Airport taxi warning

[nodakdive]

Will it come with a huge increase in available ambulances and a mandatory organ-donor card?

LOL. You'll fill the card out on the airplane. You'll have to return half the card when you leave the country in order to get your organs back. You always hope you get your own organs back...

It really would be interesting to know the logic, or for the lack of logic, the dynamic behind the whole "no taxis for airport pickup" thing.

-Blair

 

[cvchief]

Maybe there's something with the logistics of 6000 (times X) coming and going from facility and service provision built to handle that? Additionally, it's many more people on the ships for sure, but there's pretty healthy use of group transportation too, via buses and vans for excursions, etc. I just don't have a good feel for the port close to town, but I've been to the one down by Casa del Mar, and there's an awful lot of facility there. That little airport handles 300 (times X) in a short time compared to a day long docking of a cruise ship. I could be mistaken, but it seems like the taxis line up all the way to Casa del Mar for the ships every morning. I guess my point would be that the airport ground facility might not be built to handle the amount of people that could be there at once. Apples and Oranges.

I'm certainly no expert on people moving and am probably imposing my own faulty hope for logic in this somewhere. What do the tourists want? To get the heck away from that airport as quickly as possible. What does the airport want? To get those people away from the airport as quickly as possible. Don't give them the choice. Don't let 'em think. Don't add to the confusion. Pack them in like sardines and haul them away asap.

Doesn't matter to me really. I'm just a bull headed tourist who isn't going to be happy until he's tucked into his hotel anyhow. Sit on my lap. Stick your flipper in my face. It'll all be over soon. I certainly understand people's consternation with the issue though. The least they could do is offer scooter rental at the airport. If you make it past the medical tent, you're free to go.

-Blair

P.S. - the last two lines aren't meant to imply sarcasm about people wanting to take taxis. I get it. The idea of mass scooter rental at the airport just made me laugh.

I was just making the point that logic doesn't enter into it. Like the water taxi. Haul a 100 or so people at a time down town or what not. Like a van from the airport. Seems to make sense right? Say that in a taxi and your body will wash up in Cuba.....

You could stack a BUNCH of taxis at the airport and back 65. Not saying you should or shouldn't, I just think it is silly to argue logic when powerful unions are involved. In full disclosure, ONCE I walked off the airport grounds and the guy that picked me up was a van guy and I paid too much. Less than the van tickets, but way too much for a taxi.

 

[ggunn]

Oh, I get it.

Boeing 757 around 300 people. Have to use vans to avoid chaos.

Oasis of the Seas around 6000 people. Use taxis, no chaos.

Wait, maybe you better go over that again for me?

For one thing, there is no place at the airport to park the horde of taxis they do along the roadside to unload a cruise ship. For another, the cruise ship docks adjoin Melgar with entrance and egress in several directions while the airport is back inland with not much surrounding infrastructure. For another, folks arriving on planes (sometimes 4 planes at a time) all want to get out and into Cozumel at the same time because their conveyance kicks them off and leaves. For another, the cruise ship docks have support onsite to sell to and entertain passengers while passengers arriving at the airport just want to leave as quickly as possible. For another, folks leaving a cruise ship usually do not get off with the 300lbs of luggage that Don and I bring to Cozumel, so it's easy for them to walk a couple of blocks down Melgar to an open taxi. Logistically it is a very different situation.

Anyway, it makes perfect sense to me to shuttle people out of the airport in batches of 15 or so in single vehicles rather than onesy-twosey in taxis. Apparently it makes sense to them as well; not everything is a conspiracy by the taxi union to fleece tourists. It also doesn't surprise me that they want everyone to use the shuttles and occasionally take measures to discourage folks from walking out and hailing cabs.

As I have said many times before, I have no problem whatsoever with the shuttle system. If for no other reason, it is what it is, and when in Rome...

 

[nodakdive]

I was just making the point that logic doesn't enter into it. Like the water taxi. Haul a 100 or so people at a time down town or what not. Like a van from the airport. Seems to make sense right? Say that in a taxi and your body will wash up in Cuba.....

