For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Just a quick warning and tip for pilgrims travelling by taxi from Madrid Airport.
Yesterday I was staying at a hostal a short distance (3kms) from the airport. Coming to the taxi queue outside arrivals I got into an official cab on the taxi rank and said where I wanted go. As I was putting on my seatbelt the guy said it would be €30. I immediately said "No" and opened the door, if I had not opened the door I'm sure he would have pulled off and held me to this extortionate fare. For a little while after that no cab would take me as I was clearly a trouble maker, then one quoted €20. I went to airport information to try and see what the deal was, apparently €30 is a standard charge for anyone going to the city centre and then anything else should be metered but because they queue so long for passengers the cabs try to charge everyone the flat fee which is pretty outrageous.
So, while I couldn't get any cab at arrivals to take me on a metered journey I discovered that the guys upstairs dropping off at departures (at least in the case of terminal 1) were happy to do metered trips so I would suggest everyone picks up their cab at departures rather than arrivals.
Hope this helps someone.
Rob.
Just a quick warning and tip for pilgrims travelling by taxi from Madrid Airport.
Yesterday I was staying at a hostal a short distance (3kms) from the airport. Coming to the taxi queue outside arrivals I got into an official cab on the taxi rank and said where I wanted go. As I was putting on my seatbelt the guy said it would be €30. I immediately said "No" and opened the door, if I had not opened the door I'm sure he would have pulled off and held me to this extortionate fare. For a little while after that no cab would take me as I was clearly a trouble maker, then one quoted €20. I went to airport information to try and see what the deal was, apparently €30 is a standard charge for anyone going to the city centre and then anything else should be metered but because they queue so long for passengers the cabs try to charge everyone the flat fee which is pretty outrageous.
So, while I couldn't get any cab at arrivals to take me on a metered journey I discovered that the guys upstairs dropping off at departures (at least in the case of terminal 1) were happy to do metered trips so I would suggest everyone picks up their cab at departures rather than arrivals.
Hope this helps someone.
Rob.
I used to do that at the Lisbon airport all the time, for the same reason — the hotel I stay in is about 5 km from the airport and a very low fare for the driver. There is no way to do that in Lisbon now, because the authorities have prohibited cabs at departures from picking people up. That’s unfortunate, because it means that every time I go I run the risk of making a cab driver very unhappy. I try to do my small part for honesty by giving a huge tip to the drivers who are honest and not mean. I let the dishonest ones have it in my bad Portuguese and pay the fare I know it costs with no tip (knowing I can get backup from the doorman at the hotel). I’d say it’s about a 50-50 split.
In their defense (and I am not saying it is justified), I know that the taxi drivers at these big airports wait for hours for a fare. In Lisbon and Madrid, I know that three or four hours is not uncommon. So I understand their total frustration. I have long thought that there should be a different passenger line for short fares so the driver could choose whether to take the long wait or not, but that seems like it would be a nightmare to administer. Going to the departure area is likely to make the driver there very happy, so long as it remains a legal option, because that guy was not expecting anyone, so it is win win.
On balance, though, I think the single fare idea is a huge benefit to tourists in particular. We now don’t have to worry about unscrupulous drivers taking us on a long winding detour, except if we want to go to a destination that is really really close.
In their defense (and I am not saying it is justified), I know that the taxi drivers at these big airports wait for hours for a fare. In Lisbon and Madrid, I know that three or four hours is not uncommon. So I understand their total frustration. I have long thought that there should be a different passenger line for short fares so the driver could choose whether to take the long wait or not, but that seems like it would be a nightmare to administer. Going to the departure area is likely to make the driver there very happy, so long as it remains a legal option, because that guy was not expecting anyone, so it is win win.
On balance, though, I think the single fare idea is a huge benefit to tourists in particular. We now don’t have to worry about unscrupulous drivers taking us on a long winding detour, except if we want to go to a destination that is really really close.
I fear you are a better soul than I @peregrina2000 . I agree that people should have a right to make a living but I can't help thinking that if it weren't for the opportunity to fleece unsuspecting tourists the queues of taxis would be shorter and they wouldn't have to wait so long. If there are too many taxis in general that is a matter for the city council.
