If people carrying many heavy bags want them to use the meter, a group of Suvarnabhumi airport taxi drivers said they should have to pay a baggage charge.

After simmering frustrations on both sides of the taxi driver-public debate boiled over following one man’s viral rant this week, representatives of the Suvarnabhumi Airport taxi drivers discussed their ideas to resolving the issue on the Jor Kao Den news show yesterday.

“If the Department of Land Transport wants to me to use the meter according to their price chart, this is a win-win solution,” driver Pattawee Meerat said of the baggage charge idea.

Their solution suggests a baggage charge should be officially set. One bag under 15 kilograms would be free. However passengers carrying two to four bags would be THB30 per bag, their fifth and sixth bags would be THB50 each, and every one after that would be charged THB80.

While the public has been fed up with experiences of bad service, rejected fares and reckless driving, many drivers complain 20-year-old fares and much higher costs have made it impossible to make a living.

“As fuel becomes more expensive, our costs have also increased,” Pattawee added, “The recent fare increase was calculated based on the cost of an average taxi driver who rents their taxi and makes approximately 14 trips per shift.”

Pattawee said 75 percent of taxi drivers at Suvarnabhumi owns their taxi who must also pay monthly installments.

“Do you think taxis at Suvarnabhumi can make 14 trips in a 12-hour shift? We can only do four. So we’re wondering if it’s possible to charge for extra baggage,” Pattawee said. “The (curent fare structure) is designed for cars carrying passengers only, not to load stuff.”

Another driver, Pallop Cha-inthu, admitted to overcharging passengers every time even when Don Mueang was the main airport in Bangkok.

“I did it every time. How am I wrong? My car carried those bags.” Pallop said, “Today there were six tourists with six large bags demanding to ride my car [at the airport]. I drove off with tears.”

“We have proposed a limit for passengers and bags to the Transport Minister. We have handed the letter to his hand ourselves but never got a response,” Pallop said.

Photo: Sugree Phatanapherom

Related:

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