You could stack a BUNCH of taxis at the airport and back 65. Not saying you should or shouldn't, I just think it is silly to argue logic when powerful unions are involved. In full disclosure, ONCE I walked off the airport grounds and the guy that picked me up was a van guy and I paid too much. Less than the van tickets, but way too much for a taxi.

I thought that the Van guys at the airport and the Taxi guys are all in the same union? I figured this was a "city planners" or "civil engineers" kinda thing.

As to the water taxis, it makes sense to me that the taxi drivers wouldn't like this. It's like opening a road that the union can't use. In other words, and I'm probably misunderstanding, the Union already has the airport business. And as to the Van guys making waves for the Taxi guys at the airport, maybe it's one of those things where the Van guys see this as their union Taxi brothers taking money out of their pockets. From what I've heard, it's not beyond the possible that the police would be supporting the Van guys and the Taxi guys, but if the Van and Taxi guys are all in the same Union, why would the Police bother unless there's some higher power insisting Taxis can't pick up from the airport? And even if the Water Taxis and the regular Taxis would be in the same Union, I could understand the Taxi guys making waves about this. (no pun intended). One good sized boat puts a lot of taxi drivers out of business. Well, significantly decreases their business anyhow.

I'm probably misunderstanding or just plain wrong about the transportation Unions there. You're probably right, it's a Union thing. On the other hand, if I were to suspect corruption, I'd be looking at a relationship between the travel companies and the Taxi Union. Apple/Delta/whoever wants to sell $35 transportation tickets with the trips. Taxis allowed? The Union still wins, but the travel companies lose. If I wanted to sell $35 round trip airport transfers, I'd be greasing some wheels to make sure that it's the easiest way to get off the airport grounds.

Yes, you could stack taxis all the way to Palancar Beach, but how many could load at a time with the vans sitting there? Often, I travel alone. The last thing I want to do is hunt around for people to share a taxi with, or get in a taxi and pay double what I would in the Van. I'd also just as soon not sit in that van like a sardine with flippers in my face and have to crawl my way out of the airport due to all the Taxi's with 2 people in them.

Again, I understand why people find this arrangement to be a pain in the caboose.

You, on the other hand, have me a bit surprised that you even notice. I suspect the tenders at the little bar right in front of the airport know you by name. "Here comes Margarito!! Crank the blenders up to Turbo!!" Lol!!

-Blair

Oops. Ok. What ggunn says up there. ^

 

[ggunn]

I thought that the Van guys at the airport and the Taxi guys are all in the same union?

You thought correctly.

 

[cvchief]

For one thing, there is no place at the airport to park the horde of taxis they do along the roadside to unload a cruise ship.

Seriously? I could park a crap load of taxis out the airport road. And I wouldn't need taxis for 6000 people x number of ships.

For another, the cruise ship docks adjoin Melgar with entrance and egress in several directions while the airport is back inland with not much surrounding infrastructure.

You mean like the airport road, 65, 30 and Melgar for the airport, vs Melgar at the pier?

For another, folks arriving on planes (sometimes 4 planes at a time) all want to get out and into Cozumel at the same time because their conveyance kicks them off and leaves.

So less than 10% of the cruiser get off the boat when it docks? I have to say driving to Caleta I have seen a ton more people coming out of the place than I ever did out of the airport. But hey, I never rode the big boat, so I don't really know that world.

For another, the cruise ship docks have support onsite to sell to and entertain passengers while passengers arriving at the airport just want to leave as quickly as possible. For another, folks leaving a cruise ship usually do not get off with the 300lbs of luggage that Don and I bring to Cozumel, so it's easy for them to walk a couple of blocks down Melgar to an open taxi. Logistically it is a very different situation.

I always saw the taxis expertly pulling up, load cruiser and pulling out as the next pulls up.

