Vegas Taxi Experiences (Las Vegas, Henderson: appointed, lease, hotel)

WildWestDude · 10-21-2007, 11:04 AM

Vegas has lots of taxis as you should have noticed if you go down the strip.
"TaxiCab confessions" and HBO tv series, made public some of the things that go on inside a taxi....

What have your experiences been inside a taxi in Las Vegas?

Crazy driving?
Unable to get a taxi?
Helpful and polite driver?
Got lost driving around?

AA702 · 10-21-2007, 05:20 PM

I get cut off by taxis almost everyday. The worst area for that is by the airport. Crazy!

Matt121779 · 10-21-2007, 11:07 PM

I've never had a good experience in or around a taxi in Vegas. Do you know why the Las Vegas monorail was never extended to the airport? Because the taxicab authority threw a little temper tantrum. We could easily save the monorail and make it very easy for the tourists to get to the strip from the airport, but NO. Why not give the taxicab authority a little competition? Perhaps it would make our local taxi drivers a little less arrogant.

car957 · 10-22-2007, 01:31 AM

I met a mumbling, Korean man who drove a taxi in Vegas. He couldn't speak a word of english but he could drive 50 MPH to my hotel. I thought I was going to die.

We did travel around the Univeristy campus. It looked nice - at high speeds.

RecentlyRetired · 10-22-2007, 10:00 AM

When I flew into Las Vegas a few years ago for a job interview, I caught a taxi at the terminal to take me to my interview in Henderson. The driver was extremely friendly and nice. I asked him if I could arrange to have him come back in a couple of hours to drive me back to the airport after my interview.

I was surprised when he claimed that he was allowed to pick up at the airport and drop someone off in Henderson, but he was not allowed to do the reverse. I figured he just didn’t want to be bothered; that he could probably make more money on several short trips from the airport to the casinos than one long trip to Henderson.

I had to call a Henderson cab company to get back to the airport. The Henderson driver told me that he was allowed to pick up in Henderson and drop off at the airport, but was not allowed to do any pickups at the airport. Is this true?

WildWestDude · 10-22-2007, 10:29 AM

There are a few restrictions that ther TA, taxi authority, places on taxis.
First, there are the geographic resticted cabs. Those can not pick up at the airport, downtown and on the strip! The idea is that certain amount of taxis have to be left to serve the locals in this fast growing city. Most taxis are non-restricted and can pick up city wide.
Second, there are a couple or so cab companies that have further restrictions. One can only pick up west of I-15 and another south of Sunset. This is due to a monopoly environment. The established companies are making way too much money and won't allow anybody else to pick up on the strip. The TA, a state appointed agency, is probably paid off by the rich taxi co. owners. There is no free enterprize in the taxi business in Las Vegas. One can not own or lease his taxi. Somebody should sue them for collusion! Very corrupt.......

I sympathize with taxi drivers because they work very long hours in a harsh and dangerous environment

ByebyeVegas · 10-22-2007, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brosati

When I flew into Las Vegas a few years ago for a job interview, I caught a taxi at the terminal to take me to my interview in Henderson. The driver was extremely friendly and nice. I asked him if I could arrange to have him come back in a couple of hours to drive me back to the airport after my interview.

I was surprised when he claimed that he was allowed to pick up at the airport and drop someone off in Henderson, but he was not allowed to do the reverse. I figured he just didn’t want to be bothered; that he could probably make more money on several short trips from the airport to the casinos than one long trip to Henderson.

I had to call a Henderson cab company to get back to the airport. The Henderson driver told me that he was allowed to pick up in Henderson and drop off at the airport, but was not allowed to do any pickups at the airport. Is this true?

Yes.

Vegas Taxi's are different. In vegas you cannot hail a cab.

If you need a pickup, you call a taxi company ahead of time to schedule it. Otherwise a Taxi will only take you from the taxi line (at the airport or hotel) to one location.

xavierbu · 10-22-2007, 10:55 PM

I only took a taxi once in Las Vegas. 2 Years ago i was staying at the luxor with my bf and we decided to see La Cage. We had first decided to take the bus, but after 4 full ones, and time cutting close to curtain, we begrudgely decided to take a taxi. We got into a lovely minivan taxi at the trop, and told him that we were going to the Riviera for a show in 20 min. He asked if we minded if we skipped the "scenic" rout then. He hopped on 15n, zoomed down to sahara, and were dropped off at the riviera with enough time to get get a drink, and a good seat in the theatre (after greasing the palm of the usher) The taxi driver was nice, proficient, and a safe driver, He deserved the 20 dollar tip he got from us.

MegaDave · 10-24-2007, 12:15 PM

$20 tip...You are a great person! I drive taxi in Vegas and let me tell you we do NOT make all the money people think we do! I am a white american I do drive fast but only when there are no customers in the cab. I have to work at least a 10 hour shift, I work 12...My average tip is $2, I do recieve a good tip several times a week but it def. does mot make up for the dollar or change tips I get all the time. Like the other post said we don't own or lease our cabs,I get 40% from the meter. The average ride in Vegas is less than $8, On a busy weekend I can do a up to 30 rides, most days the aveage trips are 20. We get charged $.60 for every trip we take so as you can see it is not that profitable. The moneyrail sucks..all my rides tell me so, you think if it went to the airport people would cram all their lugage on it? I don't think it would change a thing...We have enough compitation anyways from the shuttle buses and the limos, hell if your really cheap you can always take the city bus..it goes to the airport. Well I just wanted to vent, I like driving cab for the most part. I love talking to people from all over the world and there are some really nice people in the world, but overall I will not miss it when I move in a few months. There is nothing like the feeling you get when you see the doorman get a 20 for waving me up and then I get to drive around answer 100 questions and get a dollar tip. By the way doorman in las vegas make more then most of you so save your money. LOL
Dave

Displaced Brooklynite · 10-24-2007, 03:51 PM

There is no such thing as a taxi in Summerlin. If you don't have a car or are located close to a bus station, you are screwed. The only way you see a taxi up this way is if someone is coming home from vacation. Cost from the airport around $60.00 plus tip. My only good experience we ever had in a cab was before we lived here. We got a taxi at Harrah's. We were on our way to the airport and it was still dark. Every time the driver stopped at a light, he would pick up the guitar her had next to him, and start playing. Now that's Vegas entertainment.

Bob