BNE Domestic to implement $2 taxi drop-off fee

[Mal]

Travellers to pay in taxi row | The Courier-Mail

It appears to be optional at this time, but how long until it becomes compulsory?

Travellers to pay in taxi row
Article from: The Courier-Mail
David Earley

January 14, 2008 11:00pm

TRAVELLERS will be slugged a $2 "taxi drop-off fee" at Brisbane Airport from tomorrow morning in a move set to net Brisbane Airport Corporation an extra $4 million a year.

Since completion of the Brisbane domestic terminal's road system there has been one pick-up road for taxis, one drop-off road for taxis and buses, and one pick-up and drop-off road for the general public – otherwise known as Roads One, Two, and Three.

From 1am tomorrow only taxis registered with BAC and willing to pay the $2 fee will be allowed to drop off passengers on Road Two.

 

[NYCguy]

Only taxis that are registered and willing to pay the fee will be permitted to drop passengers off? That sounds pretty compulsory to me.

The only way that rubbish decisions like this can be overturned is if EVERY cab owner and/or driver, and EVERY passenger, refuses to pay the fee and tells the BAC in writing that they aren't going to pay the fee, and why.

Either than, or prepare to pay $2 extra a throw for the privilege of being dropped off at the airport in a cab. Then you can almost guarantee that shortly after there will be a $2 fee imposed on cabs picking-up from the airport.

"Speak now, or forever hold your peace"!

 

[serfty]

Now let's imagine the scenario for a bit ...

Ah yes, I see it now ... Taxi's will begin to drop their PAX off on Road 3, making an already congested area twice as bad in peak times.

 

[codash1099]

How long before this substitutes for the tip?

This sort of thing will spread to other airports very quickly. Expect the next move to be a general fee for entering airport land.

 

[simongr]

There already is a fee in SYD I think - maybe that is just pick up rather than drop off.

 

[JohnK]

So can I ask to be dropped off at Road 3 and avoid the $2 drop-off fee?

Then you can almost guarantee that shortly after there will be a $2 fee imposed on cabs picking-up from the airport.

The Millionaires Factory has had a $2 pickup fee, recently increased to $2.50, in place at SYD airport for a few years now. No drop-off fee imposed yet....

 

[simongr]

I wonder if the hire cars avoid that fee...

 

[serfty]

I'm aware of pick-up fees already in MEL, SYD & BNE. I think ADL & PER have them as well.

This drop off fee is a new one.

Note that MEL & SYD currently have the one drop off road for all, whether Taxi or private.

 

[NM]

Then you can almost guarantee that shortly after there will be a $2 fee imposed on cabs picking-up from the airport.

No, that was the first step. Been in place for some time now. This drop-off fee is the second step of the slug.

 

[moa999]

I'm aware of pick-up fees already in MEL, SYD & BNE. I think ADL & PER have them as well.

This drop off fee is a new one.

Note that MEL & SYD currently have the one drop off road for all, whether Taxi or private.

Although Syd Dom T3 (QF terminal) has two roads. Note that QF still retains ownership of the terminal, although probably not the access roads

 

[NYCguy]

No, that was the first step. Been in place for some time now. This drop-off fee is the second step of the slug.

Well, there you go - luckily I don't get to BNE all that often.

 

[Platy]

I wouldn't mind so much if the Skytrain actually ran to a comprehensive timetable including early mornings and late evenings plus weekends...

 

[markis10]

I wonder if the hire cars avoid that fee...

No, they have already paid it to BAC as they have had access to Road 2 for some time, unlike Road 3 you can park the car and go inside to meet a customer and escort them to your car.

This article was something of a beatup, if you want to use Road 2 which is less congested you will need to help the cab recover the cost of the access pass he has got from BAC, hence the $2 charge. There is no charge for a drop off on road three where you mix it with the private cars doing the same thing.

I am unhappy that the press has not picked up on the long term parking debacle at Brisbane, with an extra fee having to be paid for ground floor parking in the form of "valet", recently the BAC reduced the number of non- valet parking spots by 98% on the ground floor. Bottom line is more hassle to park your car unless you make the contribution and "valet park" in the longterm carpark, what a joke!

 

[Platy]

Bottom line is more hassle to park your car unless you make the contribution and "valet park" in the longterm carpark, what a joke!

The bottom line is...the bottom line!

 

[Hvr]

CBR has a pick up fee. $2, but be careful, not all of the taxis have to pay. If they drop off and no one is waiting then they are allowed to pick up without paying the fee.

If you want to be pedantic ask for the receipt they receive when they pay the fee, if they don't have the driver isn't supposed to recoup it from the pax.

 

[Mal]

This article was something of a beatup, if you want to use Road 2 which is less congested you will need to help the cab recover the cost of the access pass he has got from BAC, hence the $2 charge. There is no charge for a drop off on road three where you mix it with the private cars doing the same thing.

I read it as slightly different. Your taxi driver (who may choose to drop you off on Road 2) pays an annual fee to BAC for the right of access to Road 2. Under the new scheme, they pay the annual fee, plus a $2 access fee per access to that road.

This is not a compulsory charge if the taxi drops you off on Road 3, which is where my taxis normally drop me off. However, to me, this charge is only the start of something more sinister - in that taxis will eventually be forced to use Road 2 for drop-offs (or something similar) and the fee will then apply to all pax being dropped off.

The BAC has bricks in their head. There are many huge problems with BNE airport - This includes traffic congestion due to their decision to place a shopping mall at the entrance of the airport, soon adding a Woolworths and a hotel and Golf course and other commercial enterprises and a really poor design for traffic management at the terminals. It's a pity I can't really boycot the airport as it is my home airport, and getting to OOL or MCY for my flights is a PITA that I don't want to attempt!

 

[Mal]

Ok, the BAC has claimed that the article is a beatup...

Brisbane Airport denies taxi drop-off fee - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

He says the fee has always applied to what is known as 'road two', the road closest to the terminal, and there has been no change.

"There is no difference to how it has been previously," he said.

"If those ground transport operators including taxis want to use that special area there is an additional $2 fee which has always been there for those users."

Also, there is another article over the prices for parking at the airport:
Parking fees pick up | The Courier-Mail

Revenue from car parks – which charge $9 for the first hour of parking at the domestic terminal – make up the bulk of this amount, which accounts for 17 per cent of the BAC's total income. Overall, BAC made a net profit for 2007 of $76.3 million, from total revenue of $332 million.

 

[markis10]

I read it as slightly different. Your taxi driver (who may choose to drop you off on Road 2) pays an annual fee to BAC for the right of access to Road 2. Under the new scheme, they pay the annual fee, plus a $2 access fee per access to that road.
...........It's a pity I can't really boycot the airport as it is my home airport, and getting to OOL or MCY for my flights is a PITA that I don't want to attempt!

My input was based on an interview with a BNE rep that was on the radio this morning, they have now released a piece clarifying the information:

"From tomorrow (Wednesday, 16 January), taxis have the option to register as a Ground Transport Operator (GTO), providing them with the alternative to pick-up or drop-off pre-booked passengers on Road 2 at the Domestic Terminal. This gives taxi drivers the extra benefit of being able to park and leave their taxi for up to 20 minutes in order to better service their passengers, especially those with special needs."

More here : Brisbane Airport - 15/01/08 - No $2 drop-off fee for taxis: BAC


I certainly agree with wishing to avoid BNE where possible, I am in the same boat, if OOL had better destination options I could be tempted, especially as my DFO avoidance route was recently published in the local rag!