I caught a taxi from Sydney Airport this morning and the driver offered the choice between a fixed fare or a metered fare. Is this a thing? I don't catch cabs often and haven't come across this before.
Have to say that the fixed fare wasn't exorbitant, the return trip was within $3 of the outward.
Yeah I get that, I'd just not heard of it before. Trip out cost $65 fixed price, and back to the airport was $68 from meter so yes, I came out in front on the fixed price trip.
This reminds me of Fiji airport. And the rule at fiji airport is, don't get a taxi.
Had this happen to me once as well. I don't know if they just couldn't be bothered switching on the device thing which kind of looked like the reason, or that the guy asked me for cash so maybe he could keep the full amount instead of a percentage (or tax it?). Was within a few dollars of usual cost also.
I will say though, I usually pay $50 by taxi, but last time I got an uber and they charged me $22 that was a surprise.
Too many issues with Uber cancelling, I was happy to pay the extra for a cab - although that is a huge difference that you've noted.. The driver didn't want cash though, he was happy with card payment.
From memory for cabbies the ato has an assumed earnings per kilometre driven. Unless that’s changed.
Taxis also might ask to pay a fixed price upfront if they think you don’t have money.
Two of us, respectably dressed, no reason to think we wouldn't have money. Plus we didn't have to pay until we arrived. Would make sense if we were asked to pay upfront.
I had one try that on once when I was rather hat racked.
Asked $50 for an 8ish km drive.
I laughed at him and told him he better start the meter.
I think it was $20.
If you say metered, they will try take the longer, congested route, since some employees are paying for taxi "hire/depreciation".'
For fixed, they will take the quickest, direct route, and try to get another $5-10 on the trip.
Yes its a thing . It can go against you or in benefit .
Let's say you have to go from airport to CBD or vice versa and you get lot of traffic and you fixed it for 100 dollars. You win .