Taxi long-hauling scam from McCarran airport

Dan Leifker · Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Posts: 6

I come to Vegas all the time to visit relatives, but I rarely take a cab
from the airport. Last week I arrived late and had a room at Bill's
Gamblin' Hall (formerly the Barbary Coast), so I took a cab for the
first time in years.

The cab driver shocked me by turning south from the airport and taking
the tunnel to 215 and then up 15 to Flamingo. When I asked the driver
what the heck he was doing, he said traffic was unusually heavy on
Tropicana and that Swenson and Koval Lane were closed. This was 11:30pm
on Thursday night, and as we crossed Las Vegas Blvd I could see the
traffic was very light. I asked him whether taking the tunnel was
really necessary, and he nodded vigorously and assured me that it was.
(Hmmmm.)

The cab fare ended up being $21.50 before the tip. I figure this little
detour cost me almost $10 extra.

Later I did some Googling and discovered that this "long-hauling" is a
pretty well-known scam among Las Vegas cab drivers. My mother told me
she had visited Las Vegas in 1980 and gone from the airport to Bally's
(or whatever it was called then) by way of downtown!

Unfortunately, I don't see a clear solution to the problem. Sometimes
taking the tunnel really does save time, and I heard stories that saying
"No tunnel" to the driver simply enrages the driver and makes the ride
very unpleasant.

One newspaper article said you can report a driver who long-hauls you,
but the fine on the driver was only $50.

I also heard that some cab drivers cheerfully ask passengers whether
it's their first visit to Las Vegas... if the answer is yes, then it's
"hello tunnel," as one person put it.

I might be coming back to Vegas late on Thursday nights again... do
other people have any bad experiences telling the cab driver not to use
the tunnel? I guess I could use one of the hotel shuttles like Bell
Trans, which seem pretty inexpensive.

cheers
Dan Leifker

Archived from group: alt>vacation>las-vegas

C. Nicholson · Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 14

"Dan Leifker" wrote in message...

> I might be coming back to Vegas late on Thursday nights again... do other
> people have any bad experiences telling the cab driver not to use the
> tunnel?

I have no problems when I tell a driver,, "by the way, I saw the tunnel on
my first trip to Vegas,, I'd prefer not to see it again." (I'm polite and
smile,, so they do not think I'm getting snarky) Only once, when the driver
had a difficult time understanding my U.S.A accent, was there a bit of a
attitude So I had to say "NO TUNNEL".

Cheryl

CLM in ND · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 669

Dan Leifker wrote:

> I come to Vegas all the time to visit relatives, but I rarely take a cab
> from the airport. Last week I arrived late and had a room at Bill's
> Gamblin' Hall (formerly the Barbary Coast), so I took a cab for the
> first time in years.
>
> The cab driver shocked me by turning south from the airport and taking
> the tunnel to 215 and then up 15 to Flamingo. When I asked the driver
> what the heck he was doing, he said traffic was unusually heavy on
> Tropicana and that Swenson and Koval Lane were closed. This was 11:30pm
> on Thursday night, and as we crossed Las Vegas Blvd I could see the
> traffic was very light. I asked him whether taking the tunnel was
> really necessary, and he nodded vigorously and assured me that it was.
> (Hmmmm.)
>
> The cab fare ended up being $21.50 before the tip. I figure this little
> detour cost me almost $10 extra.
>
> Later I did some Googling and discovered that this "long-hauling" is a
> pretty well-known scam among Las Vegas cab drivers. My mother told me
> she had visited Las Vegas in 1980 and gone from the airport to Bally's
> (or whatever it was called then) by way of downtown!
>
> Unfortunately, I don't see a clear solution to the problem. Sometimes
> taking the tunnel really does save time, and I heard stories that saying
> "No tunnel" to the driver simply enrages the driver and makes the ride
> very unpleasant.
>
> One newspaper article said you can report a driver who long-hauls you,
> but the fine on the driver was only $50.
>
> I also heard that some cab drivers cheerfully ask passengers whether
> it's their first visit to Las Vegas... if the answer is yes, then it's
> "hello tunnel," as one person put it.
>
> I might be coming back to Vegas late on Thursday nights again... do
> other people have any bad experiences telling the cab driver not to use
> the tunnel? I guess I could use one of the hotel shuttles like Bell
> Trans, which seem pretty inexpensive.
>
> cheers
> Dan Leifker

This is one of the reasons I started taking shuttles again a couple
years ago. I don't have to keep an eye on the meter, it's a flat fee of
$7-$8, no worries about long hauling. My flight usually gets in
sometime in the very early afternoon, so by the time I arrive at my
hotel it's check in time.

