Taxi.....Taxi.......
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: aus
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Taxi.....Taxi.......
I arrived in Sydney airport this evening from Cairns, intending to actch a taxi to my nearby home. Not such an outrageous idea I thought, but I was very wrong.
Down stairs at the Qantas taxi rank (peoplised sheep gates) there was queue of about five hundred people and not a taxi to be seen.
Thinking myself smart I thought that I would go upstairs to beet the crowd and see whether I could hail a cab that was dropping off, but of course none of the drivers would take my fair as they aren't allowed to pick up from the departures section for fear of big fines from SACL.
Next I went over to terminal two to see if I could get a cab there as it's upstream toward the taxi staging area at Sydney Airport. When I got there I found the situation was far worse as the few taxi's that were at the airport were driving straight past the low cost terminal 2 favoring Qantas. The only taxi I saw go in to pick up at T2 was one that the taxi attendant waved in by standing literally in front of it and forced it to go there!!
Next I thought I would go to the staging area and try to get a cab there only to find the taxi staging areas COMPLETELY EMPTY.
In the end I was picked up by my good wife and finally got home. WHY CANT SYDNEY AIRPORT ORGANISE TAXIS TO MEET THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC??
I did note a sign that said that a $2.00 surcharge was being effected from the first of this month on taxi fares at the airport, and I suspect that this is the cause of this malaise.
Greedy SACL strikes again. Reason 3567 why airports should not have been privatised Mr. Howard.
If anyone says it's SACL's right to charge this ridiculous fee, then I say OK then I should have the right to choose to use their competition...........
This never happened in the past ten years that I have been using Sydney Airport as a traveller, and the problem lies squarely with SACL's "kerbside management".
Kerbside MISSMANAGEMENT I say.
Down stairs at the Qantas taxi rank (peoplised sheep gates) there was queue of about five hundred people and not a taxi to be seen.
Thinking myself smart I thought that I would go upstairs to beet the crowd and see whether I could hail a cab that was dropping off, but of course none of the drivers would take my fair as they aren't allowed to pick up from the departures section for fear of big fines from SACL.
Next I went over to terminal two to see if I could get a cab there as it's upstream toward the taxi staging area at Sydney Airport. When I got there I found the situation was far worse as the few taxi's that were at the airport were driving straight past the low cost terminal 2 favoring Qantas. The only taxi I saw go in to pick up at T2 was one that the taxi attendant waved in by standing literally in front of it and forced it to go there!!
Next I thought I would go to the staging area and try to get a cab there only to find the taxi staging areas COMPLETELY EMPTY.
In the end I was picked up by my good wife and finally got home. WHY CANT SYDNEY AIRPORT ORGANISE TAXIS TO MEET THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC??
I did note a sign that said that a $2.00 surcharge was being effected from the first of this month on taxi fares at the airport, and I suspect that this is the cause of this malaise.
Greedy SACL strikes again. Reason 3567 why airports should not have been privatised Mr. Howard.
If anyone says it's SACL's right to charge this ridiculous fee, then I say OK then I should have the right to choose to use their competition...........
This never happened in the past ten years that I have been using Sydney Airport as a traveller, and the problem lies squarely with SACL's "kerbside management".
Kerbside MISSMANAGEMENT I say.
Last edited by pullock; 20th Nov 2004 at 00:04.
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Geez,
How did you convince your wife to pick you up ..........................
Smotstak has seen the errors of his ways and is permitted to play with the children again.......
Woomera
How did you convince your wife to pick you up ..........................
Smotstak has seen the errors of his ways and is permitted to play with the children again.......
Woomera
Last edited by Woomera; 20th Nov 2004 at 19:42.
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: somewhere in Australia
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SACL are charging every commercial operator into the domestic terminal area a fee, the hotel courtesy busses as well as taxies, I don’t think it will be long before everyone will be charged … they say the government have made them responsible for the roads etc into and out of the terminal area
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Sydney NSW Australia
Posts: 3,051
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
its called planning, book a silver service cab to pick you up, give them the flight number your on before you leave, and they will pick you up from the airport, as an added bonus, tell them to wait at the Hire car wash area as it will save them the $2 fee! and the rate is the same as a normal cab.
they have been there Every time i needed a cab, no waiting! and the 300 mtr walk is good for the legs after sitting for a while.
they have been there Every time i needed a cab, no waiting! and the 300 mtr walk is good for the legs after sitting for a while.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: aus
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the tip ultralights - I did notice a whole lot of silver service taxis in about that area. Funnily I thought that it would be a great idea to have a pickup just a short distance away that would solve the problem.
