Sydney Airport experiment to see if Taxi or Uber rides are cheaper
Is it cheaper to hail a taxi or jump in an Uber from Sydney Airport to the city? With the controversial move to establish an Uber zone next to the taxi rank, right outside the international terminal, we put the question to the test.
NSW
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A $15 difference has been recorded on two identical trips from Sydney Airport to the city – one in a taxi, the other in an Uber.
It comes after the controversial move by the state government to establish an Uber zone next to the taxi rank, right outside the international terminal T1 doors.
In a move that has enraged Taxi drivers and prompted calls for drivers to withdraw from the International Airport this week, travellers will have the choice of either hailing a Taxi or using Uber’s new PIN technology.
After requesting a ride, Uber customers will receive a six-digit PIN code to give to the next available driver at the pick up zone.
Taxi drivers have spoked out, saying the Uber zone will significantly decrease their business.
The Daily Telegraph reporters Elizabeth Pike and Jack Crawley put both services to the test on Tuesday afternoon from the International Airport to a cafe in Surry Hills.
Elizabeth took a GM Taxi on the 14km trip at a cost of $58.19 in total with the metre starting at $5.34 to account for the Sydney Airport access fee.
The initial fare including GST cost $55.42 with the service fee and service fee GST costing an additional $2.77.
The fare breakdown includes the operating costs of the taxi including CTP, comprehensive insurance, workers compensation and registration fees which do not apply to rideshare companies.
Jack took the same 25 minute trip in an Uber that totalled $43, a surcharged-rate that included a Sydney airport access fee of $5.34.
A surcharged-rate is due to Uber’s dynamic pricing module, allowing the service to adjust a rate to reflect the current demand for rides, distance travelled and any extra fees for things like airport access or government levys.
This is an algorithmic process done irrespective of the driver, and as such cannot be independently manipulated by a driver.
The cheaper fare came at the cost of convenience, as the rideshare pick up location is currently significantly further away from the airport exits when compared to the taxi rink – a disadvantage that as of Wednesday morning will be obsolete.
Originally published as Sydney Airport experiment to see if Taxi or Uber rides are cheaper
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