webfact Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 No Uber allowed to pick up passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport BANGKOK, 27 February 2017 (NNT) – Airports of Thailand (AOT) has stressed that no non-public registered vehicle will be allowed to pick up passengers from Suvarnabhumi Airport, as all passenger serving vehicles are required to be registered legally. AOT’s Suvarnabhumi Airport General Director Sirote Duangratana has said regarding the decision to ban Uber cars from picking up passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport, that the service does not conform to the AOT’s code of security which prohibits any unauthorized use of vehicles for commercial purposes at the airport’s controlled zone. The AOT could consider allowing Uber cabs to operate if proper registrations are completed with the Department of Land Transport, which is an issue for the future. Violators will face 2,000 baht fine, and will be recorded in the airport's database. -- nnt 2017-02-27 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CelticBhoy Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 I used to work with a guy called Dave Uber. Bet he's glad he doesn't live here. He'd never get out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve187 Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 how will they know its an uber, and not samchai picking up his brother in law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AhFarangJa Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 Can they not simply park in the multi storey, then go to arrivals ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dibbler Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 To be expected, ATO simply protecting the taxi mafia and their rights to fleece the public, just like BMA protecting the motorcycle mafia which led to Ubermoto closing down. But Bangkok taxi companies can't stop the swing to using a cheaper more reliable and safe service from getting to and from the airport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenewgoo Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 The first Uber ban - stepping on toes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impulse Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 5 minutes ago, Dibbler said: To be expected, ATO simply protecting the taxi mafia and their rights to fleece the public, just like BMA protecting the motorcycle mafia which led to Ubermoto closing down. But Bangkok taxi companies can't stop the swing to using a cheaper more reliable and safe service from getting to and from the airport. Or, maybe like cities all over the world, they're protecting their tax revenue stream that comes from legally registered ($$$) and tax paying ($$$) public taxis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGD Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 5 minutes ago, impulse said: Or, maybe like cities all over the world, they're protecting their tax revenue stream that comes from legally registered ($$$) and tax paying ($$$) public taxis. Nothing to do with legality and all to do with someone not wanting to have their backhanders stopped ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docno Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 12 minutes ago, impulse said: Or, maybe like cities all over the world, they're protecting their tax revenue stream that comes from legally registered ($$$) and tax paying ($$$) public taxis. I don't see the tax issue here. Uber simply has to report the income of each driver to the revenue authority, as done in Singapore at least. After all, that information is already sitting on Uber servers anyway... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricklev Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 Realistically, they are probably not really cracking down. Uber pays the fine for the drivers and my guess is the drivers will continue to pick up and drop off as usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nisakiman Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 It's theoretically the same for the Nakhonchai Air taxi service (All Thai Taxi?). When we enquired about a pick-up from DMK, they said it would only be possible if they had a drop-off there at the time we needed, and that we would have to wait at departures. Pity, because they are a great taxi service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtls2005 Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 My sense is that if the vehicle has green plates then the authorities may not be as concerned? IME, very few UBER drivers here have the requisite plates. Most UBER pick-ups at the airport go off OK, usually by messaging a specific pick-up point which has been level 2, doors 8 - 10. In this case, it sounds like some foreign tourists thought to ask an "official" where they can find their UBER driver, and this precipitated the situation? AoT operates limo services, with the lowest fare of 1,050 (all in); obviously UBER varies (supply/demand in essence), but is often 500 baht or less as there is a driver at the airport after having dropped off a city-->airport pax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8OA8 Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 At London Heathrow airport the Uber driver will advise you to go across to the car park building and go to level xyz and wait at car park bay xyz. Nice and smooth as they know they can get there within a few minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louse1953 Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 1 hour ago, Dibbler said: To be expected, ATO simply protecting the taxi mafia and their rights to fleece the public, just like BMA protecting the motorcycle mafia which led to Ubermoto closing down. But Bangkok taxi companies can't stop the swing to using a cheaper more reliable and safe service from getting to and from the airport. How do taxis at airport fleece people? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wirat69 Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 15 minutes ago, louse1953 said: How do taxis at airport fleece people? Probably because they are a flock of sheep!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnytuc Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 I am registerd with Uber on a recent trip to Chaing Mai. Used them 3 times....Brilliant you get a picture and name of driver sent to your phone in each case they were with us within 10 minutes and you know the fare before taxi arrives. No cash involved and totally secure. Uber will be massive in Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobz Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 1 hour ago, Docno said: I don't see the tax issue here. Uber simply has to report the income of each driver to the revenue authority, as done in Singapore at least. After all, that information is already sitting on Uber servers anyway... Exactly. As opposed to taxi running without a meter as usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobz Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 23 minutes ago, louse1953 said: How do taxis at airport fleece people? They overcharge ignorant tourists. Have you never been there? They flock hyenas around me every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickmouse1 Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 Protectionism. .Uber can easily get around this stupid objection.As long as Uber and the Passenger/Client agree then no 3rd party should have the right to interfere ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMA_FARANG Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 