Is this common in foreign airports?

KM792

Take a major European airport like Rome Fumiciono or Charles de Galle in Paris...
If a young female(20s)is travelling solo and arrives in the arrivals hall is it common for her to be approached at random by a man offering a good fare to the city?
Is this a taxi tout or is there something sinister at play here?

Atlantic Dawn

It's normally someone operating an unlicenced/uninsured journey in a private car to where you want to go.

rossie1977

It's more common in places like China, Brazil, India etc

Never accept a taxi ride from anyone offering it in arrivals hall. There is always information desk to guide you to official taxi service or public transportation

punisher5112

Yes totally normal so don't accept....

Try and blend in with the locals a bit and don't look lost helps

branie2

You can book a taxi online to take you to your destination from the airport when you arrive.

banie01

It's how many movies start OP.
Do you have any relatives with a unique set of skills?
Who'd track said man down?
To return you to safety and leave a trail of destruction behind on the way to finding you...

punisher5112

Take a photo of car and it's number and send to someone....

greencap

not the best starting point for any serious crime.

not that that alone means its legit, just if one was up to anything seriously dodgy then an airport probably isn't the place to start.

one of the most security intense buildings in most european cities and that.

(as regards the unlicensed taxis, yeah that does happen, saw a docu on it, they have cracked down on it in france anyway.)

delly

Very common in Charles de Galle, speaking from experience and as a man with family in tow.

eurozonelady

Yeah that´s really common has happened to me tonnes of times in different countries and continents regardless of whether I was travelling alone, with another female or male. I don´t take them up on their offer, often they´ll quote the fare 25-50% more than it is, it depends on the country.

It happens in Dublin too and when you´re waiting for the aircoach at bus stops around the city!

tuxy

Only solo female travellers? That's odd
Only solo travellers would be normal for illegal taxi's as it's easier to extort money from one person.

Your Face

Happened to me a few times in JFK.
Unlicensed taxi drivers.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

KM792 wrote: »

Take a major European airport like Rome Fumiciono or Charles de Galle in Paris...
If a young female(20s)is travelling solo and arrives in the arrivals hall is it common for her to be approached at random by a man offering a good fare to the city?
Is this a taxi tout or is there something sinister at play here?

Nothing whatsoever to do with being young or female. It's just common, for all ages and sexes. Ignore them and move along.

BrokenArrows

KM792 wrote: »

Take a major European airport like Rome Fumiciono or Charles de Galle in Paris...
If a young female(20s)is travelling solo and arrives in the arrivals hall is it common for her to be approached at random by a man offering a good fare to the city?
Is this a taxi tout or is there something sinister at play here?

Yes, airport arrivals are all full of taxi drivers trying to scam tourists in most of the world.

razorblunt

Happens to anyone that stand out as tourists.

At Charles de Gaulle I’d almost be tempted to take the over inflated charge than have to take the disgusting train to Gare du Nord.

poisonated

I only once accepted a lift from someone who came up to me in the arrivals hall. It was in Beijing. The guy took 2 hours to find my hotel. At least it was a fixed rate.

fryup

be careful if they're cute and their name is Peter, you could be Taken