Long Haul with a Silver Lining
Reader Chris shares his long-haul with a silver lining experience…
So there I was the end of my annual Vegas business trip.
I had done my MUSTS finishing with my burger at the Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay just before catching a cab to the airport. I’ve taken this trip 100 times and I know that you go left on the Strip, right on Tropicana and right on Paradise/Wayne Newton and you are there. $13 is normal. Well, the cabbie turned right out of Mandalay Bay and starts gunning it towards the Las Vegas sign.
I told him this was the long way to go and he said he was avoiding traffic on Tropicana. I told him I didn’t appreciate being taken “the long way” and he said, “I am not having this argument with you.” We got all the way up to East Sunset and he TURNED AROUND and said “Fine, we’ll go your way” and we went all the way back past Mandalay Bay to Tropicana. As we were doing this, I got out my phone and typed in the cab company, the cab number, and description of the driver. When we got to the airport I paid him in cash with no tip and told him that I was reporting him for long hauling me to which he replied “uh huh”.
So, I called the cab company and they instructed me to fill out the form online which I did. I expected this to go into thin air and that be that but I could sleep better knowing I did what I could do. Well today, a “refund” check came to me in the mail.
I couldn’t believe it.
Sure, it is not the amount which I spent on the ride but it is still something and it is a sign that the cab companies know they need to treat riders right. So, if you have a bad experience and especially if you feel you’ve been long-hauled (tunneled as we like to call it), report it. You just might get $5! Viva!
[Images: provided by Chris | Cover: Angie Movestro]
17 thoughts on “Long Haul with a Silver Lining”
Comments are closed.
Good job! I have been long hauled before, never thought to report it, but I will from now on!
I’ve been burned too many times by Vegas cabs that I will never give them another chance. Lyft/Uber are just much more convenient and cheaper. 10 years ago I don’t remember ever worrying about being long hauled. Now, there is a better chance of it happening than not. The final straw for me was having cabbies try to long haul me both from and to the airport during the same trip…that’s when I finally put my foot down and said “never again”. I’m either walking, taking Lyft, or taking the monorail (which is highly underrated imo).
An apology AND a refund from a Vegas cab company? Congratulations! I expected to see proof of chupacabras, Big Foot and the Loch Ness monster before I would ever see that.
You should have filed a complaint with the Nevada Taxicab Authority.
http://taxi.nv.gov/Complaints/Complaints/
Ha! Good for you and good for the cab company to start that. Post it on all possible social media; hopefully this kind of act will spread faster than resort fees!
My dad was a Seattle cab driver for over 30 years. I respect the job they do as it is not easy. Most are honest and hard working people. That being said, there has never been a time in all the years I have been in Vegas that the cabbie did not go the farthest and most expensive way to get me to my destination. It is always a big argument to get them to go the fastest and least expensive way. I would sooner walk to the strip from the airport then ever step foot in another Las Vegas Taxi.
I totally get you. Nothing starts the ruination of your vacation quicker than someone gouging you. For my part, I always get in like I own the place and tell them my destination and to skip the tunnel. When I’ve been told – this way is faster – I then respond – I know it’s quicker, you know it’s quicker. and who’s the customer? We can stop here if you like… Always seems to work……… LOL
THIS is what you should actually do. http://www.urbanphotos.net/las-vegas-taxi-long-haul.htm
Definitely a problem with LV cabs. Especially going back to McCarran. Leaving Palazzo I definitely have to insist on a right turn. Never fails to get an “attitude” from the cab driver. The long haulers are quite chatty and pleasant.
interesting. the cabbies have abused us for decades. however, uber and lyft are long-hauling now too.
I don’t know about Lyft, but Uber quotes you the price now before you start the trip so it shouldn’t matter the route they take. However, Uber has always been pretty good about responding to complaints online.
I was long hauled my last trip to the airport. I was NOT impressed and kicked myself afterwards for not getting the cabbies number. who know where he would have taken me if I had not said “Where the HECK are you going??” as he was turning the opposite way from the airport. then he turned around.
The last time we were long hauled, we waited until we arrived at the Plaza & then told the cabbie we were NOT paying 40 odd$.He argued, ranted & eventually charge me £33. Still too much but better.
Worse thing is, this is nasty way to start your vacation. Never again.
Well I have taken the dreaded shuttle bus I think there’s 2 -3 of them, yes it takes an hour to get downtown where I always stay, but it cost 15 bucks round trip! And BTW they always take the Paradise & Tropicana, that tells me it’s the shortest & fastest way to go! It would be a hour downtown if the had a bus just for downtown & one for just the strip, but is still better than paying 30-40 bucks one way!
Great job for reporting it.
I had to take a cab on Monday night here in vegas, The guy didn’t long haul me, As a shuttle bus driver told me on my way back to the airport on Friday, “you had an honest cabbie” so they are out there, I didn’t get his name or company for future travels but I will be on the lookout.
Just as important as reporting a poor experience is reporting a good one. I flew in Tuesday (24th) for a job. I usually take a shuttle but decided on a cab (all my transpo costs were covered) and was expecting to be “long hauled”. But I wasn’t. The cabbie was friendly and professional. I made sure to get all the info and report to the company. I haven’t heard anything back from them but I hope they let him know.