New York newspapers used to report about naive visitors paying excessive fares into Manhattan. The record was set by a Japanese tourist handing over $2500 and the driver dropped him in Harlem since he wouldn’t cough up another $500 to get him to his destination.
Things have improved at JFK, however the age-old practice of soaking the uninformed has a global reach.
Back in April 2009 I deplaned in Moscow’s Terminal 2 after arriving from Kiev. My connecting flight to St. Petersburg was in Terminal 1. No signs suggested how to reach that destination, although a taxi driver was willing to drive the 5 kilometers for $60.
“Sorry. I don’t have to be there that bad.”
“Special deal. $40.” He showed a price card. $60 for Terminal 1
“Why so cheap?” I figured that rate was from Moscow.
“Because I liked George Bush.”
That claim settled it for me.
I would rather miss my plane than join a Bush Supporter and took the transit bus.
It was free and got me there in plenty of time. I even was able to drink two beer. They cost $10 each.
I wasn’t getting out of Moscow without getting screwed, then again beer in airports were never cheap, except in Kiev. $5 for a large jeroboam of Stella.
I like cheap beer.
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