Heathrow airport £5 traffic charge proposed
Discussion
quote:
My wife just flew back into Heathrow from NY & the cabs at the rank at T4 wanted £106 to take her to Basingstoke !!!! WTF????? Would have been cheaper for me to take the morning off work to pick her up.. thieving cabbie muppets..
Book with Grassby's, CarZee. £40 or so last time I used 'em. Cheaper than leaving the car in Long Term if you're going away for a couple of weeks....
The cabs are always going to be a rip off because they're not based in Basingstoke and can't get the economy of filling the car with passengers in both directions.
quote:
My wife just flew back into Heathrow from NY & the cabs at the rank at T4 wanted £106 to take her to Basingstoke !!!! WTF?????
Indeed - never use the black cabs, enter the name of your local cab firm into your mobile and give ythem a call as your leave for Heathrow. Tell th eflight number and they will meet you. Much better and cheaper.
Flame bait:
Well, as one person who thinks air-travel ought to be reduced, I think it is a good idea.
My reasoning is this: cars are essential, because there is no option. You do NOT NEED to go abroad for a holiday, Nor do you need to go on business trips.
The M4 bus lane is obscene.
Well, as one person who thinks air-travel ought to be reduced, I think it is a good idea.
My reasoning is this: cars are essential, because there is no option. You do NOT NEED to go abroad for a holiday, Nor do you need to go on business trips.
The M4 bus lane is obscene.
quote:Jeeeeezus Carl..
Well, as one person who thinks air-travel ought to be reduced, I think it is a good idea.
My reasoning is this: cars are essential, because there is no option. You do NOT NEED to go abroad for a holiday, Nor do you need to go on business trips.
What's the matter - the fight to retain our motoring rights not hard enough for you ? FWIW, my wife's sister lives in the good ole USA & she's married to an American. Personally, I won't go over there as I have fairly strong views on the moral and social bankruptcy of America, but I don't see that I or anyone else can or should stop families which are seperated by thousands of miles getting together..
In any case, it's reckoned that air travel is set to increase 2 or 3 fold over the next 10-15 years.. Global Capitalism demands free and extensive movement of people and goods and curbing air travel is in some respects no different than curbing car use.
quote:Damned right about that...
The M4 bus lane is obscene.
OK hertsbiker. You knew this was coming!!! (Nothing personal 
)
Oh no? Our global economy is very different to how it was twenty years ago. Until the Internet changes it again and removes the need to be physically present at the "the meeting" air travel will be required....
It MAKES POSSIBLE the kinds of multi-national services and products we can use and buy today. Our quality of life is improved by this.
This is EXACTLY the same way that the car changed the economy and our lifestyles for the better - by making it possible to be more places physically in the day.
Yes - unnecessary travel should be reduced! Errr - it just has been. I work largely in the Aerospace industry and I can tell you the industry as a whole just isn't as busy as it was before September 11th.
Corporations stopped people flying for months. Those business people haven't gone back to flying - yet - and may not ever. Those who still do often have NO CHOICE about travelling - if they didn't they would lose their jobs - or if like me they own their own business they would lose their livelihoods by being unable to meet customers expectations.
The last thing the airlines need right now is any other reason not to fly.
Errr just my 2p worth.
) quote:
You do not NEED to go on business trips
Oh no? Our global economy is very different to how it was twenty years ago. Until the Internet changes it again and removes the need to be physically present at the "the meeting" air travel will be required....
It MAKES POSSIBLE the kinds of multi-national services and products we can use and buy today. Our quality of life is improved by this.
This is EXACTLY the same way that the car changed the economy and our lifestyles for the better - by making it possible to be more places physically in the day.
Yes - unnecessary travel should be reduced! Errr - it just has been. I work largely in the Aerospace industry and I can tell you the industry as a whole just isn't as busy as it was before September 11th.
Corporations stopped people flying for months. Those business people haven't gone back to flying - yet - and may not ever. Those who still do often have NO CHOICE about travelling - if they didn't they would lose their jobs - or if like me they own their own business they would lose their livelihoods by being unable to meet customers expectations.
The last thing the airlines need right now is any other reason not to fly.
Errr just my 2p worth.
I support Don's view, I travel (by air) once or twice a month on business. In every case these visits are required because it is impossible to do my job over the phone or by Email. I spend two to three days with a client and then return to my office to complete the job. In the company I work for there is no 'un-necessary' travel and Sept 11th cannot make a difference or the company would fold.
quote:
My wife just flew back into Heathrow from NY & the cabs at the rank at T4 wanted £106 to take her to Basingstoke !!!! WTF????? Would have been cheaper for me to take the morning off work to pick her up.. thieving cabbie muppets..
