Airport Taxis (Again)

[madmitch]

Sorry to start a new airport taxi topic but I was at the airport today and noticed that the "official" taxi prices have risen since I was last there a month or so ago.

It can't have been more than a year ago when the Phuket press announced the "fixed prices" from the airport to the beaches. I know Karon/Kata was 750 baht and I believe Patong was 650 baht.

Well, with no new press release, the prices on the board are now 800 baht to Patong, 700 baht to Kamala and 900 baht to Karon, Kata, Rawai and Nai Harn.

I would have taken a photo of the sign with all the prices but there were blue shirted drivers sitting in front of both of them.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the 25 new drivers taking work from the existing ones. Sounds like the sort of excuse they would come up with.

20% and more is quite a jump. I have no idea if the meter taxis have followed suit.

Edited May 5, 2013 by madmitch

[Jimi007]

These guys are crazy and incredibly greedy! It was 500 baht a year ago for a "meter taxi" to pick me up in Rawai and take me to the airport. But I assume these are the "airport limo" drivers. The last ride I got back from the airport in December in a "meter taxi" was 600 Baht. When is TAT, AOT and the Phuket "government" going to rein these extortionists in? Probably never as they all want a slice of the pie too...

[NamKangMan]

I expect to see more price rises across the whole transport rip off system here in the future.

The Russians and Chinese package holiday makers are using coach buses, the expats have organised their own transport and the western tourists are not coming here in the numbers they used to.

Money go down - put price up.

I've always said, transport on Phuket is the hidden cost to having your holiday here. In many cases, transport for the day can be dearer than your accommodation per night.

There will be another price rise in a few months.

[steelepulse]

>>When is TAT, AOT and the Phuket "government" going to rein these
extortionists in? Probably never as they all want a slice of the pie
too...

Correct! Never..............

[JetsetBkk]

I expect to see more price rises across the whole transport rip off system here in the future.

The Russians and Chinese package holiday makers are using coach buses, the expats have organised their own transport and the western tourists are not coming here in the numbers they used to.

Money go down - put price up.

I've always said, transport on Phuket is the hidden cost to having your holiday here. In many cases, transport for the day can be dearer than your accommodation per night.

There will be another price rise in a few months.

Today, at about 9:45 AM, there was a convoy of about 6 or 8 coaches led by a car with flashing lights (I presume the police) with various smaller commuter vans in the convoy, all with their headlights and indicators on travelling south through Rawai.

I doubt if the taxi guys at the airport see any income from these "VIP" travellers.

I wonder how much it costs to hire a BIB escort to get you through all the junctions, circles and traffic lights without having to stop for the plebs?

[thrilled]

Inflation,it's growing much faster than countries want you to believe.i have heard that in the next 10-12 years prices will double.hold on tight.It's going to be A wild ride.

[NomadJoe]

I expect to see more price rises across the whole transport rip off system here in the future.

The Russians and Chinese package holiday makers are using coach buses, the expats have organised their own transport and the western tourists are not coming here in the numbers they used to.

Money go down - put price up.

I've always said, transport on Phuket is the hidden cost to having your holiday here. In many cases, transport for the day can be dearer than your accommodation per night.

There will be another price rise in a few months.

Today, at about 9:45 AM, there was a convoy of about 6 or 8 coaches led by a car with flashing lights (I presume the police) with various smaller commuter vans in the convoy, all with their headlights and indicators on travelling south through Rawai.

I doubt if the taxi guys at the airport see any income from these "VIP" travellers.

I wonder how much it costs to hire a BIB escort to get you through all the junctions, circles and traffic lights without having to stop for the plebs?

It was 2000B for 2 officers in a highway police car to escort a convoy of bikes from the boat lagoon to Promthep Cape and back a couple years ago.

[EBlair48]

It was probably the Minister of Sports and Tourism, ( Sports and tourism? ) on his way to diss Phuket's cheap foreign tourists.

[wooloomooloo]

I'm always amazed how far you can get for the price of a cheap fare in LOS. The increases don't seem overly steep.

[stevenl]

AOT is not going to do anything.

They are a major cause of the airport taxi prices with their incredible rates for the concession. They are the ones making the most money out of this.

[IrishIvan]

I expect to see more price rises across the whole transport rip off system here in the future.

The Russians and Chinese package holiday makers are using coach buses, the expats have organised their own transport and the western tourists are not coming here in the numbers they used to.

Money go down - put price up.