Anyway, it makes perfect sense to me to shuttle people out of the airport in batches of 15 or so in single vehicles rather than onesy-twosey in taxis. Apparently it makes sense to them as well; not everything is a conspiracy by the taxi union to fleece tourists. It also doesn't surprise me that they want everyone to use the shuttles and occasionally take measures to discourage folks from walking out and hailing cabs.

I am not saying anyone is being fleeced. I am not saying individual taxis are better. The shuttle is probably way cheaper to the southern resorts. And probably several groups might be going to the same place.

As I have said many times before, I have no problem whatsoever with the shuttle system. If for no other reason, it is what it is, and when in Rome...

Doesn't matter to me either. I have been using Cancun for a while now. If people want to walk out and get a cab or ride the van, I don't care. I just think it is naive to believe that it is all quality city planning.

---------- Post added January 2nd, 2014 at 07:48 PM ----------

I thought that the Van guys at the airport and the Taxi guys are all in the same union?

You thought correctly.

I still do not think this is correct. I think they are another union. Like the buses are Uniper, the taxis are the Adolpho guy, and I *thought* the vans were someone else. I could be wrong.

 

[nodakdive]

Seriously? I could park a crap load of taxis out the airport road. And I wouldn't need taxis for 6000 people x number of ships.

I just think it is naive to believe that it is all quality city planning.

---------- Post added January 2nd, 2014 at 07:48 PM ----------
I still do not think this is correct. I think they are another union. Like the buses are Uniper, the taxis are the Adolpho guy, and I *thought* the vans were someone else. I could be wrong.

Well, if 600 people are at the airport, and 10% of them want a cab, and it averages 2 per taxi, you'd need 30 taxis. Though you can reverse the math on the cruise ships, I still believe that many of the people coming off the ship already have transportation lined up that isn't a taxi. I'll even say myself that probably 80% of the people come off the boat, but I'd also point out that you'd probably have a larger number than 10% of the people at the airport wanting a taxi. 40% is probably closer. If that's close, then you need 30 taxis per incoming plane. How many do you need on those times there are 4 planes landing almost at once? I've been there and seen that on several occasions. Maybe not 120, but it'd be a lot.

I don't know that I think it's quality planning, but it's seemed to make sense to me. That's probably naive. Comparing the infrastructure of a cruise ship port to the Cozumel Airport, even on a scale, seems apples and oranges to me. I've been on those boats and in the ports. I suspect the majority of the cruisers have "excursions" lined up, and they'll be moved in vehicles larger than taxis. Further, and I think ggunn more than alluded to this, they stagger their departures, either by natural choice or directly as a result of excursion scheduling. With a plane, it's everybody, all at once, and for the vast majority they have the same destination, their hotel. Naive, or whatever, I see an efficiency in it.

Chief, you're right about the expert cab loading with cruise ships. There are often people devoted to making that happen, just like the people outside the airport doors. As many times as I've been to the Cozumel airport I still don't have a great picture of it in my mind, but it feels to me like there's almost be no room for taxis and vans without herding people using taxis over to the departure doors of the airport. So, maybe it's not the result of Unions or quality city planning. Maybe it's poor airport planning?

-Blair

 

[DandyDon]

From the looks of the cars in the lot compared to the drive into the terminal, it looks easy enough to get dozens of taxis lined up...

​

And it's a mile from Melgar to the circle. Plenty of more room...

​

 

[cvchief]

Well, if 600 people are at the airport, and 10% of them want a cab, and it averages 2 per taxi, you'd need 30 taxis. Though you can reverse the math on the cruise ships, I still believe that many of the people coming off the ship already have transportation lined up that isn't a taxi. I'll even say myself that probably 80% of the people come off the boat, but I'd also point out that you'd probably have a larger number than 10% of the people at the airport wanting a taxi. 40% is probably closer. If that's close, then you need 30 taxis per incoming plane. How many do you need on those times there are 4 planes landing almost at once? I've been there and seen that on several occasions. Maybe not 120, but it'd be a lot.

