Interesting article on Long Hauling

Interesting Read

http://tiny.cc/e4yucx

 

I've taken plenty of cabs from the airport...and 100% of the time - yes EVERY time - the driver has taken the tunnel (since it's been there) when I failed to tell him not to.

Now, I have to admit that about half of the cabs I've taken to the airport, the drivers have taken surface-streets from downtown. They all got extra tip money as a result.

These days, I make it clear to every cabbie when I first get in. No tunnel...and, unless I'm going to Rio/Gold Coast from downtown, I also tell them "no freeway".

This audit showing only 20-ish percent are long-hauled? I call bullshit. I'd guess that it's well over 50%...if not 75% (from the airport, anyway).

Funny thing is that the cab companies claim that the audit is showing a number that's too high.
Hilarious!

 

When my wife was meeting me in February, I told her to tell the cabbie no tunnel. She did, and he acted all offended saying he never does that.

 

That def happens. Our Feb. trip I didn't say the magic words and next thing you know we were in the tunnel.

The next trip the first thing I said to cabbie is "A colleague of yours tried to tunnel and rip us off last trip, I trust you won't do that. Correct?"

 

If they posted Airport max fares ($15 up to tropicana, $20 up to Sahara, $25 up to and incl downtown) on each cab there would no more long hauling. I noticed a cab in AC yesterday and the side had it's rates for the first 1/10 mile and each 1/10, etc, etc. On the last note on the door in big letters it's says. "A max fare of $13.00 anywhere within the city", right on the official door fare chart.

 

Eventually, maybe 20 years, Las Vegas will build a monorail connecting McCarran to the mid-strip area & to the downtown area. It would have a lot of positive features, not the least of which would be easing traffic congestion. Pollution would be lessened.

In past decades, this has not been possible due to the taxi/limo/shuttle political clout at city hall.

Also, when a monorail was built, it was done with the certainty that it would not serve anybody to or from the airport.

The WAX from McCarran to downtown has allowed tourists, as well as locals, a way to get downtown for $2. The last time I took a cab from downtown to McCarran (about 3 years ago), it cost $50. At least I got a nice view of the Southpoint as we drove by it.

If people are repeatedly cheated, they will look for alternatives.

If the city council & casino execs begin to understand that many people are going back home and telling others, "yep, we had a good time, but we got ripped off while we were there", then they may support a more visitor-friendly transportation model.

 

So basically they know there's a small problem but it's really not that big of a deal and really at the end of the day they're doing the customers a favor.

Uh huh......

 

While I agree that it is wrong to long-haul people more often than not it's less than $5 and if you are the kind of person that is going to let $5 get your worked up and ruin your day or trip you are in the wrong state of mind in the wrong city. Just my opinion.

 

I think if you get long hauled, then you should short tip..

 

I agree.......but then no tip for you.......I'll come back in one year.

We were longed hauled once and I refuse to tip for rip off service. Tips are a gesture for good service only in my mind and wallet.

And what city should you be in the right mind to be ripped off

 

I stay at ph a lot. Every cab ride is between 15-18. I was tunneled while not paying attention. It was 38. I didnt want to tip but the wife is insistent on a 20% min on all tips anywhere. So she gave him 8.00. So it was at least a 20 over pay. Now is that going to ruin my trip, no. But it is annoying and did it make me feel like a sucker. Yes. And who wants to feel like that and just take without ever saying anything to anyone. At least people now complained and talked about it enough that its starting to get some national recognition. And that is the start of a possible change for the better.

 

If you get longhauled you should refuse to pay and tell them they have 2 options they can take $0 or you can call and wait for the cab authority to come sort it out 100% of the time they take $0 and leave don't pay people for trying to rob you it only contributes to the problem. Cab drivers know if the cab authority comes they will fine the driver and you will end up paying nothing so force them to decide what they want either they eat the fare or they get a fine and eat the fare.

 

I like this one.

In our last trip, we got into the cab and said "Monte Carlo, no tunnel please" and the cabbie went off. But not on us, on his fellow colleagues. He said he never tunnels anyone and told us the proper procedure for exactly what we should do if we get tunneled (its well documented on here, you owe them what it would cost for your typical non-tunnel fare). He mentioned how it was a huge problem and needed to be addressed. THAT'S how you get a good tip from me...be honest and provide good service.

I don't understand why people allow themselves to be tunneled? I don't like confrontation either but at the very minimum, pay the inflated fare and don't leave a tip. Tipping 20% after getting tunneled is like tipping someone who stole money from your wallet!

 

Count me among those who agree. I suspect, without reading further, we'll have another debate over how offended any one person should or shouldn't be regarding long hauling, why the cabbies are "forced" to long haul and why the cost of a long haul shouldn't make a difference simply because a vacation is a luxury.

Whether you specify it or not, if you get tunneled, round up to the nearest dollar and say "keep the change." You should probably tell him/her not to take the tunnel the next time, otherwise s/he will think you're simply a lousy tipper.

 

Good advice. If you don't say anything they'll probably think they were justified in long hauling you. They'll think YOU'RE the jerk.

 

Voltron, I'm with you.

Being "suckered" by a taxi, waiter, cashier, etc. does not ruin my trip.

But if it happens with some REGULARITY that you are, for instance, having items charged to your hotel bill that you did not use, then would you consider another hotel?

I would.

 

Last two long hauls for us resulted in $10 fare.

Just stand your ground. But, not until you get to your hotel.

Unless of course prefer the tunnel. It is a smoother ride, especially to north strip.

 

There is alot of controversy about when to tunnel and when not to and when your getting long hauled. After driving limos for over 10 years in Vegas I can say that long hauling is an issue. Couple years ago transit authority said a driver must take the most direct route. The complaints about that came and they changed the sentence to 2 pages. During certain times of the day and certain days, the fastest route is altered. If your going to Trump on a Friday night your better off on the freeway. Even downtown is much faster, but doesn't mean its the most direct, the least amount of time. Me personally, I would rather go 7 miles at 75 mph than 4 at 40mph.

Also, when Vegas is busy or Fri and Sat night's, cab drivers don't want you in the car. They will take you the fastest route, and that route may not be the fastest returning or even the next day. It really Sux that the good cab drivers get a bad vibe because of the bad ones.

 

You would. But your passenger(s) most certainly wouldn't (if in a cab). Both take roughly the same amount of time. Except you are getting the additional $$$/mile charges. So if you were a cab driver, you would be ripping off your customers.

 

So would I if I was driving. If I was paying a flat route i'd agree with you also. If i'm paying per mile than I would much rather go the 4 miles at 40 MPH.

I said this in the last big thread on long hauling but, if they went to a flat rate it would solve most everyones problems. The driver wins because he can take whatever he deems to be the quickest route and the customer wins because they don't have to worry about being ripped off.