Yes mr smokestack you certainly blew it!! I can't understand what goes on in your head, but I just don't see that it's arrogant to be cranky in the reduction of quality and service at our airports. Perhaps you like to wait in taxi queues for taxis that never come.
I think arrogance is to milk every cent out of the public to make gross profit whilst at the same time reducing the service that you are supplying to the point that it no longer works.
Yes mr smokestack you certainly blew it!! I can't understand what goes on in your head, but I just don't see that it's arrogant to be cranky in the reduction of quality and service at our airports. Perhaps you like to wait in taxi queues for taxis that never come.
I think arrogance is to milk every cent out of the public to make gross profit whilst at the same time reducing the service that you are supplying to the point that it no longer works.
Shortage of Cabs caused by shortage of drivers. With the current good economic conditions there are plenty of unskilled/semi skilled jobs around paying +/-$20/hour plus superannuation ,sick pay ,holiday pay ,workers comp ,regular working hours etc.
Why would anyone drive a cab for +/-$12/hour , with no other benefits what so ever , working 60 hours a week including nights weekends and public holidays ? Not to mention the risks
Even if you had found a taxi the driver would probably have been unable to speak English or even know the way into the city ,as the only people who are willing to accept the working conditions are very recent arrivals or those who cannot get any other job.
Taxi fares are simply too low to provide a decent service.
Why would anyone drive a cab for +/-$12/hour , with no other benefits what so ever , working 60 hours a week including nights weekends and public holidays ? Not to mention the risks
Even if you had found a taxi the driver would probably have been unable to speak English or even know the way into the city ,as the only people who are willing to accept the working conditions are very recent arrivals or those who cannot get any other job.
Taxi fares are simply too low to provide a decent service.
Join Date: May 2004
Location: all over the shop
Posts: 986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Taxi fares are simply too low to provide a decent service.
Too bad its not the same here hey...
PPRuNeaholic
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Cairns FNQ
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you Woomera, I was hoping that you'd do something like that. I have to agree that taxi service at Sydney Airport is the worst in the civilised world. The taxi service at Cairns Airport is, in comparison.... simply no comparison, as they are almost always there. Never have to wait for than a few minutes for one and have NEVER had to lift the phone to book one.
As for local knowledge of capital cities, I reckon you can't go past the London black cabs! There's nowhere that they can't get you to - and NOWHERE that they'll ask you about because, if all else fails, they have their own A-Z and know how to read it!
In Sydney, I'd love a quid for the number of times I've heard... "You show... me take"...
Professional taxi drivers? No, I don't think so!
As for local knowledge of capital cities, I reckon you can't go past the London black cabs!
There's nowhere that they can't get you to - and NOWHERE that they'll ask you about because, if all else fails, they have their own A-Z and know how to read it!In Sydney, I'd love a quid for the number of times I've heard... "You show... me take"...
Professional taxi drivers? No, I don't think so!
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Bai, mi go long hap na kisim sampla samting.
Posts: 2,849
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have to agree with the singa's comment. Always a taxi and they are cheap and clean. they were quite fast in Manilla as well, but you take your life into your own hands by getting in with them.............Damn scaryest ride I ever had.
Cheapest was in Dili, East Timor. US$1.00 after haggling for five mins in portuguese, Indonesian and English, to go about thirty five kilometers. It was damn clean too.
Cheapest was in Dili, East Timor. US$1.00 after haggling for five mins in portuguese, Indonesian and English, to go about thirty five kilometers. It was damn clean too.
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ozexpat is right about London cabbies. The Black Cab drivers in London have to pass a series of tests at the London Pubic Carrige Office called collectively 'The Knowledge'. They have to know the quickest and/or most direct route bwtween any two points in London within six miles of Charing Cross Train Station. For this they get a green numbered badge and the right to pick up passengers from the street. Passing the knowledge and getting the badge usally takes most people 2 years on average.
The above means that the guy driving your black cab in London is never lost & never doesn't know were you want to go!
Further info here .
The above means that the guy driving your black cab in London is never lost & never doesn't know were you want to go!
Further info here .
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: OZ.
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This "fee" has been in force for a long time at Brisbane Airport by the privatised BACL, was $1 now $2.
It is harder now to get a taxi there, not helped by a BACL employee recently issuing a taxi driver a $90 "fine" for leaving his taxi to help an elderly War Veteran into the Terminal.
