Getting to the airport at 5am on Monday mornings should be the least of our worries considering how hectic a traveling week can be. I was reminded of this after receiving an angry rant from a co-worker paraphrased as follows:
"I am *bleeep* fed up with taxis failing to show up on time. This morning I had to get my wife to drive me to the airport at 5am and I still ended up missing my flight. How hard is it to get decent *bleeep* taxi service in this city? Does anyone have a good referral for a RELIABLE car service?"
Car Service 1
Taxi Service 0
The truth is cab service can be unreliable, but there are better ways to remedy the situation than resorting to car service. I have nothing against car services, but I’ve met both good and bad cab drivers so I like to help them out as much as possible especially since many are struggling to make ends meet with gas prices so high.
Truth be known, I take a taxi to the airport every morning and I’ve been doing it for the past 2 years. It’s bad enough being stood up, but being stood up by a cabbie only to end up missing your flight and pro-longing a Monday morning commute, trapped in a crowded airport – that’s an experience I don’t wish upon any road warrior (even one who puts his carry-on AND his laptop bag into the overhead bin).
What I’ve done is found a good cab driver and given him the opportunity to make a steady weekly fare. All he needs to do is be at my front door at 5am every Monday morning without fail. I pay him the same fare every week and he always has my change ready to go. I don’t have to specifically arrange a ride for the morning – it’s a given unless I give him a call. A cab driver will go out of his way to be reliable if he/she can depend on a consistent stream of income. Most cab drivers know you will probably never meet again so being reliable is not essential to making money (although it usually helps with tips).
So my advice is find a cab driver with the following:
- A clean cab
- Doesn’t talk too much (I’m not a morning person)
- Is considerate with air conditioning and heating
- Always on time
- <Insert your personal requirements here>
Then offer the driver a steady fare and never have to worry about your Monday morning commute again. Just make sure you call your driver if you aren’t flying for the week - that’s just common courtesy.
Support the little guy and build up some good karma. May you always have a SAFE and QUICK morning commute.