I had booked a return ticket back to Hyderabad from Chennai and at the same time I had to book a radio taxi (Easy Cabs) which was the only option provided by makemytrip.com website. My flight arrival at Hyderabad was 10:20 pm. I was traveling with my spouse and 2 young kids.
My flight was on time at Hyderabad airport and since we had only hand baggage, we proceeded directly to the radio taxi section as I had a booking as mentioned earlier. Promptly I was shown a taxi by an attendant who cross checked my booking details.
The problem started with the appointed taxi driver. Believe me he never drove the car beyond 50 to 60 km on a empty highway! I could see Maruti 800’s and other private and taxi’s overtaking this car at more then 100km speed! Even my wife would have touched 100km on this empty road. I grew impatient and requested the driver to press the pedal and he said he will do that once he crosses the Mehindipatnam over bridge!
What nonsense! After he crossed the bridge he just increased to 70km inside the city! I just could not understand the logic behind the driver’s mind till I reached home. My residence was at Sainikpuri, Secunderabad, which is almost 45km from the airport. On a empty sunday night, I can drive to my home in just 45 - 50 min from the airport. But our cab driver took 1 hr and 50 min!
At the same time my hire charge bloated to Rs. 840 and the final charge came to Rs.760 after 10% discount. Believe me I paid Rs. 530 with 10% discount to reach Hyderabad airport from my residence at 6 pm and that too in a peak traffic in a taxi.
When I reached home, we all were literally tired more because of the taxi ride and the not the flight travel. I quickly paid and sent the taxi away. After sometime I received a call from Easy Cabs customer service and informed me a sweet news that the meter charge after 11pm is Rs. 18/km. My blub which was flickering all the while in my mind immediately lit up.
I understood the literal prank the driver played on me just to get few extra bucks. Mid way he even stopped at a fuel station to fill his tank and he made us wait for 5 min.
This is not a healthy business but a swindlers paradise. I have decided to not to take this taxi service hereafter. I had traveled a couple of times in Meru Taxi and I have not faced such a situation. Also the Easy Cabs taxis are very badly maintained. You can find them as White Logon Cars.
At 1 am I received 2 missed calls from the customer care. I answered on the third call. They called me to enquire whether I need a taxi as I had a booking! PUCCA IDIOTS!
They call up after I finished the travel as per the booking. I asked them where will they take me as I had already completed my travel, to paradise?? Bunch of sleeping idiots who never let people sleep peacefully in the night. I literally had to switch off my mobile till I woke up in the morning.
In the end I felt I could have parked my car at the airport for the 2 days trip and I wouldn’t have spent so much and that too reaching home late. Anyway I learnt my lesson well.
My advice to readers, never take late night domestic flights. If your trip is for 2-3 days, then better park your car at the airport. My last advice, AVOID EASY CABS AT HYDERABAD!