I just think it's a terrible advert for a city if pretty much your first experience after picking up your bags is to be literally and figurativley taken for a ride by a taxi driver.
I took a Cabify from the airport to Cuatro Caminos 3 weeks ago and it was 23€. Haven't ever take a cab so did not know about the flat rate. If I had only had my backpack, I would have taken the metro, bus or train. An option to taking a cab at the flat rate might be to take the metro to the Barajas exit, then taking a cab from there to the hotel. There are certainly cabs in Barajas. Or book your overnight stay in Barajas. It's quite close to the airport. I haven't done this but I don't know why you could not. I suspect it would not cost 30€.
Cabify is a private cab company different than the cabs in the queue at the airport. I think it's only in Spain, Portugal and some countries in South America. I don't know why the fare was 23E. That's what I paid, though. The nice thing about Cabify (like other such companies - ie Lyft) is the fare is paid on a card and no money exchanges hands between the passenger and the driver. I don't like haggling so when I have to use a taxi, I use Cabify. I particularly like Cabify because the cars are always clean, they always treat me well (offer water, offer a phone charger, ask if I want the AC or heat on, do I want to listen to the radio - if so, what kind of station...). Plus the drivers are not supposed to talk to you unless you initiate a conversation which I always do because my Spanish needs the practice - lol. Anyway, I hope that clarifies your confusion and curiosity.Well, now I am curious. I am not sure why a cabbie who had the right to charge you 30 would charge you 23, but hey! I just thought I would check, and yes indeed, the flat rate is 30 euros from airport to places inside the M-30, which is all of central Madrid.
But the other interesting thing is that there is also a flat rate, from the Airport to anywhere outside the M-30, if the total distance is less than 10 km (which would include all airport hotels). And that rate is 20 €. So, @Dorpie, that cabbie who offered to take you o the Barajas hotel for 20, was actually being honest!
https://www.aeropuertomadrid-barajas.com/transportes/taxis-barajas.htm
That does seem like a steep fare, but I guess it reflects those long waits that the cabbies have to endure.
As a one time hack in NYC 35+ years ago at JFK they had a "short haul" ticket the dispatcher gave the driver so they could return to a much, much shorter waiting line for next fare. As for using the departure level, although clever, in many places it is not legal to accept a new passenger upstairs. Of course no one is likely policing this and it is in fact a win-win for both driver (no long wait or empty return to city) and passenger.So I understand their total frustration. I have long thought that there should be a different passenger line for short fares so the driver could choose whether to take the long wait or not, but that seems like it would be a nightmare to administer.
This shorter line ticket is a clever idea.As a one time hack in NYC 35+ years ago at JFK they had a "short haul" ticket the dispatcher gave the driver so they could return to a much, much shorter waiting line for next fare. As for using the departure level, although clever, in many places it is not legal to accept a new passenger upstairs. Of course no one is likely policing this and it is in fact a win-win for both driver (no long wait or empty return to city) and passenger.
Might I add that even at home or any destination if family or friend is picking you up always go back upstairs to departures to meet. There is tons less traffic. Of course some places only have one level. Typically arrivals is a nightmare.
Once again - it's not a scam. Please read the whole thread.This sort of crap is why I’ll happily use Uber particularly from an airport so you don’t get hit by the scams
But it's not a scam. They have a flat rate that is determined by the government.This sort of crap is why I’ll happily use Uber particularly from an airport so you don’t get hit by the scams
It’s a scam if you’re being charged 20 euro for a short trip - I’d be curious to know what Uber quotes for the same tripBut it's not a scam. They have a flat rate that is determined by the government.
This sort of crap is why I’ll happily use Uber particularly from an airport so you don’t get hit by the scams
But it's not a scam. They have a flat rate that is determined by the government.
Instead complaining you can start walking from the airport , problem solved .It’s a scam if you’re being charged 20 euro for a short trip - I’d be curious to know what Uber quotes for the same trip
Indeed I do not see the need to talk about " crap or scam ".
To my knowledge a lot of airport taxi companies work with fixed rates.
