taxi update

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

just wanted to say thanks to everyone, i now have green cab saved in my phone as well.

i was picked up exactly on time (i called 45 minutes ahead of time to be safe, but was told by the driver if i didn't need to go to the airport and it wasn't a crazy holiday they could pick me up within about five minutes pretty much whenever, so no reservation necessary.) and yes, it was fine that i'm in arlington, as others pointed out.

it was the first cab in ages that a.) did not make me feel like i was on a rickety amusement park ride and b.) the driver didn't spend any of the ride talking on his cellphone. he made polite conversation and gave me a choice of route, an listened when i gave him directions. he also made sure both when picking up and dropping off i wasn't getting out in traffic, a pile of snow, etc.

anyways, i don't take cabs often so i'm glad this worked out so well, thanks again!

Comments

[hikermtnbiker.livejournal.com]

A very professional company. Such a contrast to go to the airport in a Green cab and then come home in who knows what.

[rikchik.livejournal.com]

You're allowed to call them from the airport and have them pick you up on the upper floor. You wait a little bit for them to arrive but it's usually worth it.

[hikermtnbiker.livejournal.com]

Do you have to pay their way into the airport?

[rikchik.livejournal.com]

The meter starts when they pick you up but sometimes they add a surcharge for tolls on the way in.

[reverend-jim.livejournal.com]

There are no tolls going into the airport, they shouldn't be charging you anything for that. You do have to pay the outgoing tolls (unless you take the back way). Technically, a non-Boston cabbie is supposed to go to the Massport office and pay the airport surcharge, then pick you up, but that doesn't happen.

As an ex-cabbie, not only do I always call Green to pick me up at the airport, I always tell friends to wait for me on the upper deck and I pick them up there. Picking-up on the pick-up level is for suckers!

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

If a Green Cab drops me off at the airport, are they allowed to then swing over to the pick-up side and bring someone home?

[reverend-jim.livejournal.com]

No, they can only pick up at the airport if someone calls. That's why you *do* have to pay the tolls on an inbound airport ride from Green, because non-Boston cabs are required to return empty (and thus would have to pay the tolls out of pocket).

That's not to say that on one's ever dropped off at the airport and managed to steal a fare from the upper deck, but it almost never happens and you take a huge risk doing it.

[cl0udy.livejournal.com]

Wait, no tolls going to the airport? I took a Green Cab to Logan a few weeks ago, and the cabbie told me there was a $5 toll in addition to the fare on the meter. Man, I hope that wasn't a lie, because if it was, I totally fell for it by tipping him extra.

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

all i know is, when i used to drive my roommates to the airport a couple years back, there weren't any tolls getting there, and then when i picked them up they'd give me some cash for the one on the way out. don't know if it's different for cabs :x

[reverend-jim.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I clarified that in my later post, as my previous statement was confusing. Non-Boston cabs (Somerville, Cambridge, &c.) are allowed to charge the *return* toll on a ride *to* the airport, since they can't pick up at the airport. Otherwise every Logan run would cost those cabbies an extra $5 out of pocket.