I've always said, transport on Phuket is the hidden cost to having your holiday here. In many cases, transport for the day can be dearer than your accommodation per night.

There will be another price rise in a few months.

Today, at about 9:45 AM, there was a convoy of about 6 or 8 coaches led by a car with flashing lights (I presume the police) with various smaller commuter vans in the convoy, all with their headlights and indicators on travelling south through Rawai.

I doubt if the taxi guys at the airport see any income from these "VIP" travellers.

I wonder how much it costs to hire a BIB escort to get you through all the junctions, circles and traffic lights without having to stop for the plebs?

It was 2000B for 2 officers in a highway police car to escort a convoy of bikes from the boat lagoon to Promthep Cape and back a couple years ago.

That actually sounds pretty awesome.

[starkey_rich]

I expect to see more price rises across the whole transport rip off system here in the future.

The Russians and Chinese package holiday makers are using coach buses, the expats have organised their own transport and the western tourists are not coming here in the numbers they used to.

Money go down - put price up.

I've always said, transport on Phuket is the hidden cost to having your holiday here. In many cases, transport for the day can be dearer than your accommodation per night.

There will be another price rise in a few months.

Today, at about 9:45 AM, there was a convoy of about 6 or 8 coaches led by a car with flashing lights (I presume the police) with various smaller commuter vans in the convoy, all with their headlights and indicators on travelling south through Rawai.

I doubt if the taxi guys at the airport see any income from these "VIP" travellers.

I wonder how much it costs to hire a BIB escort to get you through all the junctions, circles and traffic lights without having to stop for the plebs?

I often wonder who are these self important people on these buses?

[Jimi007]

I expect to see more price rises across the whole transport rip off system here in the future.

The Russians and Chinese package holiday makers are using coach buses, the expats have organised their own transport and the western tourists are not coming here in the numbers they used to.

Money go down - put price up.

I've always said, transport on Phuket is the hidden cost to having your holiday here. In many cases, transport for the day can be dearer than your accommodation per night.

There will be another price rise in a few months.

Today, at about 9:45 AM, there was a convoy of about 6 or 8 coaches led by a car with flashing lights (I presume the police) with various smaller commuter vans in the convoy, all with their headlights and indicators on travelling south through Rawai.

I doubt if the taxi guys at the airport see any income from these "VIP" travellers.

I wonder how much it costs to hire a BIB escort to get you through all the junctions, circles and traffic lights without having to stop for the plebs?

I often wonder who are these self important people on these buses?

Usually politicians!

[monkeycountry]

These guys are crazy and incredibly greedy! It was 500 baht a year ago for a "meter taxi" to pick me up in Rawai and take me to the airport. But I assume these are the "airport limo" drivers. The last ride I got back from the airport in December in a "meter taxi" was 600 Baht. When is TAT, AOT and the Phuket "government" going to rein these extortionists in? Probably never as they all want a slice of the pie too...

as long as the taxi mafia is run by the son of the mayor of Patong, nothing will change, at least not for the better :-)

[Jimi007]

These guys are crazy and incredibly greedy! It was 500 baht a year ago for a "meter taxi" to pick me up in Rawai and take me to the airport. But I assume these are the "airport limo" drivers. The last ride I got back from the airport in December in a "meter taxi" was 600 Baht. When is TAT, AOT and the Phuket "government" going to rein these extortionists in? Probably never as they all want a slice of the pie too...

as long as the taxi mafia is run by the son of the mayor of Patong, nothing will change, at least not for the better :-)

The Kata, Karon mob is worse than Patong!

[monkeycountry]

These guys are crazy and incredibly greedy! It was 500 baht a year ago for a "meter taxi" to pick me up in Rawai and take me to the airport. But I assume these are the "airport limo" drivers. The last ride I got back from the airport in December in a "meter taxi" was 600 Baht. When is TAT, AOT and the Phuket "government" going to rein these extortionists in? Probably never as they all want a slice of the pie too...

as long as the taxi mafia is run by the son of the mayor of Patong, nothing will change, at least not for the better :-)

The Kata, Karon mob is worse than Patong!

I am sure you are right, but he is in charge of them all. The taxis pay him and the local taxi organisation under the table to get a license, and in turn he uses his fathers power to make sure noone competes with them and noone from central government forces them to use meters or otherwise follow the law.

