Save Money While Traveling: 4 Tips For Slashing Airport Taxi Costs

Prices for a tax to or from the airport, as well as anywhere throughout the city, varies from one city to the next. This makes it difficult to determine exactly how much you are going to pay for a certain trip and how you can effectively lower your costs. However, if you do a little bit of homework ahead of time and follow a few tips, you can likely save some substantial cash. Here is what you need to do:

1. Learn the Structure of Cab Fares.

In some cases, it isn't actually taxi companies that set the cab fares. Instead, it is the government, which means that the information is readily available online. See if this is the case in your locality. Make sure to pay special attention to the meter rate, as this is what you will pay for the travel distance, in addition to any taxes and additional charges, such as traveling outside the city limits. For example, Chicago cabs charge $2 for airport departure and arrival taxes.

2. Don't Forget to Ask About Flat Rates.

Some airport taxis will offer flat rates for longer journeys. So, if you are traveling a significant distance, ask the driver about negotiating a flat rate instead of a straight meter rate to see if you can get out a bit cheaper. There is no guarantee of this, but it doesn't hurt to ask. If your driver agrees, though, just ensure that a price is negotiated before you start traveling.

3. Consider Sharing the Taxi.

Taxis can be expensive all on their own, but this is particularly true when you consider the additional surcharges for airport taxes. If you're waiting in line for a cab, see if there's anyone else in line that may be headed to the same vicinity as you, or at least in the same direction. You may find someone that is willing to share the cab and split the fare with you. If the airport has a taxi runner, a person who manages the terminal taxi lines, let them know that you would like to share a taxi and they'll set you up.

4. Check Online Traffic Reports.

Traffic reports are available for most cities online. If you need to get somewhere quickly, you may want to look at these online reports before hailing a cab. If there is trouble in the direction that you're traveling, you may want to see if you can map out another route that may be quicker. While cab drivers tend to know alternative routes of their own, it doesn't hurt to offer one anyway. They can likely use their knowledge of the city and its street along with your mapped alternative route to determine the best possible and fastest way to get you to where you need to be.

Traveling to a new big city that you've never been to before can be a huge headache all on its own. However, you may be able to relieve some of that tension by following the aforementioned tips. In the end, you'll be a lot less stressed once you arrive and you'll be able to save some money to spend on souvenirs.

Contact a company such as Broadway Cab to learn more.