Perth - Western Australia, How to catch a flight
An important warning for all travellers dparting from
Perth, Western Australia.
We recently visited
Perth, W.A. and thoroughly enjoyed it’s variety of attractions.
If you are planning to include Perth on your travel I would suggest you do the following;
Swan
Valley river cruise with Oceanic Cruises or Captain Cook cruises. This is a most relaxing trip up
Swan
River to
Guildford and beyond and then you continue by private coach to visit a couple of wineries and have lunch. The one we did was with Oceanic which included a visit to Chesters winery where we had a good lunch and had time to taste some of their wines. The surrounds at Chesters is the least attractive part of the trip, it looks like a demolition site and something should be done about it after all, a winery should give that welcome, perhaps a bit of luxury-feeling. Should it not? We continued to Houghton Winery afterwards and that met all expectations. Beautiful surrounding, great tasting room and a very smart café set in rustic style.
The second trip we did was up the river to Fremantle, a charming town on the coast. I suggest you go on the 1 your tram trip on arrival which gives you an insight to the history of this town and afterwards we had time to walk around on our own before the boat returned in the afternoon.
For lunch in Fremantle I suggest the Little Creatures Brewery and if you like beer try their Pale Ale. Glorious !
Did I mention a warning? Writing about the tours we did I almost forgot one important point which I feel you should know.
We pre ordered a taxi from Swan Taxis for 04:45 on the 13th November as we had a flight to
Sydney at 05:50. I’ll make a very very long story short. We missed the flight.
Swan Taxi, at 04:15 told me they do not take pre bookings in the morning! Nobody told us the night before when we made the reservation. We rang them at least 10 times between 04:45 and 04:15 and there was absolutely no compassion, no service, no excuses, in other words they were totally indifferent to our plight and to top if off when the cab eventually arrived at 04:27 (which of course was too late to make the airport in time) they had not even informed the driver that we were in a hurry. It was only when we told him of the extremely bad service from Swan Taxis that he “stepped on it” but to no avail.
So my suggestion is this. If you are booked out of Perth on an early morning flight between 0500 and 0700 DO NOT take a chance on Swan taxi Prebook the shuttle service which are guaranteed to pick you up.
Hi everyone
As a driver of a Swan Taxi I can say that this writer should know that the drivers are subcontractors to Swan Taxi despatch centre who are not interested to the complaints, as he said when he told to the driver that they are late for the flight he stepped on it …
So a simple suggestion is to research before writing an article, ( I know that Swan Taxis web site is old and hasn’t been updated for aproximately 5 yers which is a shame for the despatch service ) but anyone who is catching a taxi should speak to the driver instead of the despatch service because system is different from state to state, let alone from country to country, I also bet that this guy was, when he finnaly hit Sydney, shocked with taxi service over there …
With regards
Theo
Letter to Swan Taxi on March 20th, 2008 :
The General Manager
Swan Taxi
1008 Wellington St
West Perth,
WA 6005
Dear Sir / Madam
Subject : Booking Reference No. (XXXXXX) - 18th February 2008
I refer you to the subject Booking Reference number. On the early evening of February 18th my wife received an urgent phone call from her family in England, informing her that her elderly mother had suddenly taken very ill, and requesting my wife to return to England as soon as possible. We immediately went about making arrangements for this urgent and substantial travel.
By going on-line, we were successful in booking her air ticket immediately, with an international airline located in Dubai, for departure from Perth during the very early hours of the following morning, February 19th.
By going on-line we were successful in booking her UK car hire immediately, with a car hire company located in London, who were so efficient, realising the urgency of the matter, telephoned us in Perth, from England, to state that all arrangements were in place, and her hire-car would be waiting for her at the London airport, for February 19th.
Lastly, we needed to simply book the taxi service to take my wife from our home in the Western Suburbs to Perth International airport. As this could not be done on-line, we were required to telephone your company. As the automated phone service you offer, only facilitates the booking of a taxi for immediate use (and not for a later pick-up) we were placed on hold, for a considerable period of time. Eventually your operator responded. We carefully explained the situation, and booked a taxi to collect my wife from our home at 04.15hrs sharp the following morning. We intentionally allowed an additional 15 minutes above your operators minimum recommended pick up time, to ensure my wife would not miss her flight. We were given confirmation no (XXXXXX).
Incredibly, the following morning, at 04.15hrs, no taxi arrived and no message received from Swan Taxi’s, who had all of our contact details. We waited a further 15 minutes and frantically called your office on a number of occasions. Eventually, at 04.40 hrs when we called one last time, we were informed by your operator that a taxi would not be coming, as “no one had responded to the radio call “.
I find it incredible that such an event could occur, given that your company fully understood the critical importance, and sensitivity, of this booking, and the stress my wife would have been under. The no-show is inexcusable, but that fact that no one even bothered to inform us that “no taxi would be turning up” is beyond belief. With no time to spare, I was required to immediately drive my wife to the airport and leave two young children at home, At 04.45 in the morning !
I informed your operator that we were extremely dissatisfied with the poor quality of service offered by Swan Taxis and that we would expect an explanation from your management. I also informed your operator that we would be making a complaint to the local authorities.
Needless to say, in keeping with the extremely poor service and care offered by Swan Taxis, we have heard nothing further.
A few days after my wife arrived in England, her mother passed away.
I would like to receive your comments to this most unfortunate course of events – and I am not interested in any excuses such as ..’’ a booking does not represent a commitment from Swan taxis etc….’’
Yours sincerely
(signed)
PS: When we returned home a few weeks later, we read about the Taxi drivers protest at the local government offices….. further adding to our confusion.