In message
, at
03:02:41 on Wed, 14 Sep 2011, 1506 remarked:
I cannot think of any other transaction where I'd spend =A331 (the price
of a private hire taxi from MK to Luton Airport; the =A31 is the drop-
off fee) and would choose to pay cash for it. *I pay by card whenever

Wow, 31 quid. A small fortune. I feel your pain.

IIRC Paddington to Victoria is just under GBP15.00. However, Bakerloo
Line, change at Oxford Circus for the Victoria, is not realistic with
two suitcases and a carry-on.

I've done cross-London a few times with two suitcases and a carry-on
(some designs will clip onto one of the suitcases). But I wouldn't
recommend going via Victoria; you should choose the route with that kind
of thing in mind. If Victoria and luggage implies Gatwick, for example,
you can usually construct much more manageable journeys via Thameslink.
--
Roland Perry

On Sep 14, 3:13*am, Roland Perry wrote:
In message
, at
03:02:41 on Wed, 14 Sep 2011, 1506 remarked:

I cannot think of any other transaction where I'd spend =A331 (the price
of a private hire taxi from MK to Luton Airport; the =A31 is the drop-
off fee) and would choose to pay cash for it. I pay by card whenever

Wow, 31 quid. A small fortune. I feel your pain.

IIRC Paddington to Victoria is just under GBP15.00. *However, Bakerloo
Line, change at Oxford Circus for the Victoria, is not realistic with
two suitcases and a carry-on.

I've done cross-London a few times with two suitcases and a carry-on
(some designs will clip onto one of the suitcases). But I wouldn't
recommend going via Victoria; you should choose the route with that kind
of thing in mind. If Victoria and luggage implies Gatwick, for example,
you can usually construct much more manageable journeys via Thameslink.
--
Arrival Heathrow, destination Bognor Regis. Did utilize the Circle
Line once. A cab is so much easier.

On Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:13:01 +0100
Roland Perry wrote:
of thing in mind. If Victoria and luggage implies Gatwick, for example,
you can usually construct much more manageable journeys via Thameslink.

The thameslink route goes right around the houses and in the few times I've
used it always seems to get stuck around london bridge. Its much slower than a
Southern service from victoria.

B2003

In article
,
Neil Williams wrote:

On Sep 11, 11:29*am, "Clive D. W. Feather" wrote:

Completely OT, but I got to use the airside bus at Stansted last week.

Dulles used to have those intriguing "mobile lounge" things, did it
not?

According to Wikipedia it still does for some services, but they've
mostly been replaced by a rubber-tyred train.

Sam

On Sep 14, 11:55*am, wrote:

With pre book minicabs I'm sure you can pay by card and the last thing
the traffic needs is black cabs stopped at the side for ages while a card
transaction goes through.

With black cabs in London you very often *can* pay by card. With pre-
book minicabs you usually can't outside London - most companies do not
have the kind of infrastructure used by Addison Lee etc.

Wow, 31 quid. A small fortune. I feel your pain.

Hassle factor. I do not habitually carry a lot of cash as most
businesses will take cards for that sort of sum.

Neil

On Sep 14, 11:59*am, Roland Perry wrote:

I think part of the problem is that it's not an "industry" but an
amalgam of self-employed drivers working though a brand-name booking
agency. The individual drivers not having either the status nor
inclination to become credit card merchants in their own right.

I'm sure the taxi companies could make it easy for the drivers (at a
suitable fee, no doubt, which could if necessary be passed onto the
passenger paying by card) if they could be bothered.

Neil

In message
, at
03:19:48 on Wed, 14 Sep 2011, 1506 remarked:
I've done cross-London a few times with two suitcases and a carry-on
(some designs will clip onto one of the suitcases). But I wouldn't
recommend going via Victoria; you should choose the route with that kind
of thing in mind. If Victoria and luggage implies Gatwick, for example,
you can usually construct much more manageable journeys via Thameslink.
--
Arrival Heathrow, destination Bognor Regis. Did utilize the Circle
Line once. A cab is so much easier.

Of course a cab is easier (unless it gets caught in traffic - I've had
some trips where it's quicker to walk).

If luggage and stairs is the issue, I'd try: Heathrow to St Pancras by
Piccadilly, northern ticket hall, Thameslink, change to the Bognor train
at Gatwick.
--
Roland Perry

In message
, at
03:24:19 on Wed, 14 Sep 2011, Neil Williams
remarked:
I think part of the problem is that it's not an "industry" but an
amalgam of self-employed drivers working though a brand-name booking
agency. The individual drivers not having either the status nor
inclination to become credit card merchants in their own right.

I'm sure the taxi companies could make it easy for the drivers (at a
suitable fee, no doubt, which could if necessary be passed onto the
passenger paying by card) if they could be bothered.

The only method available would be a CNP transaction with the agency.
I've had some requiring pre-payment when booking a pickup at an airport.
Not sure it's strictly within the CNP rules which probably mean the
driver should verify your card (but he has no equipment) when he picks
you up. It's not practical to issue provincial drivers with
GSM-connected card terminals, even if some black cabs may have access to
such things (and are charging about three times the price anyway).
--
Roland Perry

On Sep 14, 12:45*pm, Roland Perry wrote:

It's not practical to issue provincial drivers with
GSM-connected card terminals

Why not? Their takings may well be higher than a branch-line guard.

But as I mainly use one company I'd be quite happy to have an account
set up if that was easier. I just can't be bothered with that amount
of cash and the unpredictability of change.

I expect the drivers are averse to it as they may lose their tips.
But TBH, I abhor tipping anyway. If the price is too low, increase
it.

Neil

On Wed, 14 Sep 2011 03:23:33 -0700 (PDT)
Neil Williams wrote:
Wow, 31 quid. A small fortune. I feel your pain.

Hassle factor. I do not habitually carry a lot of cash as most
businesses will take cards for that sort of sum.

I wouldn't call 30 quid a lot of cash TBH. Besides , its probably less
hassle for the cabby to take cash (not to mention that he's more likely to
get a keep-the-change tip). Cards arn't suitable for everything - can you
imagine if people boarding a bus all wanted to pay by card?

B2003