Cameron

fxd99 · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 166

Dan Leifker wrote:
> I come to Vegas all the time to visit relatives, but I rarely take a cab
> from the airport. Last week I arrived late and had a room at Bill's
> Gamblin' Hall (formerly the Barbary Coast), so I took a cab for the
> first time in years.
>
> The cab driver shocked me by turning south from the airport and taking
> the tunnel to 215 and then up 15 to Flamingo. When I asked the driver
> what the heck he was doing, he said traffic was unusually heavy on
> Tropicana and that Swenson and Koval Lane were closed. This was 11:30pm
> on Thursday night, and as we crossed Las Vegas Blvd I could see the
> traffic was very light. I asked him whether taking the tunnel was
> really necessary, and he nodded vigorously and assured me that it was.
> (Hmmmm.)
>
> The cab fare ended up being $21.50 before the tip. I figure this little
> detour cost me almost $10 extra.
>
> Later I did some Googling and discovered that this "long-hauling" is a
> pretty well-known scam among Las Vegas cab drivers. My mother told me
> she had visited Las Vegas in 1980 and gone from the airport to Bally's
> (or whatever it was called then) by way of downtown!
>
> Unfortunately, I don't see a clear solution to the problem. Sometimes
> taking the tunnel really does save time, and I heard stories that saying
> "No tunnel" to the driver simply enrages the driver and makes the ride
> very unpleasant.
>
> One newspaper article said you can report a driver who long-hauls you,
> but the fine on the driver was only $50.
>
> I also heard that some cab drivers cheerfully ask passengers whether
> it's their first visit to Las Vegas... if the answer is yes, then it's
> "hello tunnel," as one person put it.
>
> I might be coming back to Vegas late on Thursday nights again... do
> other people have any bad experiences telling the cab driver not to use
> the tunnel? I guess I could use one of the hotel shuttles like Bell
> Trans, which seem pretty inexpensive.
>
> cheers
> Dan Leifker
I'd have no problem saying "no tunnel". Also, I'd have given the guy who
ripped you off no tip and would have said it was because, as you could
clearly see, traffic was light and he lied to you.
Denny in Mass

EVIL ELVIS · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 337

On Feb 23, 7:35 pm, Dan Leifker wrote:

> I come to Vegas all the time to visit relatives, but I rarely take a cab
> from the airport. Last week I arrived late and had a room at Bill's
> Gamblin' Hall (formerly the Barbary Coast), so I took a cab for the
> first time in years.
>
> The cab driver shocked me by turning south from the airport and taking
> the tunnel to 215 and then up 15 to Flamingo. When I asked the driver
> what the heck he was doing, he said traffic was unusually heavy on
> Tropicana and that Swenson and Koval Lane were closed. This was 11:30pm
> on Thursday night, and as we crossed Las Vegas Blvd I could see the
> traffic was very light. I asked him whether taking the tunnel was
> really necessary, and he nodded vigorously and assured me that it was.
> (Hmmmm.)
>
> The cab fare ended up being $21.50 before the tip. I figure this little
> detour cost me almost $10 extra.
>
> Later I did some Googling and discovered that this "long-hauling" is a
> pretty well-known scam among Las Vegas cab drivers. My mother told me
> she had visited Las Vegas in 1980 and gone from the airport to Bally's
> (or whatever it was called then) by way of downtown!
>
> Unfortunately, I don't see a clear solution to the problem. Sometimes
> taking the tunnel really does save time, and I heard stories that saying
> "No tunnel" to the driver simply enrages the driver and makes the ride
> very unpleasant.
>
> One newspaper article said you can report a driver who long-hauls you,
> but the fine on the driver was only $50.
>
> I also heard that some cab drivers cheerfully ask passengers whether
> it's their first visit to Las Vegas... if the answer is yes, then it's
> "hello tunnel," as one person put it.
>
> I might be coming back to Vegas late on Thursday nights again... do
> other people have any bad experiences telling the cab driver not to use
> the tunnel? I guess I could use one of the hotel shuttles like Bell
> Trans, which seem pretty inexpensive.

You are the first person that this has happened to.

--EE--

EVIL ELVIS · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 337

On Feb 23, 8:04 pm, CLM in ND wrote:

> This is one of the reasons I started taking shuttles again a couple
> years ago. I don't have to keep an eye on the meter, it's a flat fee of
> $7-$8, no worries about long hauling. My flight usually gets in
> sometime in the very early afternoon, so by the time I arrive at my
> hotel it's check in time.

