Taxi changes at Suvarnabhumi Airport

[rxpharm]

Upcoming changes to the taxi service at Suvarnabhumi Airport will hopefully make things more efficient and less corrupt. As reported in today's Nation.

Automatic kiosks set to improve taxi service at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Jessada Jantarak
The Nation July 26, 2014 1:00 am

Automatic queue-card kiosks will soon improve people's access to taxi services at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

"They should reduce waiting time [for taxis]," Colonel Boonchu Klinsakhon said at a press conference.

Working in response to the National Council for Peace and Order's policy, Boonchu - who heads the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment Queen's Guard - said yesterday efforts to regulate taxi services at Bangkok's key aviation facility had been progressing.

The airport's general manager Rawewan Netarakavesana said eight kiosks would be installed by the end of next month. "We will install kiosks at Gates 4 and 7 [on the first floor] of the terminal," she said.

She added that the airport had also sought to improve taxi services by arranging training courses for taxi drivers. "The courses cover English-language skills, respect for traffic laws, and service-mindedness," Rawewan said.

She added that she hoped taxi services available at Suvarnabhumi would become modern, safe, fast, convenient and accountable.

End to 'taxi mafia'

Before the NCPO intervened, "mafia-style" operations had reportedly plagued the airport's taxi services with bribe-paying taxi drivers allowed to select long-haul passengers. Such selective services made it harder for short-haul passengers to get a taxi ride.

A short ride from the airport starts from just Bt35, while a ride to faraway destinations like Pattaya can earn a taxi driver up to Bt3,000.

[seanbeag7]

And i thought Ireland was only place for "taxi-mafia"

[BAM]

(rxpharm @ Jul. 26 2014,08:05) hopefully make things more efficient and less corrupt.

I'm thinking more corrupt and less efficient

[rxpharm]

Finally got some photos of the new system - it seems to work well. Go to the public taxi stand on the 1st floor (ground level). You will see the kiosks as per the photos. Go up and touch the button on the screen and it will generate a number. The number corresponds to a numbered spot where your assigned taxi is waiting to take you to your destination. As of June the airport fee was still 50 Baht (you need to add this to the metered fare at the end plus any tollway fees should you ask for that route). The taxi fees have increased slightly - the meter showed 300 Baht on arrival to my hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 11. It used to cost 250 Baht. (not including the airport surcharge). The rates will also increase a bit more later this year - but still a very inexpensive compared to taxis from other countries.

[Rockheart]

Prices from the airport have always been fairly controlled but this looks like it will make it more efficient.

It used to be if you hailed a taxi on the street in Bangkok they used to pick you up and throw on the meter and you would get a good deal. Occasionally they tried to take you to a jewelry store or travel agency, but if you stuck to the bigger more reputable taxi companies you never had an issue.
Now when you try to hail a taxi, at least in tourist areas, they often will quote you a price and if you don't like it they won't take you. There is not often meter offered from Sukhumvit as they seem to be trying to gouge, most often their offers are probably accepted by unknowing tourists.

I have found when your hotel orders a taxi there is often few problems since the companies don't want to piss off the hotels.
So a good strategy on the street would be to take them from hotel line ups, like at the Landmark Hotel etc.

Outside the tourist areas usually the drivers will always use the meter.
Problem is they often don't speak english and many can't read any language.
So giving them instructions in Thai on a card may not help.