[Alan in CBR]

A couple of weeks ago I was forced to fly on Virgin Blue instead of QF to Melbourne. I was on the early flight, arriving around 7:30 am.

When I exited the terminal I walked to the taxi rank, which had no-one waiting. As I approached the curb a passing taxi ducked in and picked me up.

We took off, and as we passed the QF taxi rank I saw the usual queue snaking back and forth, meaning a long wait for those passengers.

So, if you are arriving on Qantas in the morning and need a taxi, take a one-minute walk to the Virgin Blue terminal and save the long wait at QF.

[blackhorse]

Another alternative is to have a taxi waiting for you on arrival.

There are groups of taxi drivers, very professional, who will pick you up at the designated time. Need to call a number with the flight # and time and they will have taxi waiting for you

You still pay what you would pay for hiring a taxi from the ranks

[bigjobs]

Originally Posted by blackhorse

Another alternative is to have a taxi waiting for you on arrival.

There are groups of taxi drivers, very professional, who will pick you up at the designated time. Need to call a number with the flight # and time and they will have taxi waiting for you

You still pay what you would pay for hiring a taxi from the ranks

i do this in Brisbane all the time both domestically and internationally. i have a couple of drivers that i have made friends with and give one a call, if he can't come to meet me then i just call the other. failing that i just call the cab co. works a treat for me and i to would recommend this approach.

anything to beat waiting in a queue.

[serfty]

I have a more cost effective way that takes about the same time when I have to cab it to the city or home; saving at least $25.

I take the skybus which runs every 10 minutes in peak times and costs $11-$15 one-way; then catch a cab from the rank at the bus terminal. This is balanced agaist the $2.00 tulla taxi fee & $3.00 citylink toll as well as a minimum $33 for distance/time.

[serfty]

Originally Posted by blackhorse

... You still pay what you would pay for hiring a taxi from the ranks

... it costs an extra $1.

(Taxi Fares in Victoria)

[Yada Yada]

Originally Posted by Alan in CBR

So, if you are arriving on Qantas in the morning and need a taxi, take a one-minute walk to the Virgin Blue terminal and save the long wait at QF.

Alan in CBR - good tip. I've found the same has applied at SYD in the past. If there is a long queue at T3, a quick walk through the carpark to T2 often got me a taxi quicker. However SYD T2 seems to be getting busier every time I visit it, so the queues are getting longer.

I've now collected a few business cards from taxi drivers in MEL so that I can pre-arrange a pickup.

[blackhorse]

Originally Posted by serfty

... it costs an extra $1.

.. I take my words back..

[bfmi]

Bah.. rent a car! Last day trip I did was $46 + tolls (charged to my own tag vs day pa$$) + cheap Melb parking.

[danielh]

Yep, whenever I see a quadruple snaked line of people in the taxi rank with the line only growing bigger I just walk down towards Terminal 1 and catch a taxi from there. There are usually about 4 people in the line when that happens.

Also, if you are popping into Melbourne Airport in the the morning and the traffic is unusually bad (IE. Monday morning between 6.45-7.30am) then tell the taxi to drop you off in the arrivals area (ground floor) and catch an escalator up.


Regards

Daniel

Originally Posted by danielh

Yep, whenever I see a quadruple snaked line of people in the taxi rank with the line only growing bigger I just walk down towards Terminal 1 and catch a taxi from there. There are usually about 4 people in the line when that happens.

Also, if you are popping into Melbourne Airport in the the morning and the traffic is unusually bad (IE. Monday morning between 6.45-7.30am) then tell the taxi to drop you off in the arrivals area (ground floor) and catch an escalator up.


Regards

Daniel

In most cities, private hire cars aren't that much more expensive than cabs (and often cheaper).

Cleaner, no hindi music firing through the speakers, and the dude is there waiting for you as you exit the sterile part of the terminal. Can't beat it.