Shuttles are not a bad way to travel in Vegas, my friend. The only
downer are the stops at other hotels and it takes longer than a cab.
Otherwise, shuttles are not all that bad.

--EE--

CLM in ND · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 669

EVIL ELVIS wrote:

> On Feb 23, 8:04 pm, CLM in ND wrote:
>
>
>>This is one of the reasons I started taking shuttles again a couple
>>years ago. I don't have to keep an eye on the meter, it's a flat fee of
>>$7-$8, no worries about long hauling. My flight usually gets in
>>sometime in the very early afternoon, so by the time I arrive at my
>>hotel it's check in time.
>
>
> Shuttles are not a bad way to travel in Vegas, my friend. The only
> downer are the stops at other hotels and it takes longer than a cab.
> Otherwise, shuttles are not all that bad.
>
>
> --EE--
>
The straw that broke the camel's back as far as me taking shuttles again
was an ungodly long wait for a cab when they put in that maze-like taxi
stand at McCarren. It was ridiculous. I remember saying to myself that
I'm just taking shuttles from now on for 1/3 cost. At least when I'm
waiting to get to my hotel I'm actually in the shuttle sitting down, not
standing in line on a 95 degree day or bogged down in traffic watching
the meter go higher & higher.

Cameron

EVIL ELVIS · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 337

On Feb 23, 11:49 pm, CLM in ND wrote:

> The straw that broke the camel's back as far as me taking shuttles again
> was an ungodly long wait for a cab when they put in that maze-like taxi
> stand at McCarren. It was ridiculous. I remember saying to myself that
> I'm just taking shuttles from now on for 1/3 cost. At least when I'm
> waiting to get to my hotel I'm actually in the shuttle sitting down, not
> standing in line on a 95 degree day or bogged down in traffic watching
> the meter go higher & higher.

So true. Why pay more to get ripped off when you can take a nice
shuttle to anywhere on the Strip and downtown? It's not like the
meter will go up in the shuttles and they are air-conditioned.
Cabbies are just scum. I'll never forget getting taken for almost $50
from a scum cabbie. That won't happen in a shuttle.

--EE--

Ronald Emerson · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 209

As much as people spend gambling in Vegas why do they complain about
leting the cabbies make an extra 10 bucks by taking the tunnel? If you
are that big of a cheapskate stay home! The extra money to take the
tunnel would have been lost in the slots anyway so let the cabbie have
it to buy milk for their kids.

Ronald Emerson

Kurt Ullman · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 76

In article ,
northturn@webtv.net (Ronald Emerson) wrote:

> As much as people spend gambling in Vegas why do they complain about
> leting the cabbies make an extra 10 bucks by taking the tunnel? If you
> are that big of a cheapskate stay home! The extra money to take the
> tunnel would have been lost in the slots anyway so let the cabbie have
> it to buy milk for their kids.
>
> Ronald Emerson

Because that is 10 bucks I can't gamble with. Actualy I get upset
pretty much anytime someone steals from me.

Mr sr..buck.. · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 3

o that tunnel!!! why hasn't a petition been started to fill that pain in
the butt in for the good of the country???
=sen0ur tr0ut=

"Dan Leifker" wrote in message @comcast.com...
>I come to Vegas all the time to visit relatives, but I rarely take a cab
>from the airport. Last week I arrived late and had a room at Bill's
>Gamblin' Hall (formerly the Barbary Coast), so I took a cab for the first
>time in years.
>
> The cab driver shocked me by turning south from the airport and taking the
> tunnel to 215 and then up 15 to Flamingo. When I asked the driver what
> the heck he was doing, he said traffic was unusually heavy on Tropicana
> and that Swenson and Koval Lane were closed. This was 11:30pm on Thursday
> night, and as we crossed Las Vegas Blvd I could see the traffic was very
> light. I asked him whether taking the tunnel was really necessary, and he
> nodded vigorously and assured me that it was. (Hmmmm.)
>
> The cab fare ended up being $21.50 before the tip. I figure this little
> detour cost me almost $10 extra.
>
> Later I did some Googling and discovered that this "long-hauling" is a
> pretty well-known scam among Las Vegas cab drivers. My mother told me she
> had visited Las Vegas in 1980 and gone from the airport to Bally's (or
> whatever it was called then) by way of downtown!
>
> Unfortunately, I don't see a clear solution to the problem. Sometimes
> taking the tunnel really does save time, and I heard stories that saying
> "No tunnel" to the driver simply enrages the driver and makes the ride
> very unpleasant.
>
> One newspaper article said you can report a driver who long-hauls you, but
> the fine on the driver was only $50.
>
> I also heard that some cab drivers cheerfully ask passengers whether it's
> their first visit to Las Vegas... if the answer is yes, then it's "hello
> tunnel," as one person put it.
>
> I might be coming back to Vegas late on Thursday nights again... do other
> people have any bad experiences telling the cab driver not to use the
> tunnel? I guess I could use one of the hotel shuttles like Bell Trans,
> which seem pretty inexpensive.
>
> cheers
> Dan Leifker

