Thread: Bangkok taxi drivers threaten airport chaos

Fuming taxi drivers vowed to bring chaos to Bangkok’s skies and streets, threatening to blockade Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Government House if the PM doesn’t scrap Grab’s airport access.


Tempers flared at Government House today, May 21, as more than 50 furious cabbies rallied outside Gate 5, demanding an end to what they call “unfair favouritism” towards Grab drivers at Suvarnabhumi Airport.


Led by Worapol Kamkhuntod, head of the Association of Professional Drivers of Public Taxi Vehicles, the protesters slammed the government’s support for ride-hailing apps, accusing officials of betraying Thai taxi drivers.


“If the government chooses Grab, it’s treason. Grab is not a Thai company. Why are they getting all the benefits while we suffer?”

The group called on Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra and Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit to immediately revoke two ministerial regulations they claim are skewed in favour of corporate interests, one legalising small hire cars, and the other greenlighting e-hailing services like Grab.


Worapol claimed the decision to let Grab set up official pick-up points at Thailand’s main airport is destroying the livelihoods of traditional drivers.


“Airports are the windows to our country. When tourists get scammed or have bad experiences, taxi drivers are always blamed, even if it’s not us. It ruins our reputation.”

The protesters argue that platforms like Grab, backed by foreign tech giants, are gutting the traditional taxi trade with free apps and deep-pocketed promotions, a move they say undercuts working-class drivers, reported Amarin TV.


“This isn’t about politics,” said Worapol. “It’s about survival. The government promised us dignity and fair work. Now they’ve sold us out to the apps.”


The group has issued a stark ultimatum: ban Grab from Suvarnabhumi, or face total disruption. If no action is taken, they say, the next step could be road blockades at the entrances and exits of the airport itself.


As tensions mount, all eyes are on the Prime Minister’s office to see whether the government will back down, or call the cabbies’ bluff.

Grab wars: Bangkok taxi drivers threaten airport chaos | Thaiger

Grab an alien concept in a Buddhist sufficiency economy.
Of course no taxi has ever overcharged a weary first timer.

Looking forward to this supposed action to take place.

“Airports are the windows to our country. When tourists get scammed or have bad experiences, taxi drivers are always blamed, even if it’s not us. It ruins our reputation.”

Yeah, people avoid 'traditional' taxis because Grab drivers are so untrustworthy. Makes complete sense.

I have stopped taking airport taxis. There was ALWAYS some fucking problem. Invented surcharges for bags, extra charges for going outide of Bangkok (even when you show them that where I want to go is NOT on their list of surcharge provinces), meter scams - every single fucking time.

Used the airport limo service for a while - no muss, no fuss. I currently use a private hire driver (cheaper than the limo service).

Provide a service that people want to use is apparently beyond their ken. Entitled mafia twats.

Originally Posted by misskit

When tourists get scammed or have bad experiences, taxi drivers are always blamed, because to be frank we are a bunch of cheating scammers and deserve it.

My translation.

Is there anyone here who has never been cheated by a Bangkok taxi driver?

the best and most reliable method of getting to the airport is by using the skytrain BTS airport express.

use a taxi to get to one of the stations on that route, and then its maximum 45 baht and 20 minutes from central bangkok.

no haggling over the fare, the meter, the expressway charge, the airport premium or any of the other bollocks some of them like to dream up when they see a tourist with a suitcase.

the horrendous bangkok traffic, and of course the lottery of finding a clean comfortable taxi with a driver in possession of even the most rudimentary social skills, to say nothing of his driving skills makes a taxi trip to the airport nothing but an anxiety ridden and often an outrageously priced nightmare.

^Personally not a fan of schlepping bags everywhere, but if it works for you, more power to you.

He really is clueless at times.

Taxis are easy and stress free to get to the airport and there's absolutely no way I'm getting a train after a flight.

Originally Posted by Shutree

My translation.

Is there anyone here who has never been cheated by a Bangkok taxi driver?

Probably every single time. In thousands of trips

We once got a cab opposite the Nielsen Hayes library on Suriwong.

It should have been a giveaway that the cab was so low that to sit down we had to get to virtually 'kerb' level'.

Anyway, by the time we got to the Lumpini intersection the fare was about 180 baht.

It was stopped at the lights and we just got out.

Someone had fitted tiny wheels to this thing to make the meter, based on the rotation of the wheels, run ridiculously fast.

Analogue days.

Anyway, we didn't pay any money.

The guy was just smiling throughout.

I'm pretty sure he was ripped.

Maybe it's because I don't look like a sucker or I look too lanky and underfed to be worth the effort, but no...I haven't been ripped off in a cab in Thailand.

But there have been attempts.

Originally Posted by armstrong

Taxis are easy and stress free to get to the airport and there's absolutely no way I'm getting a train after a flight.

so after a long flight you would rather line up in the baking heat at the airport taxi spot, be yelled at by the gestapo girls who give out the tickets and hope that the taxi that corresponds to your ticket number is not a bald tyred beaten up old wreck piloted by a thug with an axe under his seat, a bottle of whiskey under the armrest and a hundred buddhist icons blocking most of his vision out of the window.

take the escalators down two more levels and board the air con train for 45 baht, and find yourself in central bkk 20 minutes later. its so painless and easy.

A. Sucker

Maybe it's because I don't look like a sucker

appearances can be very deceptive.

Originally Posted by taxexile

so after a long flight you would rather line up in the baking heat at the airport taxi spot.

One waits inside the terminal.

If there is a wait at all.

Did you last fly with Orville and Wilbur?

But yeah that second one was a zinger.

Ouch.

last time i took a taxi we queued up outside the terminal, were given a ticket and waited in line for the corresponding taxi to arrive.

but then again i suppose you only fly domestic. for some of us our horizons are wider.

BTW - have you worked out where Bangkok's airports are yet, harriet?

Originally Posted by taxexile

but then again i suppose you only fly domestic. for some of us our horizons are wider.

Working overseas and living in Thailand, yeah domestic every time.



And whether domestic or international - your response makes no sense.

So you forked up twice with one sentence, baldy racist.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Working overseas and living in Thailand, yeah domestic every time.



And whether domestic or international - your response makes no sense.

So you forked up twice with one sentence, baldy racist.

I thought the kunto was a wee bit racist but is he a baldy as well?

I haven't used a Bangkok airport taxi in years. Most of the time I fly domesric straight up to Udon. If we stay in Bangkok then I take the train or have someone pick us up.

Why on earth would anyone want to ride is some bashed up, janky Toyota when in a few taps I can have a comfy Chinese EV or Fortuna for a little more, but a lot less drama? Traditional taxis suck and rip people off.

^

thank you bld for that ringing endorsement for my sage advice.

as i said, let the train take the strain.

You're welcome. Baldy