[simon43]

In one of today's (11th May) Thai newspapers, the main headline was that the Mook Andaman (former black taxi) group, who had been trying to add extra drivers to the 25 that were previously agreed to operate at the airport - have been told to 'sling their hook'. A friend who previously operated his black taxi at the airport told me that he no longer dare do so because of the violence and threats from the 2 licenced taxi companies. But he also said that no way would Mook Andaman back down.

So look forward to more fisticuffs (and maybe worse) at the airport...

Simon

[Jimi007]

These guys are crazy and incredibly greedy! It was 500 baht a year ago for a "meter taxi" to pick me up in Rawai and take me to the airport. But I assume these are the "airport limo" drivers. The last ride I got back from the airport in December in a "meter taxi" was 600 Baht. When is TAT, AOT and the Phuket "government" going to rein these extortionists in? Probably never as they all want a slice of the pie too...

as long as the taxi mafia is run by the son of the mayor of Patong, nothing will change, at least not for the better :-)

The Kata, Karon mob is worse than Patong!

I am sure you are right, but he is in charge of them all. The taxis pay him and the local taxi organisation under the table to get a license, and in turn he uses his fathers power to make sure noone competes with them and noone from central government forces them to use meters or otherwise follow the law.

If it were as simple as you describe. Phuket is an old fiefdom with village heads who control who gets to do what. The Patong cartel doesn't control much outside their turf. Although the old man has experience in politics these days. Airport taxis are a whole different matter. Their huge licensing fees are paid directly to AOT. Along with the huge fees for any other business in any airport in Thailand... Funny that just made me think of the old days when you had to go to the airport tax window and pay the airport tax before you could depart!

Edited May 11, 2013 by Jimi007

[falkan]

thaivisa - phuket should organize our own taxi service to members..

[steelepulse]

>>So look forward to more fisticuffs (and maybe worse) at the airport...

As long as it doesn't involve anyone but the drivers, bring it!

>>thaivisa - phuket should organize our own taxi service to members..

stevenl offered his services in a thread a couple months back.

[falkan]

From were stevenl drives?

i can pick up chalong area to airport 800thb hehe

[Jimi007]

From were stevenl drives?

i can pick up chalong area to airport 800thb hehe

Great... I can call a meter taxi to pick me up in Rawai for ฿600.

[glassdude007]

i used the phuketshuttle.com service on my return to phuket this time...

850 to Rawai

yes more than a meter taxi but

the booking via internet and cash to driver payment option, nice new clean car safe driver

a sign with my name on it at arrival was ALL very good service,,,

A rare thing to say about a Phuket taxi service..

they do pick ups in Rawai as well for the same price...will use them again for sure...

I did get the feeling that they wanted me outta there quickly as they radio the taxi to come whisk you away from the arrival area ASAP

as not to cause a bat beating situation i guess??

[EBlair48]

It was 1200 quoted to Airport to Laguna just last month. Four times the daily minimum wage for an hour of time, ( there and back at deadly at 100 +kph ) went outside and found a black plate illegal taxi , better, slower driver, too. Now I call him when I need a ride.

Place is going to implode from greed.

Edited May 12, 2013 by EBlair48

[IrishIvan]

It was 1200 quoted to Airport to  Laguna  just last month. Four times the daily  minimum wage for an hour of  time, ( there and back at  deadly at 100  +kph )  went outside and found a black plate illegal  taxi , better, slower driver, too. Now I call him  when I need  a ride.

 Place is going to implode from greed. 

So the guy just makes 1200 baht. No other expenses whatsoever?

[NomadJoe]

It was 1200 quoted to Airport to Laguna just last month. Four times the daily minimum wage for an hour of time, ( there and back at deadly at 100 +kph ) went outside and found a black plate illegal taxi , better, slower driver, too. Now I call him when I need a ride.

Place is going to implode from greed.

So the guy just makes 1200 baht. No other expenses whatsoever?

There's fuel of course, and all taxi's, even black ones, are members of one group or another and must pay a membership fee. In Phuket it is more important to be a member of the group than it is to become legal, hence you will always have black taxi's.

[NomadJoe]

It was 1200 quoted to Airport to Laguna just last month. Four times the daily minimum wage for an hour of time, ( there and back at deadly at 100 +kph ) went outside and found a black plate illegal taxi , better, slower driver, too. Now I call him when I need a ride.

Place is going to implode from greed.

You must be talking about the Laguna in Rawai for 1200. Usually when people talk about Laguna in Phuket they are talking about the area just south of the airport. Should be about 200-300B for a taxi from the airport to there.