The current loading pattern at the airport is allowing travellers to exploit taxi drivers, and Ian Joseph, President of the United Taxi Company, wants that loophole closed.
At present, Joseph says, only one fare is paid when more than one person shares a taxi. Accordingly, a family of four could be transported to their destination and pay a single fare.
The policy started years ago, he says, and was implemented by former Prime Minister Sir Lester Bird, who served as Minister of Tourism at the time.
Joseph says the taxi operators feel they are being exploited by persons who know the system, and who are placing visitors that arrive here separately into one taxi at the single-fare rate.
The association’s President says that taxi operators’ hands are tied, since they operate under regulations at the airport and cannot go against the set policy.
He says the United Taxi Company is seeking to have the policy re-examined so that operators can receive their proper fares.
Joseph says that discussions have been held with the relevant authorities in this regard, but the association is still not satisfied with the suggestions that have been put forward.
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The example you gave of a family of 4 paying one fare made no sense . example a car is a 5 seater Dad ,Mom and two kids why should they pay more you even still have a empty seat. I had a rental car and got a flat the guy charges MORE .My family wanted to go there to find out why the extra charge when they’ve done it many times with him i told them not to bother . WHEN they realize you have accent sometimes they to charge more and I can give other examples of this . I’m a XL TIPPER but consider the increase your Tip. MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY
So let me get this straight: A couple uses a taxi from the airport to a single destination, and the taxi drivers want TWO fares to be paid? If this is allowed, it is the taxi drivers who will be exploiting people.
This policy definitely puts Taxi drivers at serious disadvantage,I think they have suffered enough by the implementation of such a policy and the time has come for it to be totally discontinue,and let’s be clear and truthful about this situation it only benefits tour agents and the passengers who use it to there full advantage which you can’t blame them for, but on the other hand the Taxi drivers who bare the brunt of all the work and maintenance of there vehicles are treated
rather unfairly pertaining to fare that is collected. I’m calling on the authorities to make this wrong right, it is too long over due they need to be cheated fairly especially in times like these so they can provide comfortably for there families like other working class individuals.
The president said visitors who arrive separately not family together
Wash n’ Basin WELL SAID . I believed I read that they wanted more money when the Airport reopened because of Covid. . THAT REMINDS ME I HAVE TO ASK FOR A COVID RAISE WHEN I GO BACK TO WORK TOMORROW. SMH !!!
It is normal around the world to pay for the taxi and not how many people are in it. Whether they know each other or not is not relevant. We often share taxis in the UK as it can be hard to get one in the first place.
If we request a larger vehicle, (eg more seats) then the total fare is larger. (But cheaper per person)
So to me a fixed fair from the airport is the right way to treat taxi users and not to charge each passenger.
LOL. It’s one fair because it’s one destination. Simple.. Taxi driver are the ones trying to exploit the customers with their nonsense.
Y u don’t go find work to do…you aint know nun bout taxi service so keep quiet
The authorities need to look in the AGENTS. They are the ones exploiting the customers. They mark up is 200% above the regulated prices, charge per person and the taxi drivers get the crumbs.
As long as it’s one stop or one destination I don’t see the problem with the single fare structure. But then again considering wear and tear on the vehicle due to all the bad roads in Antigua, maybe there can be a policy where you charge a single fare for one or two people, but above two the fare doubles.
As a regular visitor (every other week) I have seen the increase in fares and expectations of drivers (no change boss) to get the best $, ok these are challenging time’s, not for an island that is the best in the Caribbean don’t go exploiting those who have the courage to travel in these times. Embrace the tourist and they will spread the word and you will have once again a thriving economy.
Did I read correctly that this policy was initiated by the then Prime Minister Lester Bird? Wow! That was eons ago! So after all this time, including two changes in government, this half-hatched demand now find its way via a vehicle of complaints into the public domain. My dear taximen and women, perhaps you are deserving of a raise of some sort. But this nonsensical proposition of yours is running on flat tyres!!!
It’s a taxi not a dollar van. If all passengers are going to the same destination, only 1 fare should be paid.
Look at it from a airline perspective, the more weight in a vehicle the more gas it uses the airlines realized this and started charging for checked luggage. The best thing is to agree on a passenger number eg. 4 per trip and any extra adults be charged per head.
That’s exactly what is happening now. 1-4 persons pay the same fare ( combine for the fare) and any extra person pay a 25% of the fare. The drivers want 1-2 persons and the extra persons pay extra , not sure how much %”?
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