Taxi Driver Complained about Short Fare from Airport

Hunter14 on 20/06/2019 - 14:53
Last edited 20/06/2019 - 15:04 by 1 other user

Hi All,

So I live close to an airport (about 6km away).

When I returned on my trip, I went to the taxi stand which had a long queue of taxis lined up. It was around midnight. I got into the first taxi in line and as we were driving off, I told him my destination and he just groaned and said if I told him earlier, he wouldn't have taken me because the trip is too short and he's been waiting there for hours. He wasn't aggressive but he did keep complaining and made me feel like I'm inconveniencing him. I told him if he doesn't want to take me then just send me back. He said it's too late and proceeded to drive me home. The final fee was $25.

Now, I can see where he is coming from. It obviously doesn't make sense for him economically to wait a few hours to earn what he did.

However, I was telling him what I'm supposed to do then? Go to every taxi driver and state my address and ask if they'll take me? Walk home? He didn't respond. In the end, I said I understand his annoyance but I need to get home too.

By the way, I've taken a taxi home from the airport many times and this was my first complaint.

So now I'm curious to know what everyone thinks about this? What should I do next time? Would love to hear your opinions!

Thank you.

Travel

Comments

  • johnnyb on 21/06/2019 - 20:45
    +2

    Used to travel a really short distance from Tullamarine (like the next suburb).

    The first time I traveled the taxi driver got me to tell the attendant we were going to longstay parking, then gunned it down the freeway to make it back in time to be a credible car park drive. It was actually terrifying.

    From then on I just hopped into one dropping off a passenger at arrivals (avoiding any attendants)- the driver would say he's not allowed initially, then would understand and let me in.

  • lainey13 on 21/06/2019 - 22:17
    +4

    I always thought it was dumb to wait hours for one fare rather than you know, actually getting out there and driving multiple trips in the same time period. It doesn't make sense to me how taxi drivers think one big trip and hours of nothing is better than constant shorter trips.

  • MaMan on 21/06/2019 - 22:21

    There is a rule that if you are a short fare from Melb airport then you go up stairs to the domestic terminal drop off point and grab a cab that has just dropped passengers. If you live a decent distance from the airport then line up at the rank at ground level.

    • khell on 23/06/2019 - 14:24

      Yeah, no.

  • Kamsi on 21/06/2019 - 22:37

    $25 is a fair distance. I guess the poor bugger taxi driver wasn't having a lucky day when he pick you up. Taxi company need to shape up, competition with Uber is benefit for all of us.

    • Hunter14 on 22/06/2019 - 01:51

      The usual fee to my house is $15-18. He must have added some bullcrap surcharges. I just paid him without a fuss because I felt sorry for him.

      • Never Pay RRP on 03/07/2019 - 23:32

        I would have checked the fare and corrected it. The driver literally stole $7-10 off you!
        You shouldn't feel bad, that is precisely their job.

        Imagine if a restaurant owner started abusing you for not ordering enough food. Would you tip them for that, or allow them to mark up your bill?

  • Windows7forever on 22/06/2019 - 01:19
    +1

    Taxi drivers are lazy and greedy. Always disliked them.

    • Never Pay RRP on 03/07/2019 - 23:32

      It's not all of them. We only remember the bad ones…

  • Mx2 on 22/06/2019 - 09:10
    +1

    Interesting that so many on here will tip a taxi driver. I bet they never/rarely tip an Uber driver, even though they prefer the service. Good way to ensure the good Uber drivers leave the platform and they become more like a taxi service.

    No one makes any money on a sub 5km trip from an airport. Uber drivers will pretend they are greatful for the fare (ratings system). Taxi drivers are honest. Either way, no one REALLY likes earning less than minimum wage in the first place.

  • cray on 22/06/2019 - 13:08

    I also lost the number of times an uber driver will call me after accepting my trip. As soon as they find out where I'm heading most would cancel the trip and some decide to show up.

    What's considered an acceptable distance before one call an uber? Surely uber would have worked out no matter the distance, the driver would still make a profit from the trip?

    Some drivers prefer short runs and some long distances, I wish the driver has the option to filter out passenger trip distances before accepting the job and whining about it, making a customer feel bad for requesting an uber.

