Cab from LAX - Highway Robbery

[pindecisive]

I've used DISboards for several years and had never heard of the $19 minimum pickup for taxicabs from LAX. For less than a 5 minute drive to In And Out we paid $20.

BEWARE - those who plan to do this. He refused to drop us off and demanded we pay him or he would bring us back to the airport. When asked how much the trip to PPH would be, he said $100.

Is this normal? We're we fleeced? What is going on?

-Pindecisive stuck in LA

 

[Geemo]

I've used DISboards for several years and had never heard of the $19 minimum pickup for taxicabs from LAX. For less than a 5 minute drive to In And Out we paid $20.

BEWARE - those who plan to do this. He refused to drop us off and demanded we pay him or he would bring us back to the airport. When asked how much the trip to PPH would be, he said $100.

Is this normal? We're we fleeced? What is going on?

-Pindecisive stuck in LA

So you were at LAX and wanted to go to INN N OUT for a burger? And you had to pay $20 for the taxi?

For the taxi ride between LAX and PPH $100 sounds about right.

I've learned to always ask the cost prior to getting in. If I'm not comfortable with the rate, I can try for another one.

Geemo

 

[SMD]

It's a $15 minimum plus a $4 airport surcharge. Then it's $2.85 for the first 1/9 mile or 37 seconds waiting and $.30 per 1/9 mile or 37 seconds waiting for the rest of the trip. Here are the rates:
http://ladot.lacity.org/stellent/gr...ts/contributor_web_content/lacityp_027413.pdf
(I think the $2.65 is a typo, every other printed source from the city says $2.85. It's also $2.85 under "Fares" on the city's taxi site:
http://taxicabsla.org/)

 

[bumbershoot]

So you were at LAX and wanted to go to INN N OUT for a burger?

While I'm sure that's true, they were going there (getting offsite) so they could get Uber.


Wee bit o' research....googled "taxi lax", got http://www.taxi4u.com

Flat Rate Trips
West Hollywood to LAX: $40
Beverly Hills to LAX: $38
Santa Monica to LAX: (South of I-10 to LAX): $30
Santa Monica to LAX: (North of I-10 to LAX): $35
Santa Monica to Burbank Airport: $75

All Passengers Ride for Price of One
- $2.85 flag drop (first 1/9th mile).
- $0.30 for each additional 1/9th mile ($2.70 per mile).
- $0.30 for each 37 seconds waiting/delay ($29.19 per hour).
- $46.50 flat fare for trips between LAX and downtown.
Area bounded by Alameda St., Santa Monica Fwy., Harbor Fwy., Cesar E. Chavez, Union Station and Chinatown.
- $4.00 surcharge for all trips originating at LAX.
- $15.00 minimum fare for trips originating at LAX (in addition to the $4.00 surcharge).

Not uncommon. For instance, despite the closeness of the airport and port in Fort Lauderdale, you'll never get anywhere out or to one of those places for under $10 because of charges like that.

That's why it's fabulous that taxi fare websites exist!

 

[SMD]

While I'm sure that's true, they were going there (getting offsite) so they could get Uber.


Wee bit o' research....googled "taxi lax", got http://www.taxi4u.com




Not uncommon. For instance, despite the closeness of the airport and port in Fort Lauderdale, you'll never get anywhere out or to one of those places for under $10 because of charges like that.

That's why it's fabulous that taxi fare websites exist!

And that's also why the rates exist. To protect the taxi drivers who are limited in the number of days they can pick up at the airport per month. And also to make sure that the the fares are high enough that taxis want to wait in the airport taxi lines so that there will be rides available for passengers. Most people are going to go more than 5 miles and go over the $15 minimum. Seems like a fair minimum to me.

 

[dina444444]

Yeah that $19 is normal. It's been that way since at least 2008 when I started college. I live less than 5 miles from LAX and yes the prices are high for such a short distance.

 

[sheetz]

There's a reason why Uber has become so popular in LA--cabs are expensive. Per mile charges ranges from $2-3 so with LAX to DL being around 40 miles the $100 fare sounds about right.

 

[Bud Ice]

Taxis in California generally operate by county. LAX is LA County, Disneyland is Orange County.

Many other services do offer flat rate to Disneyland. Some Taxis might offer a flat rate but not guaranteed.

FWIW...Taxi also have a surcharge required by LAX, LAX gets a cut of the fare, hence part of the reason why Uber is banned.

 

[ludari]

This is why I hate the cabs at LAX. I would suggest this to anyone interested in doing an In-N-Out burger run. From LAX take the "free" G-shuttle bus to the Green Line Metro Station. From that location you can take Uber or Lyft to In-N-Out. In fact they are building a new In-N-Out burger that is closer to the metro station.

 

[pindecisive]

Hi all,

Thank for your responses. We're local to Northern Cali and I have literally never heard of a minimum pickup before. We don't have them in San Francisco, or from any of our local airports: OAK, SFO, SJC. It's also never been mentioned on any of the recent boards on LAX to DL travel.

The taxi cab driver never turned on his meter, never told us of the surcharge until we got there. The CMs at PPH said they have never heard of the surcharge or how he acted before.

Honestly, I felt my things would be taken or refused to be given to me should I exit the taxi. It terrified me and was really a huge hit to our incoming "magic." Uber is legal up North. I never worry for my safety or how much I will pay beforehand. I've never felt afraid in a Taxicab before.

I do also want to say Uber was only $43. So ya know, fear aside - still cheaper than $100 I guess.

 

[Malcon10t]

Last time I flew into LAX (last spring) I didn't want to deal with a taxi so I set up a car to pick me up. $109 and I had someone waiting to take my bags to the car for me. Now I feel like I got a deal!!

 

[tlovesdis]

I see you're from Nor Cal! Have you ever thought of flying Jet Blue into Long Beach? Cheap flights, super small airport, easy to grab a cab and only about $45 to Disneyland! Just a thought

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

It seems expensive, but I can see why the taxi charges that much for nearby destinations. The time they are taking fares to someplace a couple of miles away is time they can be getting fares that take them to a destination that farther away and more money. Especially if people are going to use them to get to a place off-site from the airport to get Uber, then that makes more sense. The taxi driver probably thought that the OP was going to stiff him. (Not downplaying how scary it was for you, OP)