Re: [UC] taxi overcharging from airport

[Jessica Moore]

I take taxis to and from the airport often and noticed the same thing.  
My experience is taxi drivers are very willing to charge by the meter to 
the airport from UC, but very unwilling to charge by the meter in the 
reverse direction.  The explanation that was given to me by the taxi 
driver is the amount of time they have to wait in line at the airport is 
typically 2 hours to get that $20 fare + tip.  By the time they reach 
the head of the line, they are unwilling to take a lower fare to UC.  
Looks like there are too many taxis at the airport.  It is, of course, 
the right of the taxi driver to wait for a center city destination to 
optimize the amount of time they made over the 2 hour wait.  You, of 
course, also have the right to take another taxi that will charge by the 
meter.  As a courtesy, the taxi dispatcher sometimes negotiates the 
issue by telling the taxi driver to charge the meter fare and in return 
lets them jump to the head of the line when they return to the airport. 

The issue is really how long you want to wait and how much effort you 
want to put into finding a taxi driver near the head of the line that is 
willing to charge by the meter to save the $5.   Your other option is to 
ask the taxi dispatcher to take care of it for you.

Jessica
Stephen Fisher wrote:
Hi,
I've been repeatedly told that it costs $20 to take a taxi between 
"downtown" and the airport.  I assumed this meant from anywhere in the 
"city" which would include University City.  My misunderstanding was 
confirmed on various taxi trips where I was charged the $20 fee.  
However, one remarkable taxi driver corrected me when I went to pay 
him the $20.  It turns out it's only $15 to go from my house in 
University City (46th @ Regents) to the airport.  Armed with this new 
knowledge I confronted the next taxi driver I used and he was adamant 
that the $20 fee included University City.  So I payed him, took his 
license info and called today to find out the truth.  I was correct.  
The $20 fee between "downtown" and the airport is ONLY for locations 
between South St to Girard and between the 2 rivers.  Thus University 
City does not qualify and should be metered.
For those of you who take taxis between University City and the 
airport, you may want to be sure to clarify this with your taxi driver 
before you even get into the cab.

At your service and always ready to defend your rights,
Stephen
----
You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the
list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see
<http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
----
You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the
list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see
<http://www.purple.com/list.html>.