I am someone who will never use Uber ( or ArBnB for that matter ) because I believe in people getting paid honestly.
Scammers can be found everywhere btw.
You think charging €30 for a 2.9km journey is being paid honestly?
Instead complaining you can start walking from the airport , problem solved .
Again this link. Already posted earlier.
https://www.aeropuertomadrid-barajas.com/transportation/madrid-airport-bytaxi.htm
It is what it is
I took it to mean that Peter was suggesting (with a bit of lightness) that we all begin to walk to Santiago from the airport, forgetting cabs and hotels altogether.That works great in many cases and I would obviously do that in most cases but that's not always an option.
Any time, @Dorpie.Thanks for tolerating my venting
I sympathize with you. And I'm grateful that you shared your experience. You started one of the more useful threads, at least for meI get that, though incidentally there's nothing to indicate the tarrifs at the taxi rank, I'm asking if you think €30 or even €20 to go 2.9km, which took literally 5 minutes is an honest price? Maybe I'm just a scrooge, but for much of my working life I barely made that in an hour.
Similar rules and limitations (and a few dishonest drivers) exist at many airports around the world. The judgement of "flawed" depends on your criteria. If supply-demand rules, you'd find almost no taxis at certain times, possibly leaving those few customers stranded. At many big airports you can see long lines of waiting passengers at some times and long lines of waiting taxis at other times. One big plane lands and the lines move quickly.As I implied before, the mere fact that dozens of cabs are queued up, even at a fairly peak time (this was 6pm) waiting for fares suggests to me that this is a distinctly flawed system.
Similar rules and limitations (and a few dishonest drivers) exist at many airports around the world. The judgement of "flawed" depends on your criteria. If supply-demand rules, you'd find almost no taxis at certain times, possibly leaving those few customers stranded. At many big airports you can see long lines of waiting passengers at some times and long lines of waiting taxis at other times. One big plane lands and the lines move quickly.
The €20 rate balances out the need for taxi availability (which goes hand in hand with driver waiting time). The €30 rate protects customers from being taken for a long ride unnecessarily (harder to recognize on the longer trips in a city you don't know).
It can't be an easy management task, and I prefer to pay a bit extra for security and convenience. Of course, as I am playing by the rules, I want the taxi drivers to do the same.
As a one time hack in NYC 35+ years ago at JFK they had a "short haul" ticket the dispatcher gave the driver so they could return to a much, much shorter waiting line for next fare. As for using the departure level, although clever, in many places it is not legal to accept a new passenger upstairs. Of course no one is likely policing this and it is in fact a win-win for both driver (no long wait or empty return to city) and passenger.
Might I add that even at home or any destination if family or friend is picking you up always go back upstairs to departures to meet. There is tons less traffic. Of course some places only have one level. Typically arrivals is a nightmare.
If only in this tech savvy era there was some kind of app that balanced supply and demand for taxis and altered the rates accordingly.
I'm being facetious of course. I hate Uber as a company what with their disregard for either passenger, driver or staff welfare and reluctance to pay taxes but as an actual model to balance supply and demand it's a brilliant concept.
I took a Cabify from the airport to Cuatro Caminos 3 weeks ago and it was 23€. Haven't ever take a cab so did not know about the flat rate. If I had only had my backpack, I would have taken the metro, bus or train. An option to taking a cab at the flat rate might be to take the metro to the Barajas exit, then taking a cab from there to the hotel. There are certainly cabs in Barajas. Or book your overnight stay in Barajas. It's quite close to the airport. I haven't done this but I don't know why you could not. I suspect it would not cost 30€.
I use the Metro situated right in the Airport. Don't recall the cost but believe it was about $5 and took about 25 minute to get to my destination near the south train station.Just a quick warning and tip for pilgrims travelling by taxi from Madrid Airport.
Yesterday I was staying at a hostal a short distance (3kms) from the airport. Coming to the taxi queue outside arrivals I got into an official cab on the taxi rank and said where I wanted go. As I was putting on my seatbelt the guy said it would be €30. I immediately said "No" and opened the door, if I had not opened the door I'm sure he would have pulled off and held me to this extortionate fare. For a little while after that no cab would take me as I was clearly a trouble maker, then one quoted €20. I went to airport information to try and see what the deal was, apparently €30 is a standard charge for anyone going to the city centre and then anything else should be metered but because they queue so long for passengers the cabs try to charge everyone the flat fee which is pretty outrageous.