Don't_Want_E-Mail · Joined: 24 Aug 2007 Posts: 124

In article Dan Leifker wrote:

> Unfortunately, I don't see a clear solution to the problem. Sometimes
> taking the tunnel really does save time, and I heard stories that saying
> "No tunnel" to the driver simply enrages the driver and makes the ride
> very unpleasant

In visiting las vegas 3-4 times a year I have *never* had a driver
become enraged because I directed the driver to not take the tunnel.
Anyway how unpleasant can the ride really be for that short a duration?
Keep in mind that you are the customer and you are paying for the
service.

--
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Those of you who think and act
as if you know everything are
quite annoying to those of us who do.

Dan Leifker · Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Posts: 6

Don't_Want_E-Mail wrote:
> In article Dan Leifker wrote:
>
>> Unfortunately, I don't see a clear solution to the problem. Sometimes
>> taking the tunnel really does save time, and I heard stories that saying
>> "No tunnel" to the driver simply enrages the driver and makes the ride
>> very unpleasant
>
> In visiting las vegas 3-4 times a year I have *never* had a driver
> become enraged because I directed the driver to not take the tunnel.
> Anyway how unpleasant can the ride really be for that short a duration?
> Keep in mind that you are the customer and you are paying for the
> service.
>

Well, that's good news... I had read the following article and was
starting to assume that Las Vegas cab drivers were all nuts. Actually,
most of my cab experiences worldwide have been fairly pleasant... except
for that $115 fare in Moscow from downtown to the airport.

http://ustaxinews.the-cabby.com/117/taxi-tried-to-long-haul-me/

DocTCW · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 403

I agree with you, Don't. I just make it a rule to say "no tunnel, surface
streets only please," and if they get pissed, then they meant to screw me
anyway. On a rare ocassion the cabbie will feel it necessary to say that
he never takes the tunnel just to make a larger fare, but no one has
gotten mad at me.

Tom
On Feb 24 2008 10:19 AM, Don't_Want_E-Mail wrote:

> In article Dan Leifker wrote:
>
> > Unfortunately, I don't see a clear solution to the problem. Sometimes
> > taking the tunnel really does save time, and I heard stories that saying
> > "No tunnel" to the driver simply enrages the driver and makes the ride
> > very unpleasant
>
> In visiting las vegas 3-4 times a year I have *never* had a driver
> become enraged because I directed the driver to not take the tunnel.
> Anyway how unpleasant can the ride really be for that short a duration?
> Keep in mind that you are the customer and you are paying for the
> service.
>
> --
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> Those of you who think and act
> as if you know everything are
> quite annoying to those of us who do.

------
RecGroups : the community-oriented newsreader : www.recgroups.com

Scott · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 11

> The cab driver shocked me by turning south from the airport and taking
> the tunnel to 215 and then up 15 to Flamingo. When I asked the driver
> what the heck he was doing, he said traffic was unusually heavy on
> Tropicana and that Swenson and Koval Lane were closed. This was 11:30pm
> on Thursday night, and as we crossed Las Vegas Blvd I could see the
> traffic was very light. I asked him whether taking the tunnel was
> really necessary, and he nodded vigorously and assured me that it was.
> (Hmmmm.)

You're a lucky guy, you get to gamble with the cabbie even before you go
into the Casino;

Ask the cabbie;
a) "Is $15 that it should have cost, OK with you?"
or
b) "Can you write up a full receipt showing the airport to Bill's via the
tunnel for that $22, so I can show it to the taxi authority. I'll need a
receipt signed by you before I can pay". Get the doorman at the hotel
involved too...

____________________________________________________________________
RecGroups : the community-oriented newsreader : www.recgroups.com

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