess I m young, or at least I think so ) I was in proper business wear and holding temporary resident card of Vietnam, but.....

So the bottom line is that airport in BKK is much better

Taxis in Singapore starts from SGD 2.86 (if i remember correctly) which makes it around 60 baht as a starting flag, so they must be better, though very few in number

Taxis in HCM are VND10,000/km (~THB22)

Overpriced? yes

Good service? Not at all

After you drop off the taxi n give money to the driver, almost everyone tries not to return change to you!

In BKK, I always goto 4th floor and get a taxi, very easy

I doubt if touts have access to luggage belt, never heard of it

[Jingthing]

These people think about how much money they can get out of the tourist/travellor now!

Yep.

[Sparkles]

Returned to swampy last Saturday evening.

- Taxi touts even harrassing people as they waited at the luggae belt. One tout demanidng from his taget victim "you have to give me your name and destination, this is the taxi process from this airport". Eventually an older Thai lady intervened and strongly told the tout to disappear and offered to take the arriving visitor to the meter taxi desk.

- Girl at taxi meter desk totally engaged in conversation with her colleague, not listening to customers, writes a few words on the slip and pushes it towards customer, no eye contact whataver, no politeness whatever. Area around this desk very dirty.

- Other taxi drivers on the upper level above the desk shouting down at the queue "YOU, YOU".

Great for the image of this airport.

- Taxi driver askes again and again "did I want to go to a good hotel". My repated message that I lived in Bangkok and wanted to go home to my condo totally ignored.

How many times have we heard that authorities will do something about these problems.I have been waiting 9 years alone. My BP goes up at the thought of going to Swampy. The taxi mafia run this part of the woods and are untouchable

[jamesjdaly]

Simple. USE THE NEW AIRPORT TRAIN until near the city and then transfer to a normal taxi!! Cheaper and quicker That's what I'm gonna do in the future.

[waza]

Caught a metered taxi from level 4 last week, 280 baht to soi 4 Sukhumvit + expressway fees

[Chaimai]

Simple. USE THE NEW AIRPORT TRAIN until near the city and then transfer to a normal taxi!! Cheaper and quicker That's what I'm gonna do in the future.

Sound idea.

BUT... you should not feel that you have to do that.

It really is shambolic at Suvarnabhumi and an unpleasant experience - worse than Mo Chit. It does not portray the airport, or Thailand, in a good light - although I accept that this will be unimportant to the Thais.

There are "official" taxi desks/touts inside the arrivals hall and logic says that this should be where passengers book taxis and simply go to a pick up area.

[Briggsy]

Yippee, a taxi rant. Haven't had one for a while.

If you can make it to the public taxi pick-up spot, then it's plain sailing, even for a newbie. It's very clearly signposted that the fare is on the meter plus 50 Baht. Can't go wrong.

However, the weak of spirit will tend to falter at the pushy tactics of the "limousine" lot before getting to the public taxis. This is perhaps an analogy for Thailand itself. The weak, ignorant and trusting will be exploited by the scheming elite.

[andy1308]

Simple. USE THE NEW AIRPORT TRAIN until near the city and then transfer to a normal taxi!! Cheaper and quicker That's what I'm gonna do in the future.

Do you really think it will be any different once you come out of the new stations? My feeling is that it could be a whole lot worse because you'll have the tuk-tuks to contend with as well. Because of the locations of the stations almost everyone will likely have to take some form of transport to their final destination.

[spongeman]

I just avoid eye contact with the touts. I also d'ont speak to them.

If you do either it just encourages them.

Its the best way.

Edited May 28, 2009 by spongeman

[tartempion]

Picked up my bags around 8am last friday 26 May, got out and pushed cart onto travellator to go up 2 floors to departures to check in for Thai Airways flight to Udon Thani.

Was pursued by tout who insisted to know where I was heading. Idiot told me "no flights to Udon until late afternoon"

Replied "Thai 9.45, have ticket"

Man said "6k baht for taxi to Udon"

I replied "1000 Baht ticket, 1 hour flight"

Idiot gave up arriving level 2 and walked away.

Would this idiot think I would throw a ticket in the bin and pay 6k Baht for a 6 hours drive in a lousy Toyota Corrola who had seen better days?

[LadyHeather]

I've never seen touts at the luggage belts either. Unless its domestic flights you are referring to it seems unlikely a tout would get into international. However, I can't say that I've seen touts at the luggage belts in domestic either.

I don't know why I don't get harassed at the airport, perhaps its the fact that I wave my hand at them in a dismissive manner and say no thank you and keep on walking. Getting the taxi to put the meter on, however, can be difficult, even when picking up at the taxi meter stand.

[H2oDunc]

Simply get your bags and go up 1 floor to departures. Walk outside and get a taxi that is dropping somebody off. Have never have 1 refuse to put the meter on as they are just happy to get a return fare into town. Where's the problem ? Some people make their own problems I think

[tw25rw]

I've never seen touts at the luggage belts either. Unless its domestic flights you are referring to it seems unlikely a tout would get into international. However, I can't say that I've seen touts at the luggage belts in domestic either.

I don't know why I don't get harassed at the airport, perhaps its the fact that I wave my hand at them in a dismissive manner and say no thank you and keep on walking. Getting the taxi to put the meter on, however, can be difficult, even when picking up at the taxi meter stand.

