Been at KK for the past 2 weeks. Staying in a hotel 10 minutes south of Central Department Store.

Taken a taxi back and forth fron the hotel to Central perhaps a dozen times.

Cost is 50 baht a time, one way, by the meter but every time the driver demands a 20 baht surcharge outside the meter reading bringing the total fair up to 70 baht.

Sometimes the taxi has been phone booked but they still only charge 20 baht extra when I understand that there's a 20 baht booking charge incurred.

Not complaing, 20 baht is peanuts but I'm curious as to the reason why it's being charged even if a taxi is flagged down off of the street.

Is this standard practice?

I have tried to ask a couple of the drivers without receiving satisfactory teplys.

KK locals, facts please.

Possibly because they have to travel to get to you from wherever they are when they get the call., flag on the street they dont.

Yeah, but they still charge 20 baht extra flagged off of the street, taken off of the rank or phone booked.