Ethics

[SEAtramp]

You take a taxi to Don Muang and the fare is 200baht. You have exactly 800baht left after your stay in Thailand. 500 of which is for airport tax.

So do you give the taxi driver the hundred or do you keep it for coffee.

[toastwars]

coffee...no question you probably had to show him the way so you should get the tip.

[Shola]

You take a taxi to Don Muang and the fare is 200baht. You have exactly 800baht left after your stay in Thailand. 500 of which is for airport tax.

So do you give the taxi driver the hundred or do you keep it for coffee.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well have to say the prospect of waiting 2 hours for a flight without even a beverage to pass the time is a bit daunting

If thats all I had, well sorry Mr taxi man

[devildog683]

coffee...no question you probably had to show him the way so you should get the tip.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

agreed, coffee

[aletta]

The taxi drivers i get seem to be auditioning for Formula One so i would spend the 100 baht on some form of sedation.

[Gazza]

Why give money away just because you're leaving Thailand? I don't give away any of my dosh on the Thai side when I do a border visa run and then look for an ATM when I arrive back in Thailand.

Keep your money for the next visit here. Slummy sure, get rid of it if you're flying out maybe. But bank notes? No way.

[konangrit]

I'd get a whopper, the taxi driver already has twice as much money as you do from the fair alone.

[Pattaya_Fox]

You take a taxi to Don Muang and the fare is 200baht. You have exactly 800baht left after your stay in Thailand. 500 of which is for airport tax.

So do you give the taxi driver the hundred or do you keep it for coffee.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Toasted cheese sandwich = 100 baht

Large whisky = 200 baht

Total = 300 baht

Chok-dee khrap!

Coffee....free on the plane.

[OxfordWill]

Depends on what you thought of the driver. It's a question of if he deserved a tip or not. The actual service he provided cost you 200, so failing to pay him more than that is not going to be unethical.

[kreon]

You take a taxi to Don Muang and the fare is 200baht. You have exactly 800baht left after your stay in Thailand. 500 of which is for airport tax.

So do you give the taxi driver the hundred or do you keep it for coffee.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Toasted cheese sandwich = 100 baht

Large whisky = 200 baht

Total = 300 baht

Chok-dee khrap!

Coffee....free on the plane.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i now can see why you failed in maths

[kat]

On one of my very first trips to Thailand (and SEA), I had something like 300 baht in change left over. I gave all my excess to the taxi driver on my way out. He was an elderly Thai man, and was so bowled over with gratitude, that he came around and shook my hand with his old farmers hands and looked at me as if I had given him the biggest gift. I was very surprised, and suddenly realized how much 300 baht and change is worth to some working locals.

Of course, I live in Bangkok now and have not even thought of doing that shit again! But thanks for reminding me that sometimes, it may be a good thing to do.

[Spee]

You take a taxi to Don Muang and the fare is 200baht. You have exactly 800baht left after your stay in Thailand. 500 of which is for airport tax.

So do you give the taxi driver the hundred or do you keep it for coffee.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not sure what this has to do with being ethical or not.

IMHO if one is so tight with cash that he/she heads to the airport with only 1000 baht in the pocket, then he/she would have negotiated a flat rate to the airport and the taxi driver will get exactly that.

Your situation describe seems more predictable of a tourist who rarely ventures to Thailand, rather than someone who makes regular trips.

[Pattaya_Fox]

You take a taxi to Don Muang and the fare is 200baht. You have exactly 800baht left after your stay in Thailand. 500 of which is for airport tax.

So do you give the taxi driver the hundred or do you keep it for coffee.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Toasted cheese sandwich = 100 baht

Large whisky = 200 baht

Total = 300 baht

Chok-dee khrap!

Coffee....free on the plane.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i now can see why you failed in maths

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maths are perfect the spare 100 baht buys the cheese sandwich but you never get the whisky free..

[konangrit]

What would happen if you didn't have 500B for the tax? Can't be too uncommon an occurance. I guess the airline would have to pay for you if you were really stuck.

[Ajarn]

Depends on what you thought of the driver. It's a question of if he deserved a tip or not. The actual service he provided cost you 200, so failing to pay him more than that is not going to be unethical.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is there an Oxford in Australia?

[booma]

If I was low on money, I would definately keep it until I was safetly through immigration and customs etc. Although 100B wouldn't be of much use, you never know the unexpected (My last flight I had miscalculated my overstay, stupid I know, but luckily I had just enough to cover it).

Besides, I would take the view that I would've given out plenty of baht in tips already and that the last of my money is mine, I wouldn't see the logic in leaving myself with nothing especially in a foreign airport.

B

[OxfordWill]

I don't know if there is an Oxford in Australia, why do you ask?