So, while I couldn't get any cab at arrivals to take me on a metered journey I discovered that the guys upstairs dropping off at departures (at least in the case of terminal 1) were happy to do metered trips so I would suggest everyone picks up their cab at departures rather than arrivals.
Hope this helps someone.
Rob.
Best comment so farI took it to mean that Peter was suggesting (with a bit of lightness) that we all begin to walk to Santiago from the airport, forgetting cabs and hotels altogether.
Just a quick warning and tip for pilgrims travelling by taxi from Madrid Airport.
Yesterday I was staying at a hostal a short distance (3kms) from the airport. Coming to the taxi queue outside arrivals I got into an official cab on the taxi rank and said where I wanted go. As I was putting on my seatbelt the guy said it would be €30. I immediately said "No" and opened the door, if I had not opened the door I'm sure he would have pulled off and held me to this extortionate fare. For a little while after that no cab would take me as I was clearly a trouble maker, then one quoted €20. I went to airport information to try and see what the deal was, apparently €30 is a standard charge for anyone going to the city centre and then anything else should be metered but because they queue so long for passengers the cabs try to charge everyone the
Hi Rob, We do research before leaving home to avoid catching taxis, (recently in Madrid), we found a hotel near the main train line and caught the train (about 2 Euro) into Chamartin station, walked about 200 metres to the hotel then in the morning, back to Charmartin to catch the train to Irun. Have done the same in Ireland and Japan. The first time in Copenhagen, I caught a taxi to the hotel ($60) and realised it was right on the line from the airport, so next time onto the train at the airport and the fare was a few dollars!!!! Great achievementJust a quick warning and tip for pilgrims travelling by taxi from Madrid Airport.
Yesterday I was staying at a hostal a short distance (3kms) from the airport. Coming to the taxi queue outside arrivals I got into an official cab on the taxi rank and said where I wanted go. As I was putting on my seatbelt the guy said it would be €30. I immediately said "No" and opened the door, if I had not opened the door I'm sure he would have pulled off and held me to this extortionate fare. For a little while after that no cab would take me as I was clearly a trouble maker, then one quoted €20. I went to airport information to try and see what the deal was, apparently €30 is a standard charge for anyone going to the city centre and then anything else should be metered but because they queue so long for passengers the cabs try to charge everyone the flat fee which is pretty outrageous.
So, while I couldn't get any cab at arrivals to take me on a metered journey I discovered that the guys upstairs dropping off at departures (at least in the case of terminal 1) were happy to do metered trips so I would suggest everyone picks up their cab at departures rather
flat fee which is pretty outrageous.
So, while I couldn't get any cab at arrivals to take me on a metered journey I discovered that the guys upstairs dropping off at departures (at least in the case of terminal 1) were happy to do metered trips so I would suggest everyone picks up their cab at departures rather than arrivals.
Hope this helps someone.
Rob
Rob.
We have never taken a taxi in Madrid. We learned that it was more convenient and interesting to stay in Barajas town and not at one of the "airport hotels". As far as I know all the "airport hotels" offer free transport to and from the airport ( but, of course the cost for staying at one of these hotels is more expensive). You can take the metro and then walk about 500 metres to the centre, or take the local bus which drops you off right at the side of the plaza. Just a short walk to your chosen place to stay. Barajas offers porticos on 3 sides of the plaza with a selection of restaurants. Plenty of people watching to do, if you are trying to kill time! Hostel Vicky, one of the hostels in Barajas, offers a free shuttle service. To go to Madrid centre, you can take the metro, or even the bus from the airport.
I’m leaving Madrid tomorrow very early and have ordered a taxi to airport. I’m told that metro etc start at 6am. My taxi will pick me up at 5.15am (I’m near Sol ) and I’m advised that the fixed taxi price to the airport is still 30€. Will find out tomorrow.
Annie
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?