BACL have also recently introduced a no stopping your vehicle policy anywhere on their roads, policed by security guards who issue $60 fines, to make you use their overpriced car park.
People used to wait at the side of the road, well off the traffic lanes, and wait for a call on their mobile to pick up an incoming pax, but BACL made nothing out of this.
The clue is now, the only place you can legally wait is at the Southern Cross exhibit.
Just if you are waiting there and the security patrol comes along, get out and look at the nice plane.
It is harder now to get a taxi there, not helped by a BACL employee recently issuing a taxi driver a $90 "fine" for leaving his taxi to help an elderly War Veteran into the Terminal.
BACL have also recently introduced a no stopping your vehicle policy anywhere on their roads, policed by security guards who issue $60 fines, to make you use their overpriced car park.
People used to wait at the side of the road, well off the traffic lanes, and wait for a call on their mobile to pick up an incoming pax, but BACL made nothing out of this.
The clue is now, the only place you can legally wait is at the Southern Cross exhibit.
Just if you are waiting there and the security patrol comes along, get out and look at the nice plane.
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Terminal access aside, taxis in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, etc all seem to have drivers who know less about their city than the infrequent visitor in the back seat. I mean, if a Melbourne taxi driver can't find St Kilda Rd from the city and the next can't get me back to Little Collins, then something's wrong.
It seems only rarely I encounter a driver who does know his way in these capital cities.
Worse, I've been in a couple of cabs recently whose drivers wondered why the traffic lights didn't give them a green turn arrow through a couple of phases? I'm only an amateur driver, compared to their professional status (ha!), but I know stopping one car length back from the 'hold-short' line (and the embedded detector loop) doesn't help! I'm pretty sure they weren't smart enough to be simply delaying my journey and increasing the fare.
Give me a London cab any day!
It seems only rarely I encounter a driver who does know his way in these capital cities.
Worse, I've been in a couple of cabs recently whose drivers wondered why the traffic lights didn't give them a green turn arrow through a couple of phases? I'm only an amateur driver, compared to their professional status (ha!), but I know stopping one car length back from the 'hold-short' line (and the embedded detector loop) doesn't help! I'm pretty sure they weren't smart enough to be simply delaying my journey and increasing the fare.
Give me a London cab any day!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pullock, why not take the train? It's gotta be cheaper than a cab, even if you only get it into the city to go to a cab rank near the station.
The train service in Brissie goes every 20 minutes, and is $9. It's pretty good. If you're a pilot working at Brissie (or for that matter any airport worker) you can get a $10 weekly ticket. I often use it when I take the car in for a service than catch the train to and from work for that day. Not sure if the Sydney service is as good.
The train service in Brissie goes every 20 minutes, and is $9. It's pretty good. If you're a pilot working at Brissie (or for that matter any airport worker) you can get a $10 weekly ticket. I often use it when I take the car in for a service than catch the train to and from work for that day. Not sure if the Sydney service is as good.
Agree totally with the comment on Cairns Taxi service ,one of the best in Australia. It has mostly local drivers ,Cairns not being a major destination for new arrivals ,who can earn more than the Taxi average in Australia due to the different nature of the place compared to a big city.
My solution to the Taxi problems elsewhere is to pay the drivers a reasonable income with all benefits ,this would require fares higher than people are willing to pay so subsidise the cabs in the same way as buses and trains.
A better quality driver could be attracted to , and retained in the industry ,providing a better service. Turnover would be reduced and some of the idiots we have at the moment forced out.
Who knows they may even speak English ,and know where they are going!
My solution to the Taxi problems elsewhere is to pay the drivers a reasonable income with all benefits ,this would require fares higher than people are willing to pay so subsidise the cabs in the same way as buses and trains.
A better quality driver could be attracted to , and retained in the industry ,providing a better service. Turnover would be reduced and some of the idiots we have at the moment forced out.
Who knows they may even speak English ,and know where they are going!
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Still in Paradise
Age: 60
Posts: 861
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jeez, youse fullas need to get out more
I've never had any trouble gettin Arthur (his genuine 1976 Kingswood Premier is Australias oldest registered cab) to be waiting to collect me on arrival from the main terminal at Cunnamulla........and Jocko the refueller is always happy to give you a lift into Thargomindah.....same goes at Innamincka, the homestay guy is happy to bring the truck over the creek to pick you up........ though there's been a few times I've had to walk into Longreach in mid-summer