Good. Uber is crap. Where I live in Bangkok it is Grab Taxi not Uber. From Swampy I use the meter taxis down on the same floor as the airport train. I always have a wheelchair when I travel and the person who pushes my wheelchair gets tipped for getting me a meter taxi at the taxi queue. I get wheeled from the plane through immigration at the priority booth, baggage pickup, to the taxi queue in my wheelchair. One small tip takes care of it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdch Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 1 hour ago, impulse said: Or, maybe like cities all over the world, they're protecting their tax revenue stream that comes from legally registered ($$$) and tax paying ($$$) public taxis. yes,uber is a low faul way to make jobs that pay tax and support famylies to disapear , used by cheap charlies only, i am sorry to see that it is growing so rapidly all over the world in amsterdam taxi drivers are trowing stones at them, i think this is to much, i would suggest trow dog shit there is a lot of it in thailand ,this is a good use for it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewsterbudgen Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 2 minutes ago, fdch said: yes,uber is a low faul way to make jobs that pay tax and support famylies to disapear , used by cheap charlies only, i am sorry to see that it is growing so rapidly all over the world in amsterdam taxi drivers are trowing stones at them, i think this is to much, i would suggest trow dog shit there is a lot of it in thailand ,this is a good use for it Blackcab drivers in London aren't too fond of Uber either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snig27 Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 1 hour ago, Docno said: I don't see the tax issue here. Uber simply has to report the income of each driver to the revenue authority, as done in Singapore at least. After all, that information is already sitting on Uber servers anyway... Agreed. This is corruption, pure and simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydebolle Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 So the money flow from the taxi guild towards the AoT is dwindling - was foreseeable. I just wonder how they want to block people from picking up other people. But as Swampi is overloaded, 90 minutes queue at the immigration are the norm and one runway is down - no promprem - who needs Uber, GrabTaxi or anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shady86 Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 I dont use Suvarnabhumi regularly but waiting time for public taxis in DMK is terrible. I have to wait for 1 hour once so I decided to use grab/uber instead of wasting time to wait. I'd suggest they improve waiting time and taxi availability before putting more restrictions on ride sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaPiPuPePo Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 (edited) 36 minutes ago, johnnytuc said: I am registerd with Uber on a recent trip to Chaing Mai. Used them 3 times....Brilliant you get a picture and name of driver sent to your phone in each case they were with us within 10 minutes and you know the fare before taxi arrives. No cash involved and totally secure. Uber will be massive in Thailand. Since Uber's basic business model is to exploit people in precarious economic situations, duping them into thinking they're making decent money when they're not, and there are plenty of willing marks for Uber to exploit, while providing a service that makes the customers happy (who are helping this exploitation of the drivers), yes Uber should do well in Thailand. My comment is backed up by research which references the numerous lawsuits against and exposes of Uber freely available to anyone interested in forming an educated opinion re the company. Edited February 27, 2017 by PaPiPuPePo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little mary sunshine Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 No problem, it will be dealt with Thai Style, a couple of the Taxi Mafia ( gang of 8) will knife a few Uber guys!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricklev Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 (edited) 9 minutes ago, PaPiPuPePo said: Since Uber's basic business model is to exploit people in precarious economic situations, duping them into thinking they're making decent money when they're not, and there are plenty of willing marks for Uber to exploit, while providing a service that makes the customers happy (who are helping this exploitation of the drivers), yes Uber should do well in Thailand. My comment is backed up by research which references the numerous lawsuits against and exposes of Uber freely available to anyone interested in forming and educated opinion re the company. Well, I take Uber everyday in Bangkok and often talk to the drivers about their experience with Uber. Never once has any driver said they felt exploited and almost all are happy for the opportunity. Most were smart enough to know if they were being duped and would be insulted if you told them they were too dumb to figure it out. This includes part time and full time Uber drivers in Bangkok. I can only remember one time when the driver complained he was waiting too long between fares. So I can only conclude that Bangkok is an anomaly in the Uber exploitation model you describe. But maybe in some markets what you wrote makes good sense. Edited February 27, 2017 by ricklev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snig27 Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 16 minutes ago, IMA_FARANG said: Good. Uber is crap. Where I live in Bangkok it is Grab Taxi not Uber. From Swampy I use the meter taxis down on the same floor as the airport train. I always have a wheelchair when I travel and the person who pushes my wheelchair gets tipped for getting me a meter taxi at the taxi queue. I get wheeled from the plane through immigration at the priority booth, baggage pickup, to the taxi queue in my wheelchair. One small tip takes care of it all. Uber is the only practical alternative if you are a business person regularly coming in an out with goods and samples as we do, and a lot od people so. Until the taxis provide clean, safe (seatbelts are a start), English speaking, reliable and fast XL type SUVs (as Uber does) and quickly on the same floor as arrivals then it's not crap at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snig27 Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 1 minute ago, ricklev said: Well, I take Uber everyday in Bangkok and often talk to the drivers about their experience with Uber. Never once has any driver said they felt exploited and almost all are happy for the opportunity. Most were smart enough to know if they were being duped and would be insulted if you told them they were too dumb to figure it out. This includes part time and full time Uber drivers in Bangkok. I can only remember one time when the driver complained he was waiting to long between fares. So I can only conclude that Bangkok is an anomaly in the Uber exploitation model you describe. Absolutely true. We take Uber all over the world all the time and talk with countless drivers. I've never had one anywhere who has said they are unhappy. Most love the freedom and the extra cash. For very few is it a full time job. BKK is not an anomaly at all. There is a self-righteous arrogance in assuming that Uber drivers are stupid or being screwed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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