[Thaiquila]

Money is money, baht or whatever.

My rule on airport taxis is based on ethics.

If the driver plays all kinds of games to get more than the actual fare, then no tip, because I figure he has scammed his tip.

If the driver does a good job and doesn't try any little scams, a tip.

What I have in my pocket does not come into the equation.

[SEAtramp]

Spee

IMHO if one is so tight with cash that he/she heads to the airport with only 1000 baht in the pocket, then he/she would have negotiated a flat rate to the airport and the taxi driver will get exactly that.

Your situation describe seems more predictable of a tourist who rarely ventures to Thailand, rather than someone who makes regular trips.

Are you trying to say a 200baht metered fare to the airport can be cheaper if a fare is negotiated !! ( Just how regular do you travel? )

And who said anything about traveling to the airport with only 1,000baht in the pocket? Ever heard of credit cards ?

[booma]

If you had mentioned CC's then I would've said 'give the tip'!

But you didn't.

The situation I mentioned in my response was after I had lost my cards!!!!!!

[Roger_JG]

You take a taxi to Don Muang and the fare is 200baht. You have exactly 800baht left after your stay in Thailand. 500 of which is for airport tax.

So do you give the taxi driver the hundred or do you keep it for coffee.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Where did you find a taxi to the airport for 200 Baht?

I guess I would use 100 Baht fo rthe Tollway...

~S

[penelope]

You take a taxi to Don Muang and the fare is 200baht. You have exactly 800baht left after your stay in Thailand. 500 of which is for airport tax.

So do you give the taxi driver the hundred or do you keep it for coffee.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I put the 300 baht in my wallet. On my return flight back into Don Muang I spend 200 baht on a taxi + airport surcharge and give the change to the security guard at my condo.

[Thai Bairn]

What would happen if you didn't have 500B for the tax? Can't be too uncommon an occurance. I guess the airline would have to pay for you if you were really stuck.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Happened to me last year. Only had about 350 baht left, no problem I'll just go to the ATM - unfortunately they were all out of service or were responding with ' communication error'.

Was getting a bit worried so I went back to the check-in and explained my predicament. They gave me the 150 baht. They didn't seem at all surprised, so as you say it must be quite a common occurence.

[Ajarn]

I don't know if there is an Oxford in Australia, why do you ask?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Because you sound more like an Aussie, reasoning.

Just a little joke. Very little, obviously.

[SEAtramp]

Where did you find a taxi to the airport for 200 Baht?

I guess I would use 100 Baht fo rthe Tollway...

Chatuchak..

100baht for toll !!

[paulfr]

Didn't anyone ever tell you that is what bar girls are for ?

Taking you to the airport to kiss you goodbye and get

all your remaining leftover Thai money.

So you had 300B after 500B exit tax.

100B for coffeeand donuts with the lady and 200B for her.

She'll take a 25B bus back to Suk and have a nice 175B for her trouble.

Now be careful not to send her 10000B every month so she can be "you, only one"

[COBBER]

Keep in mind that these guys need to take 1000 baht per day to cover their costs before they start to make any money for themselves. So without being over benevolant , if the service is good ,i think a small tip would be appreciated.

[Jai Dee]

Keep in mind that these guys need to take 1000 baht per day to cover their costs before they start to make any money for themselves. So without being over benevolant , if the service is good ,i think a small tip would be appreciated.

My future father-in-law was a Bangkok taxi driver... some weeks his take-home pay was less than 500 baht.

If he's a genuine meter-taxi driver and not one of the taxi mafia brigade, tip him.

You can afford it, and you'll brighten up someone's day.

[srisatch]

Keep in mind that these guys need to take 1000 baht per day to cover their costs before they start to make any money for themselves. So without being over benevolant , if the service is good ,i think a small tip would be appreciated.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My future father-in-law was a Bangkok taxi driver... some weeks his take-home pay was less than 500 baht.

If he's a genuine meter-taxi driver and not one of the taxi mafia brigade, tip him.

You can afford it, and you'll brighten up someone's day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Quite..how much was your air ticket?

If you have 100B in your pocket after airport tax...oh by the way last time I was in DM there were two Brits rushing up and down the airport trying to flog their watches...ATMs closed, presumably passports in different namees fromCCs...Nothing to do with airlines/immigration..you have only 500B...better to leave Thailand but WE ain't helping...what do you do when you get home to Manchester/Dortmund/Sydney? Bet you can access a bit of cash?

Taxi driving is a shit life...that is why most drivers come from Issan, have hardly mastered the geog of BKK and would rather not be there...not so much patronage as a bit of good heart on your part

[fiveyears]

what has this to do with ethics when I may ask?