Only 120? That wouldn't be an issue at all, I don't think.

I don't know that I think it's quality planning, but it's seemed to make sense to me. That's probably naive. Comparing the infrastructure of a cruise ship port to the Cozumel Airport, even on a scale, seems apples and oranges to me. I've been on those boats and in the ports. I suspect the majority of the cruisers have "excursions" lined up, and they'll be moved in vehicles larger than taxis. Further, and I think ggunn more than alluded to this, they stagger their departures, either by natural choice or directly as a result of excursion scheduling. With a plane, it's everybody, all at once, and for the vast majority they have the same destination, their hotel. Naive, or whatever, I see an efficiency in it.

I am not saying it is or isn't a good idea, but lemme check your numbers: This is the port loading for Cozumel:
01-Jan-14 10313 Carnival Conquest, Carnival Imagination, MSC Divina
02-Jan-14 9508 Brilliance Of The Seas, Carnival Triumph, Crystal Serenity, Disney Wonder
03-Jan-14 19881 Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Navigator Of The Seas, Carnival Magic, Allure Of The Seas
04-Jan-14 11511 Carnival Elation, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Victory, Costa Luminosa
05-Jan-14 1250 Riviera
06-Jan-14 9266 Carnival Dream, Disney Wonder, Caribbean Princess
07-Jan-14 18426 Norwegian Jewel, Brilliance Of The Seas, Liberty Of The Seas, Carnival Legend, Carnival Triumph, Ruby Princess
08-Jan-14 13206 Carnival Glory, Carnival Imagination, Celebrity Equinox, Disney Fantasy
09-Jan-14 13157 Serenade Of The Seas, Carnival Elation, Carnival Paradise, Oasis Of The Seas
10-Jan-14 9510 Norwegian Dawn, Carnival Magic, Freedom Of The Seas
11-Jan-14 7802 Liberty Of The Seas, Carnival Triumph
12-Jan-14
13-Jan-14 9320 Carnival Liberty, Disney Wonder, Caribbean Princess
14-Jan-14 16013 Norwegian Jewel, Carnival Elation, Carnival Legend, Carnival Paradise, Costa Luminosa, Celebrity Silhouette
15-Jan-14 12722 Grandeur Of The Seas, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Ecstasy, MSC Divina
16-Jan-14 8032 Brilliance Of The Seas, Carnival Triumph, Nieuw Amsterdam
17-Jan-14 10630 Norwegian Dawn, Allure Of The Seas, Carnival Sunshine
18-Jan-14 8683 Carnival Elation, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Victory
19-Jan-14
20-Jan-14 7450 Carnival Dream, Regatta, Caribbean Princess
21-Jan-14 20926 Norwegian Jewel, Brilliance Of The Seas, Liberty Of The Seas, Carnival Legend, Carnival Triumph, Disney Wonder, Ruby Princess
22-Jan-14 12267 Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Glory, Celebrity Constellation, Disney Fantasy
23-Jan-14 13157 Serenade Of The Seas, Carnival Elation, Carnival Paradise, Oasis Of The Seas
24-Jan-14 15344 Norwegian Dawn, Costa Luminosa, Carnival Magic, Freedom Of The Seas, Carnival Sunshine
25-Jan-14 13383 Brilliance Of The Seas, Liberty Of The Seas, Carnival Triumph, Ruby Princess
26-Jan-14
27-Jan-14 11948 Carnival Elation, Carnival Liberty, Disney Wonder, Caribbean Princess
28-Jan-14 12507 Norwegian Jewel, Carnival Legend, Carnival Paradise, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Silhouette
29-Jan-14 13128 Carnival Conquest, Carnival Ecstasy, Celebrity Equinox, MSC Divina
30-Jan-14 5531 Carnival Triumph, Nieuw Amsterdam
31-Jan-14 14282 Norwegian Dawn, Carnival Magic, Allure Of The Seas, Carnival Sunshine


Now your saying for instance, 20,000 people on one day don't strain the taxis more and than 3 or 4 planes would?

