UBER Expensive to Chaing Mai Airport

[Dazinoz]

I live near Big C Hang Dong in Chiang Mai and used Uber for the first time recently. I have used it 4 times to go into City and back  and much easier and cheaper than Tuk Tuk. From Loi Kroh to Nimmarnhemin Road used to cost me 250B after midnight. Uber cost me 130B to here and nearly twice the distance.

 

I am flying on Sunday and not too far from airport. I added the destination to see how much it would cost by Uber. Every time I checked it was over 200B and one was nearly 350B.

 

Just curious as to why so different to Airport. Do they have to pay fee for entering airport area? Maybe danger money, lol.

[balo]

Simple , they don't want  to take you there ,  the taxi mafia controls that area. So they are taking risks by driving you there, especially now with news of the recent attacks on Uber drivers.

 

So you have to pay for it. I think I would just take a normal red songthew or tuk tuk to the airport to avoid any problems. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 30, 2017 by balo

[NancyL]

There are so many "legal" transportation options to get to the airport.  Why do you want to endanger yourself and another person, i.e. the Uber driver who usually is someone who has been "doing Uber" for less than three months and has a nice regular job or is a student?  Uber isn't legal in Thailand.  As I've learned in other arenas, it just isn't worth it to try to fix problems in Thailand.  Call the airport taxi and have them pick you up.

 

 

[Dazinoz]

2 hours ago, balo said:

Simple , they don't want  to take you there ,  the taxi mafia controls that area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I expected, danger money.

[Dazinoz]

23 minutes ago, NancyL said:

There are so many "legal" transportation options to get to the airport.  Why do you want to endanger yourself and another person, i.e. the Uber driver who usually is someone who has been "doing Uber" for less than three months and has a nice regular job or is a student?  Uber isn't legal in Thailand.  As I've learned in other arenas, it just isn't worth it to try to fix problems in Thailand.  Call the airport taxi and have them pick you up.

 

 

I am not endangering anyone else. If they chose to do that and  take me they are endangering themselves.

 

I did intend to take other method of transport to the airport for the mentioned reason but was just curious as to why so expensive.

 

I saw headline on a Thaivisa news post the other day stating that the DLT says Uber and Grab are legal but must meet certain conditions. As far as illegal goes, prostitution, drugs, riding without helmet, driving without licence are all illegal but happen everyday everywhere in Thailand. Uber is not liked because Farang owned not Thai.

[Ruffian Dick]

Also Uber normally has what they call "surge pricing" meaning the price may change depending on demand. I'm not sure if Uber in LOS does that too.

[Dazinoz]

3 minutes ago, Ruffian Dick said:

Also Uber normally has what they call "surge pricing" meaning the price may change depending on demand. I'm not sure if Uber in LOS does that too.

Yep, they have. Often check on prices to my favourite destinations and prices change often. As mentioned in my original post most "quotes" i got on the Uber app from my house to the airport was just over 200B. The highest around dinner times was nearly 350B.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I don't care how much it is.  I still want to support Uber drivers.

[srchino]

It is legal in Thailand, and as far as the higher price for the airport, as with every other city it's a flat fee to go to/from the airport.

[StevieH]

1 hour ago, WinnieTheKhwai said:

I don't care how much it is.  I still want to support Uber drivers.

agreed. it's changed life in chiang mai hugely. 5 stars every trip from me so far.

[srchino]

Uber is generally an evil service I avoid in my home country. As compared to the taxi industry in Thailand though, they are saints!!! [emoji6]

[Dazinoz]

6 hours ago, WinnieTheKhwai said:

I don't care how much it is.  I still want to support Uber drivers.

 

I will be too, just not to or from the airport.

[Trujillo]

Quote

3) You will not post about activities or links to websites containing such material that are illegal in Thailand. This includes but is not limited to: gambling, betting, pornography, illegal drugs, fake goods/clothing, file sharing of pirated material, pyramid schemes, etc. Discussion of the above is permitted only as news items, but never as a "how to" topic.

Or not? 

[Dazinoz]

1 hour ago, Trujillo said:

Or not? 

Your point?

 

[MadMac]

Last week it was 140B from Nong Khwai to the airport with Ueber. 7 mins from the booking to car being here. Can't really beat that.

[LannaGuy]

15 hours ago, balo said:

Simple , they don't want  to take you there ,  the taxi mafia controls that area. So they are taking risks by driving you there, especially now with news of the recent attacks on Uber drivers.

 

So you have to pay for it. I think I would just take a normal red songthew or tuk tuk to the airport to avoid any problems. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought tuk tuk's could not enter the airport?

[Dazinoz]

20 minutes ago, LannaGuy said:

I thought tuk tuk's could not enter the airport?

 

Chiang Mai they can. Saw one going in the other day and I have used them before. That is unless things have changed.