  • dufflover on 22/06/2019 - 14:04

    I had this a lot in Melbourne in the past too where I had to travel for work but living at home in the northern suburbs; it was still a $50hish fare but obviously that's "worth" less if they've been waiting for hours.
    I went upstairs to try help but the airport did this crackdown to not lose their taxi fees so "too bad".

    I agreed with them the system sucks if they are waiting for literally hours, but nothing justifies the attitude, is self defeatist pushing people to "friendlier" Uber, and I don't get why then you'd choose to wait in the rank.

    (Yes I upvoted the first comment too lol)

  • TailsK on 22/06/2019 - 15:42
    +1

    You should complain about the taxi driver's unprofessional behaviour to the NSW Taxi Council.

  • ozgeek on 22/06/2019 - 16:53
    +1

    Id tell them to stop complaining and do their job, that they are lucky to have even a job at all in this tough employment environment. So what if they waited hours!? That's part of their job.

  • syousef on 22/06/2019 - 17:11
    +3

    It's not your problem. Ignore the whining. Don't let it get to you. The system is what it is. If he doesn't like aspects of his job, it's not up to you to fix that as the customer. Just be polite, and if he's not tell him you'd prefer to ride in silence.

  • zarbicore on 22/06/2019 - 20:50

    This exact thing happened to me in Amsterdam. I arrived at Schippol airport and had NFI how to get to my hotel so I just headed to the taxi rank. The guy was helping my bags into the cab when he asked where I am going. The hotel was really close, and he told me the same stuff here… that he had waited for hours etc. He gave me the choice though, he said he can take me if I want, but offered me another solution which was a free shuttle bus and told me where to get it.

    I got the bus. I feel for taxi drivers but they should handle the situation better, just whinging at the passenger is not the solution.

    • p1 ama on 22/06/2019 - 23:22
      +1

      I got the bus. I feel for taxi drivers but they should handle the situation better, just whinging at the passenger is not the solution.

      It seems that you got a mutually better outcome for all - driver didn't waste his time, you got the bus for free.

  • lddv04 on 22/06/2019 - 21:03

    As consumers, it's not our job to worry about a service provider providing a service. We live in a supply and demand world, the OP's taxi driver accepted the ride, not the OP's worry.

  • bmerigan on 22/06/2019 - 21:50

    They legally have to take you.
    I can only assume it usually pays very well or he wouldn't be there.

  • GregMonarch on 23/06/2019 - 02:05

    I told him my destination and he just groaned and said if I told
    him earlier, he wouldn't have taken me because the trip is too
    short and he's been waiting there for hours.

    I helped someone pass the taxi license test years ago. Unless it's changed, the next cab is not permitted to take you anyway. The first one off the rank is supposed to take you, regardless if it's just a u-turn to avoid getting wet in the rain.

    The final fee was $25.

    So he's probably $20 better off. Nothing but a whinger. A good 80% of the cab drivers I knew back then were whingers too. They whined just for the sake of it - boredom I guess.

    It obviously doesn't make sense for him economically to wait a few hours to earn what he did.

    Then there's nothing preventing him training for and getting another job, and giving his to someone who won't whine about getting $20 for $5 cost (probably less) in LPG - rather than $0.

  • A fish on 23/06/2019 - 13:01

    I give big tips to the ones that don't complain

  • love2buy on 23/06/2019 - 15:29
    -1

    I really don't understand. Aren't drivers contractors and why wouldn't any contractor have a right to refuse work when pay is not worth their time.

    • trapper on 24/06/2019 - 12:33

      They also have to obey the law lol

    • Never Pay RRP on 04/07/2019 - 01:34

      They aren't contractors.
      They could refuse the fare, but hopefully they would be put at the back of the queue again if they did.
      It's all a moot point anyway, from the comments on here, it appears they complain to try to get more tips out of gullible customers

  • Lexan on 23/06/2019 - 18:18

    This reminds of The Chasers

    https://youtu.be/FQ_bywNRfNs

  • d-hunterz on 24/06/2019 - 15:15

    If you are financially in a Lambo then tip em $20 next time.

  • DemocracyManifest on 03/07/2019 - 23:00

    They are always hoping for someone with a cabcharge from their work hoping to travel an hour or so, but statistically it cannot be every person. Used to get the train to save my company money I shouldn't have cause they were pricks

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