Aot Driver / "limousine" Service

[Briggsy]

Recently I had to travel to Had Yai airport from Had Yai downtown. There is an AoT van service, priced at 100 Baht per passenger. The downside is that it only picks up from the Thai Airways Office so you have to get yourself and your bags there and it leaves at scheduled times 5 times a day. The first run was tight for my flight.

So I chose to take the AoT taxi service which they call a "limousine" for 300 Baht. It picks you up at the hotel

The following day, the taxi failed to arrive at the appointed time. I had to make a decision. I left it as late as I could and when he still hadn't come I dragged my bags to the Thai Airways Office just in time to catch the van.

By chance the "limousine" driver just arrived at the office at the same time. He was dropping off the girl who worked there. The girl who had taken the booking saw me in the van and said, "Your limousine is here." I replied the taxi did not pick me up at the agreed time and I had to rush from hotel to the office so now I will be taking the van, thank you. I also said the level of customer service was not really good enough.

At this point the limousine driver stuck his head into the van and angrily demanded his 300 Baht. "You must pay," he shouted. This confirmed my view of AoT drivers as thuggish and with no concept of customer service. There is only one way to deal with a bully. I pointed out he had failed to arrive and there was no way I was paying for his "limousine" service. He backed down in the face of resistance and without any other AoT thugs to back him up.

I don't use the AoT drivers if I can avoid it and I won't be using them again in the future.

[impulse]

As an alternative to ranting about a single driver, one time, you could have taken it up with the company and seen if they gave you any satisfaction.

But it's more satisfying to rant, I guess.

[Briggsy]

Not ranting, informing others about the attitude and customer service of AoT drivers. They have a reputation for this.

Since I did not pay, there is little to take up. Having lived here for many years, I know organisations and companies, particularly public ones are not responsive to complaints and prefer things to be dealt with locally.

You ain't in Kansas now, Dorothy impulse.