[bubba]

15 hours ago, NancyL said:

There are so many "legal" transportation options to get to the airport.  Why do you want to endanger yourself and another person, i.e. the Uber driver who usually is someone who has been "doing Uber" for less than three months and has a nice regular job or is a student?  Uber isn't legal in Thailand.  As I've learned in other arenas, it just isn't worth it to try to fix problems in Thailand.  Call the airport taxi and have them pick you up.

 

 

OK, so you are suggesting that rather than "endangering" ourselves in  an Uber car, we would be far safer in the back of a songthaew holding on to a bench, or perhaps in the back of a mad tuktuk weaving through traffic?

 

Well, OK, you could support the airport taxi mafia by phoning them to pick you up. Although you will pay more for the privilege, at the very least they will probably have seat belts.

[NancyL]

There have been too many reports of Uber cars and drivers being surrounded by taxi drivers at the airport and even the police getting involved in harassing the Uber drivers there.  

 

It's probably OK to use Uber at other venues, but using Uber at the airport is just too flagrant for my risk tolerance.  As I said other transportation options exist -- like the airport taxis that are, yes overpriced, but at least have aircon and seatbelts.  If someone wants to "make a statement" and help Uber to establish a foothold in Chiang Mai, there are better places to do it than at the airport.

 

Remember, the Uber drivers are using their personal vehicles, and work parttime.  I just don't think it's fair to ask these "everyday people" to put themselves and their personal vehicles at risk at the airport, esp. just so you can have cheap and comfortable transportation.  

[dotpoom]

I usually drive to CM.....last time I flew.....walked from Airport to city center and did same going back. Loved it.

[1FinickyOne]

1 hour ago, dotpoom said:

I usually drive to CM.....last time I flew.....walked from Airport to city center and did same going back. Loved it.

With bags? Or did you leave the wife home? 

[Dazinoz]

2 hours ago, NancyL said:

.Remember, the Uber drivers are using their personal vehicles, and work parttime.  I just don't think it's fair to ask these "everyday people" to put themselves and their personal vehicles at risk at the airport, esp. just so you can have cheap and comfortable transportation.  

 

Again you are saying we are putting them at risk. They are the ones who took the job on not me or any other Uber customer. Its like saying I should not drive my car because I might endanger some person on a motorbike who pulls out in front of me without looking.

 

I worked in the plant of an oil refinery in Australia. Dangerous job. This was especially highlighted to me not long before I retired who a pump seal failed and a calculated 40 tonne of LPG was released. It was only the will of god that it did not explode that day and kill many people. I was in the control room at the time and phoned my wife and said goodbye in case I did not make it home. Now according to your suggestions I should be blaming all the car, truck, bus bike drivers for wanting fuel and putting me at risk by me having to make it because they buy it.

 

Can anyone in this world take responsibility for their own actions and not try to pass the blame onto someone else?

Edited July 1, 2017 by Dazinoz
text added.

[sgracer]

that is a surcharge to pay for their hospital bill when they get their asses beat by the taxi mafia

[orchis]

It's 'surge' rates;  some locations, some time slots, bigger demand will determine higher prices, it's got little to do with safety money, in Bangkok and Chiangrai it's the same, these companies continuously use logarithms to fluctuate fees.

[elgenon]

Just sit in the front seat and no one will be the wiser.

 

I take a private taxi (just like Uber) my hotel books, I sit in the back and they are never hassled.

[bazza73]

If I've read this right, we have posters on this thread stressing out about saving 50 to 100 baht on a ride to the airport.

I take a taxi from the airport to Nong Hoi, because they are there. I take whatever the desk at my condo calls up, and I don't care if it's a regular taxi, Uber, or a private vehicle. All I need is for it to get me there.

Could I suggest if 50-100 baht saving is such a big deal, then perhaps you can't afford to live here.

[balo]

I usually drive to CM.....last time I flew.....walked from Airport to city center and did same going back. Loved it.

If you don't have a lot of luggage to carry you could walk to Airport Plaza and take one of the free shuttles to the city centre, they leave every hour until 8 p.m.

[Dazinoz]

3 minutes ago, bazza73 said:

If I've read this right, we have posters on this thread stressing out about saving 50 to 100 baht on a ride to the airport.

I take a taxi from the airport to Nong Hoi, because they are there. I take whatever the desk at my condo calls up, and I don't care if it's a regular taxi, Uber, or a private vehicle. All I need is for it to get me there.

Could I suggest if 50-100 baht saving is such a big deal, then perhaps you can't afford to live here.

 

Really. Where?

 

[William C F Pierce]

I rent a house in Mae Hia my neighbour is a song taew driver. He lets me decide on the fare I pay him. I give him less than the crooks, but more than he would normally ask, so we are both happy.

[srchino]

I've done Uber to/from CM airport a few dozen times now, never even noticed so much as stinkeye from anyone in doing so, but maybe I'm just oblivious....