Madam, – Last Friday (May 1st) I was waiting for an Aircoach bus to take me from Leeson Street Bridge to Dublin Airport. I had just arrived at the bus stop when a taxi pulled up beside me. The driver said he would take me to Dublin Airport for the same fare as Aircoach, provided he could pick up two or three other passengers to make it worth his while. He said that if he could not get other passengers he would drop me off at O’Connell Street with no charge to me.
I was caught off-guard and got into the taxi. On the journey into the city he pointed out another taxi driver trying to pick up passengers at the Aircoach bus-stop on Suffolk Street. My taxi driver failed to get other passengers. When we arrived at O’Connell Street he then offered to take me to Dublin Airport for €20. I had planned to give him €10 for taking me to O’Connell Street. As the Aircoach would have cost me €7 from there, I decided to stay in the taxi for the sake of an extra €3.
I deeply regret my decision to take the taxi. I am a regular and very satisfied customer of Aircoach. The company provides a very frequent, efficient, friendly service and their coaches are very comfortable. However, thinking back on the incident I am appalled that taxi drivers are now attempting to “steal” passengers from Aircoach.
The purpose of this letter is to alert others not to be caught by what I now believe to be a scam. I ended up paying €20 for a trip for which I had intended to pay €8. Of much greater importance is the threat to the Aircoach company which could easily be forced out of business if this practice by taxi drivers is not stopped immediately. – Yours, etc,