MEL taxi scam

[Aeryn]

Still have no idea why anyone would bother with a taxi or rideshare from the airport

Taxi = never worth it in SYD or MEL where rideshare is plentiful.

Why bother with rideshare, well because if travelling solo its about $4 more expensive than the train + bus + walk and takes only 12 minutes vs 1 hour to schlep into city on the train and then transfer to a bus. My time is worth more than the $4 cost difference.

 

[lovestotravel]

What else would you do- that coughpy overpriced unreliable red bus from hell? Suit yourself…

Um NO - You couldn't pay me to go on that thing

Private car - Same as I do at any airport overseas, get the hotel to arrange a transfer from the airport.

The only time I'll get an Uber/Taxi to/from the airport in on a work trip once in the destination

From home I'll still pay out of pocket for a private driver

 

[Flyerwin]

I usually drive and park but otherwise use uber. I avoid taxis if possible.

 

[Cessna 180]

Still have no idea why anyone would bother with a taxi or rideshare from the airport

Well, because it is the easiest option to get to either Essendon airport or Sunbury train station. My two destinations most of the time.

Works pretty well for me. If the driver whinges or carries on about short fare I offer to get out and get the next one. If they are polite and friendly I give them a bit extra.

If I am going to the city the Skybus is good. I also don’t understand why people on here whine about that so much either.

Vic taxpayers really cannot afford the proposed train at this time.

 

[Berlin]

Private car - Same as I do at any airport overseas, get the hotel to arrange a transfer from the airport.

Well, no. That’s the opposite of that awful bus: Triple the price and the hotel makes a killing? I just can’t justify this on my own spent. Unless you have some great tips- then please let me know!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Well, what about the Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport, providing that little shuttle bus, I think its free for guest, or maybe they do charge.
Actually, the walk is only about 15 mins/20 mins slow dawdle via the walkway and Maccas, but it seems that people still use that bus.
Only reason I stay at that hotel, is that its the cheapest way to earn IHG points, the other hotels tend to be $$$, or too far away.
Also now that they have the Novotel and Ibis near T4, the Ibis Budget has lost my $.
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What little tricks does anyone forsee the drivers will try to get a bit more than the prepaid "chit"/QR code???
If we show the driver the QR code, maybe he takes the smartphone and wont return it.
Or if we give him the real paper "chit", he might deny we have paid...
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Has anyone ever got a honest to goodness, kosher taxi driver in Melbourne from the airport, who has never did/done a "winkie"?

 

[dajop]

dajop you seem a reasonable man - how happy would you be to wait 2+ hrs in queue at MEL then cop a $40 fare?

Was a few years ago, so I guess the $40 fare is a bit higher now . But have spoken to some drivers (after apologising for short fare) and they've said you win some you lose some. Happy to pay a generous tip to these sort of drivers, but not to a driver who whines and then once of the freeway and on quieter roads he slams on the brakes on at regular intervals (for no apparent reason) causing a jerky ride and then when you reach the house you point out, he drives past 3-4 houses just because he's cranky. Not sure he's that deserving of a tip. Also not sure what happens to those who live in Keilor, Airport West, Niddrie, Strathmore or even Essendon who would have even smaller fares.

Anyway, usually take Uber now, they seem less outwardly hostile to shorter fares. Not sure how long they typically wait.

Really there should be a mechanism to manage it better that if they return within xx minutes they get a shorter wait for the next fare.

 

[Aeryn]

Anyway, usually take Uber now, they seem less outwardly hostile to shorter fares. Not sure how long they typically wait.

In my recent MEL experiences they dont wait at all, always people already waiting when they pull up to the collection area.

 

[dajop]

In my recent MEL experiences they dont wait at all, always people already waiting when they pull up to the collection area.

The waits happen "offsite" at a specific area, not at the collection area. Same as taxis.

 

[Aeryn]

The waits happen "offsite" at a specific area, not at the collection area. Same as taxis.

Well the wait at the uber pick up area was > 10 minutes the other weekend; about 25 people waiting no ubers (midday, sunny), so i dont think they were waiting offsite, they were leaving as soon as they arrived. And the app knows how many people are waiting.

Plenty of taxis were available, just shows people prefer to wait for a ride share than to use them.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

And the tout tends not the driver, but a Wallah go between.
He always has a smartphone held in his hands behind his back.
He has a very laisse faire sort of stand.
No fear.
I would say he would have made an assessment of the mark/mug immediately they exit any of the doors of T4, or walk down that ramp.
Lots of people who want a ride, would have walked straight out of T1/T2/T3 to the uber rank, seeing uber has taken top spot at Tullamarine now.
Much fewer taxis out there.
The taxi wait zone is out the back of the AFP complex near the Ibis (full Ibis)/Novovel.