Now I know what you are going to say next, the cruise ships are staggared. However here is a daily schedule:

Allure of the Seas TMM International Pier Band. Ext. Fri, Jan 3 6:00 17:30
Carnival Magic Puerta Maya Band. Ext. Fri, Jan 3 6:30 16:00
Norwegian Dawn Punta Langosta Band Int Fri, Jan 3 7:00 17:00
Navigator of Seas TMM International Pier Band Int Fri, Jan 3 7:00 16:00
Norwegian Jewel San Miguel Pier Fondeo Position 2 Fri, Jan 3 8:00 17:00
Norwegian Pearl Punta Langosta Band. Ext. Fri, Jan 3 9:00 17:45

Lot of them at nearly the same time. Note that the big tub Allure is dropping its 6000 and within an hour the Navigator is dropping its 3,000 on the Intl Pier.



And those plane people have to clear customs, so they come out in a steady stream. For instance, I was told when several planes landed the Saturday before Christmas, it took them around three hours to process the people out of the airport. So they were 'staggered' too and even less of a transportation problem.

As for the idea that most use excursions that have transportation, I think my first instinct is to call *BS*. I freely admit that is just a guess, but for instance I know of NO dive op that provides transportation. Taxis run in and out of Caleta all morning dropping people off. Sure I have seen the camo open bus. and the cute little weegee cars lined up and some jeeps. I have also seen A BOAT load (get it? Boat load?) of taxis lined up. I think alot of people ride in taxis. Ride around town on Sunday and see all the taxis parted at houses. I read somewhere there are like 750 or more on the road at anytime. Where are they making their money if not cruisers? Trust me when I say it is an SOB when I am running late, weaving my way through the taxis to get to caleta. Thankfully the taxi always show me which red lights mean stop and which ones are more like a request for caution crossing the intersection.....

Chief, you're right about the expert cab loading with cruise ships. There are often people devoted to making that happen, just like the people outside the airport doors. As many times as I've been to the Cozumel airport I still don't have a great picture of it in my mind, but it feels to me like there's almost be no room for taxis and vans without herding people using taxis over to the departure doors of the airport. So, maybe it's not the result of Unions or quality city planning. Maybe it's poor airport planning?

-Blair

As DD points out, you could stack a boat load of taxis and load and go and load and go, just as fast as they clear the xrays. Get me I am not saying they should or it would be better. If flying into Coz was more convenient for me, I don't know if I would walk off or take a van. I really don't feel strongly about it. Now as someone said it is the rule. As far as I know, it is the rule that only vans can pick up for a fare at the airport. I don't know there is any rule that says I can't walk off the airport grounds.

---------- Post added January 2nd, 2014 at 11:16 PM ----------

I love a taxi thread. Kills time until Carnival.

 

[ggunn]

I still do not think this is correct. I think they are another union. Like the buses are Uniper, the taxis are the Adolpho guy, and I *thought* the vans were someone else. I could be wrong.

Christi or Dave could say for sure but I am virtually certain the taxis and the vans are all part of the same union. Naive I may be but I think it is silly to speculate on how they could have done it better on the basis of what you know (and more to the point, what you don't know) about their situation from spending a few days a year there. Armchair quarterbacking, as it were. Their system works fine as far as I am concerned and I believe that unloading the airport with taxis would be a logistical nightmare and a stupid idea, for the reasons I have already stated and some I was too lazy to type. On the face of it it appears that someone there agrees.

But all this is completely beside the point. Someone there, for some reason, obviously thought it would be a good idea to unload the airport with vans instead of taxis. The investment was made and a settlement was negotiated between the interested parties to protect the revenue stream that pays for the service, and part of that settlement was that taxis do not pick up passengers from the airport. Whether it actually IS a better idea or not is irrelevant, as is the fact that I agree with the plan they came up with and you do not. It is what it is.