Not the usual riff raff, but there have been girls in yellow uniforms trying to lure tourists into paying too much for a ride into town.

[BigSnake]

When Donkeys Fly Touts really PiS# me off. Just have to grin and bear it best you can.

[robbiecia]

I love to total ignore the taxi touts, just treat them like air!!!!!!!!

I have also never had a problem going to arrivals and grabbing a taxi, and yes, they are just happy to get a return fare in to town (save the 50 baht airport fee as well)

It will be interesting when the train service is available, as i can imagine these touts getting even more desperate.

Maybe the arriving chaos will be delayed until you get to the end of the train line.

should be interesting

Edited May 29, 2009 by robbiecia

[Briggsy]

I can confirm taxi "limousine" touts are at the luggage belts. They wear bright yellow uniforms. This is the first wave of attack. There are about 3 or 4 fallback lines before reaching the public taxis.

Regarding taking taxis from departure, this does not always go smoothly as vested interests try to prevent it and non-connected drivers may feel intimidated. Connected drivers will try to negotiate a higher fare during the journey. For the sake of 50 Baht, I feel it is now too much hassle.

[phetaroi]

Quick answer. It won't get fixed. The system is working perfectly well thank you.

The comfort of the traveller is totally irrelevant when it comes to making some money out of them.

And, no, before you ask, "Don't they worry that this creates a bad image for Thailand and some of it's people, and aren't they worried the repercussion will be that visitors might not return and may even tell their friends about the shoddy treatment they got at the airport upon arrival.

The answere is again no.

These people think about how much money they can get out of the tourist/travellor now!

Mostly I agree with you.

As to your last point about them thinking how much money they can get out of you now...maybe it's because, all considered, they are relatively poor and you are their income.

I have to admit the pesky touts -- particularly those pitching humans -- are most annoying to me. This year, as I move here as an expat I've decided to not let it bother me...as much. And so, I simply wave them away, and when one comes along that is more persistent I stop, look them directly in the eye, and in a quiet but very firm voice say, "Mai!" So far, it's worked quite well.

[wpcoe]

I can confirm taxi "limousine" touts are at the luggage belts. They wear bright yellow uniforms.

Yes, I can also confirm they are at the baggage carousels. I arrived twice in May, and both times, the bright yellow uniformed folks were soliciting business from passengers while they waited for their luggage to appear. And, this is not domestic arrivals, it's international arrivals, before clearing Customs.

[Lancashirelad]

Yes i too have seen touts in the baggage claim hall. Surely this must be against International Airport security regulations?

BTW: is the train running yet?

[Golden Nugget]

The comfort of the traveller is totally irrelevant when it comes to making some money out of them.

And, no, before you ask, "Don't they worry that this creates a bad image for Thailand and some of it's people, and aren't they worried the repercussion will be that visitors might not return and may even tell their friends about the shoddy treatment they got at the airport upon arrival.

These people think about how much money they can get out of the tourist/travellor now!

Agree 100%. Goal is to squeeze as much out of you as possible. All it takes is one foreigner to bite and it's a nice profitable day!

If you can make it to the public taxi pick-up spot, then it's plain sailing, even for a newbie. It's very clearly signposted that the fare is on the meter plus 50 Baht. Can't go wrong.

However, the weak of spirit will tend to falter at the pushy tactics of the "limousine" lot before getting to the public taxis. This is perhaps an analogy for Thailand itself. The weak, ignorant and trusting will be exploited by the scheming elite.

The tactic is to ambush the uninformed newbies, create confusion, and get their "trust" before they get to the legitimate taxi service.

I just avoid eye contact with the touts. I also d'ont speak to them.

I don't acknowledge them and say to myself as I walk past them, "f@@k you mother f****r"

[Golden Nugget]

Simply get your bags and go up 1 floor to departures. Walk outside and get a taxi that is dropping somebody off.

They may have put a stop to this now. Practically the entire stretch from one end to the other next to the taxi drop off area was coned off two weeks ago.

Yes i too have seen touts in the baggage claim hall. Surely this must be against International Airport security regulations?

BTW: is the train running yet?

Thais violating regulations is perfectly acceptable. The train is scheduled to be in operation in August of this year.

[Pash]

I've never seen touts at the luggage belts either. Unless its domestic flights you are referring to it seems unlikely a tout would get into international. However, I can't say that I've seen touts at the luggage belts in domestic either.

I don't know why I don't get harassed at the airport, perhaps its the fact that I wave my hand at them in a dismissive manner and say no thank you and keep on walking. Getting the taxi to put the meter on, however, can be difficult, even when picking up at the taxi meter stand.

Exactly. Never seen touts in either belt areas except for the desk at the back. Never hastled there.

Move into the public area. Learn to say no thanks.

Otherwise if I am cranky from the usual red eye I tell the touts I dont want to go to Pattaya as I dont have a small d**k. Smile and keep walking.

Up the escalator to L4, catch a metered taxi. Remind him to put the meter in 1 in 10 times.

No problem no issue unless you make them yourself.

As another poster said - try other regional airports. Except Changi. Never had a problem there. If I have time I catch the train. If not catch a taxi no argument no fuss.

Its all what you make of it or need something to complain about