Leeds Bradford: Airport Consultative Committee [Questions & Responses]

[KARFA]

Uber pick up and drop off from exactly the same row where normal taxis pick up and drop off - i.e. the row at the top of the express car park (excluding Arrow of course who have there access closer to the terminal front).

I don't see any need for separate areas as it never seems to be overly busy with normal taxis and uber.

In terms of the app showing the pick up spot it is very accurate. If I was there it would also show my location as well on the screenshot I showed above so I could see exactly where I was in relation to the pick up spot.

EDIT: just for the sake of clarity, this is where I have always been dropped off or picked up by uber

 

[Len Fish]

With Uber just be thankful they can actually find the airport, never mind the taxi pick up point!

 

[leedslad]

Sorry I didn't mean uber should pick up from a separate place at Leeds Bradford. I mean everywhere else outside of Leeds Bradford uber don't use taxi ranks. Therefore it's not necessarily obvious to follow signs to taxi rank for uber.

Also think of foreign visitors arriving without mobile data. They can connect to WiFi inside the terminal but lose connection outside. So signage would help them too

 

[leedslad]

Also with the app stating go to short stay its easy like I did to follow signs to short stay car park in error.

 

[countdacash]

Any one (foreign national or not) who tries to use Uber with no mobile data connection is either naive or an idiot

 

[White Heather]

The problem is Leedslad, that if LBA management install separate dedicated signage pointing the way for Uber customers, then by rights they would also have to have signage for any other taxi operator who happens to be picking up passengers from the airport. Uber are in no way superior to other taxi firms so won't get preferential treatment, and if LBA made a special case for them by providing dedicated signage I am sure that it wouldn't be long before other taxi operators kicked off about it. It is clearly not practical or necessary to have separate signage for various taxi operators, Uber included, if there is a clear pick up zone for taxis in general. It is up to Uber to make customers aware of exactly where they will meet them in my view. If the arrangements are vague, then that is down to Uber, not LBA. If however there is no generic direction signs for taxis generally (other than Arrow), then that is a different matter and I would agree that there should be signage directing customers to the non-Arrow taxi pick up point. As I haven't been in the terminal for some time and not since the signage was all renewed with new, I am unsure if there is signage or not - but I would be very surprised if it had been omitted.

 

[Aviador]

Uber could of course apply to become the official airport taxi firm the next time its up for renewal?

 

[leedslad]

Any one (foreign national or not) who tries to use Uber with no mobile data connection is either naive or an idiot

Why? Done it many times outside Europe when haven't had mobile data...

Connect to free WiFi, order uber, head to collection point.

You get named driver, fair metered fare, tracked ride, competitive prices and pay by card without needing change.

Avoids dangers of fake taxis, rip off scams or needing small change upon arrival.

 

[Aviador]

Why? Done it many times outside Europe when haven't had mobile data...

Connect to free WiFi, order uber, head to collection point.

You get named driver, fair metered fare, tracked ride, competitive prices and pay by card without needing change.

Avoids dangers of fake taxis, rip off scams or needing small change upon arrival.

I get what you are saying @leedslad but as I said previously, Uber are perfectly welcome to apply for the contract to serve the airport when the contract is up for renewal. There's no reason why Uber should get preferential treatment just because they're Uber.

 

[leedslad]

I don't say they deserve preferential treatment? But by my understanding in the UK they cannot pull up at traditional. Taxi ranks... Many other airports globally now provide signage to ride sharing/app hailing pick up points. I don't believe there is such signage at Leeds. Due to land there tomorrow so will try to remember to confirm.

 

[KARFA]

But by my understanding in the UK they cannot pull up at traditional. Taxi ranks

They can and do use the same pick up area at LBA as taxis at the front of express parking.

... Many other airports globally now provide signage to ride sharing/app hailing pick up points. I don't believe there is such signage at Leeds. Due to land there tomorrow so will try to remember to confirm.

Yes I see this a lot in the US. This is usually because the pick up for ride sharing is usually in some multi storey car park and completely separate from terminal front taxi pick up area.

 

[leedslad]

My suggestion just came from the fact that given it can be different airport by airport, country by country as an arrival it could be useful to be signed towards the pick up area.

Not sure if non Arrow taxi pick up point is signed but due to fly in later so will try to remember to take a look.

 

[Aviador]

@White Heather you mentioned that you'd emailed the airport management to ask if they would perhaps provide the forum with progress images of the terminal works. Did you get a response from them?

 

[leedslad]

So just arrived... The great taxi signage debate...

No signage for any taxi besides Arrow.

In fact misleadingly Arrow is sign posted as Airport Taxis.

Only signage points to pick up and drop off. No mention that pre booked taxis collect there.

 

[Aviador]

...but Arrow are the "official" airport taxi?!

 

[Tarn Spotter]

I use Cabify at AGP a similar service to Uber, their not allowed to use any of the private hire spaces at the airport, you arrange to meet in one of the public car parks.
On the subject of smart phones, in Norway at the start of this year, without a 24/7 data reception nearly impossible to survive.
On arrival no paper boarding cards had to be on your phone, taxi no cash, pay by app, on our first night sat like lemons in a posh restaurant until advise we must down load app and order, bill to phone etc.
Room service in hotel via app, no room phones, as a cash is king oldie, glad I was forewarned, not about the restaurant though.
My son's Norwegian girlfriend thought I was the pre historic man as I kept getting money or a card out to pay and being politely refused. Surprised having no on line banking how easy to get by.

 

[Aviador]

We'd be truly crippled in a power grid failure. Quite worrying really.

 

[White Heather]

@White Heather you mentioned that you'd emailed the airport management to ask if they would perhaps provide the forum with progress images of the terminal works. Did you get a response from them?

I had a reply just this morning from Charles Johnson, Head of Development at LBA. I have messaged you in fact, before reading this post. By way of an update, as many will know, the visit a few days ago by the Aviation Minister to mark the start of the construction programme, resulted in the video being made available in various newspaper/media sites, although I couldn't open it when some members posted the link on here. At the last Consultative Meeting, I asked that LBA put the video on their own website, so if nothing else, anyone could watch it on there, and Charles has confirmed today that it will be going on the website within a few days. He also confirmed that he is seeking approval for the video to be made available to F4A and will get back to me shortly. Hence my PM to you Aviador today.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

We'd be truly crippled in a power grid failure. Quite worrying really.

For an oldie like me, the worry was handing my phone to a stranger so he could load the app and necessary password for free access whilst it often plugged in to some machine.
Thankfully just spent a few weeks in local spanish bars, where payment by card, not even accepted, cash still king and your bar running total still chalked on the counter, no worries about a power grid failure here, in fact when I lived here 50 years ago, we had little power, thankfully solar power changed everything.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

We'd be truly crippled in a power grid failure. Quite worrying really.

I'd fu**ing love it if social media and phone systems went down for a few days. Hilarious to see those under the age of 21 panicking that "their life" has suddenly disappeared. Even funnier to watch some social media influencers panicking as their main source of income will of disappeared.