That is just taking the piss , and cabbies then plead with you not to use unlicenced cabs
oh yeah of course I expected a reply after that.
Still beleive it though. We're supposed to be in the electronic age, and internet/phone/fax/video conderence should *virtually* eliminate the need for people to go on business trips abroad. Employ people in the country you have you business, and do more 'local' trade. What's the problem?
On the other hand, I defend our RIGHT to drive when and where we goddamn please. I often drive/ride purely for the fun of it, and will continue doing so for as long as I can. No sell out to the green party.
Still beleive it though. We're supposed to be in the electronic age, and internet/phone/fax/video conderence should *virtually* eliminate the need for people to go on business trips abroad. Employ people in the country you have you business, and do more 'local' trade. What's the problem?
On the other hand, I defend our RIGHT to drive when and where we goddamn please. I often drive/ride purely for the fun of it, and will continue doing so for as long as I can. No sell out to the green party.
Sorry Carl, despite the advent of the electronic age, video conferencing doesn't have the immediacy of a face-to-face meeting and isn't a realistic option with, for example, customers in the middle- or far-east.
Employing people locally can have significant economic effects by creating a 'permanent establishment', thereby opening up the potential for the entire export contract value to be subject to local tax - not a good move!
On the other hand, I fully agree that just going for a blast for the hell of it is a perfectly acceptable waste of this world's finite resources!
quote:
We're supposed to be in the electronic age, and internet/phone/fax/video conderence should *virtually* eliminate the need for people to go on business trips abroad. Employ people in the country you have you business, and do more 'local' trade. What's the problem?
Employing people locally can have significant economic effects by creating a 'permanent establishment', thereby opening up the potential for the entire export contract value to be subject to local tax - not a good move!
On the other hand, I fully agree that just going for a blast for the hell of it is a perfectly acceptable waste of this world's finite resources!
quote:
Jeeeeezus Carl..
FWIW, my wife's sister lives in the good ole USA & she's married to an American. Personally, I won't go over there as I have fairly strong views on the moral and social bankruptcy of America, but I don't see that I or anyone else can or should stop families which are seperated by thousands of miles getting together..
In any case, it's reckoned that air travel is set to increase 2 or 3 fold over the next 10-15 years.. Global Capitalism demands free and extensive movement of people and goods and curbing air travel is in some respects no different than curbing car use.
I'm intrigued as to your anti-American stance given your implied acceptance of Capitalism, your use of American slang and the apparent American influence in your user name.
But then I might just be trying to fan the flames that hertsbiker ignited....
Slightly off topic but...
Does anyone know how much the government raises in all ways from motorists each year, and how much of it they use for public and private transpost support? That would include Petrol tax, Car Tax, Vat on Car, Vat on Insurance, Toll Fees, Gastos, Parking tickets, anything else?
I'm curious. I seem to remember that the number was about 18billion, and less than 20% went back to any form of transport... but even if I haven't just pulled that number out of my a*se then its a few years old.
With those kind of figures it seems difficult for them to justify yet another charge...
Steve
Does anyone know how much the government raises in all ways from motorists each year, and how much of it they use for public and private transpost support? That would include Petrol tax, Car Tax, Vat on Car, Vat on Insurance, Toll Fees, Gastos, Parking tickets, anything else?
I'm curious. I seem to remember that the number was about 18billion, and less than 20% went back to any form of transport... but even if I haven't just pulled that number out of my a*se then its a few years old.
With those kind of figures it seems difficult for them to justify yet another charge...
Steve
quote:I accept capitalism as 'whats there' not what's right. America didn't invent capitalism and nor does it have a monopoly on same..
I'm intrigued as to your anti-American stance given your implied acceptance of Capitalism,
quote:my use of American slang is 'aping'...
your use of American slang and the apparent American influence in your user name.
my username is a play on words.. CarZee=Khazi
and FWIW, I don't have anything against any American as an individual.. well maybe except for the politicians, but in putting themselves up for office, they're asking for derision & I consider them fair game, just as I do British politicians.
Tell me, is it true that Americans have trouble with irony?
I got to admit that I am very biased against air travel. I don't like it, I hate being sent abroad on business, hate jet lag, the crap food, the endless waiting around for things to happen. And hate being away from my family.
Foreign holidays are rarely as good as you see on TV, and although a gross generalisation - the sort of people I know who do NOTHING all year, just to go abroad for 2 weeks are SAD SAD people who don't really understand that it is better to enjoy every day, than to save/save/starve/do without all year.
So, I have zero sympathy for plane users, and hope that the taxes go up and up.
Sorry, but it's my view and I'm sticking to it. We as a nation have enough talent and ability to do everything we need to, right here.
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