My Week Long Shift at London Heathrow

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

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[@mrg19888]

Tried the code but it only gives 10%. Does it only work from tomorrow?

[@RidgwayBrandon]

Have also just tried to use the code and have also only had 10% taken off

[@michaelgeorge8319]

@@RidgwayBrandon Works properly now

[@McGubbins42]

Thanks for the code. Commisserations for your performance on The Chase.

[@acourierfromtheuk]

Hey Tom, I know you said you weren't going to do the shift videos anymore, but I and many others appreciate the shift content. Keep up the good work!

[@howdan1985]

Me too! So happy the shift videos are back, absolutely brilliant.

[@pdhr0che]

Love the shift videos it's relaxing

[@jaymo107]

It's amazing, something I never thought I'd be interested in (London Cabbies) and yet you make the topic so interesting. This is what I love about KZbin, these pockets of gold you find.

[@taxi134-y1q]

Ex-Cabbie here(Provinces)of 19 years standing and I watch all videos relating to Taxiland because I can relate to a lot of the content,and in my view young Tom is in a league of his own.

[@lin90210]

I agree I'm not a cabbie but I get to learn all about it :)

[@Pauldjreadman]

Exactly. KZbin is pretty much a goldmine.

[@boasyV2]

yeah this is the perfect content you can just put in the background while you do work or something else

[@danielmarcotorrente4437]

fr

[@DaveG7920]

This is KZbin at it best, learning about the lives of others and seeing what goes into their day. Jumping in a cab at the airport you may think being a cabby is easy money, but you don't see the waiting and organisation behind things running smoothly.

[@benquinton3506]

My father-in-law was a beneficiary from those lads collecting. As a cabbie of 30 years who was unable to work any more from the appearance of a brain tumour which he passed recently from. It was so touching and welcome that those lads collecting for other cabbies and people in need is incredible. Well Done chaps and thankyou!

[@oriolesaltec]

I realize that this was a big editing undertaking this time, but I hope you don’t give up on the physical map with the black marker. It makes a big difference when you are explaining your route.

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Thank you! Was difficult on this shift because my map doesn’t go out to Heathrow… but in town definitely!

[@taxi134-y1q]

A late friend of mine completed an OU degree whilst sat on various Ranks and during his spare time.Very smart fella,sadly ill health forced him out of the profession and he died shortly after so was unable to achieve his dream armed with his new mature student qualification.However it shows what a cabbie can achieve whilst working.How many jobs give you that flexibility.

[@tezcharold]

Glad shift videos are back on.

[@howdan1985]

Same here - Absolutely fantastic. Love the shift videos. They're the best.

[@WhollyMowly]

Would be a lot more interesting if you could let us know how much you get for each trip.

[@bosco66]

Thanks!

[@fredv9140]

These videos are great. Well done Tom. Thanks for all the content to date!!

[@petercotton89]

Fun fact CCH stands for "Comet Car Hire" (They are now owned by Transdev), you can see their depot as you pass J4 on the M4 (Left hand side towards Swindon). Their depot used to be a National Express Coach Depot but NX franchised most of their services operated from that depot in 2019. I used to work their for Reading Buses who had a small satelite depot operating a few NX contracts and a 100% electric bus trial thats looped Heathrow T5, Iver and Langley.

[@G2020-]

There was absolutely nothing fun about this fact.

[@LDDav]

Hey Tom, great video and just seen you on tonight’s episode of the Chase!

[@AnthonysTransport]

Love the Heathrow videos, the amount of effort you put in these videos are amazing! Keep up the great work!

[@paulwheeler4283]

Tom you're not only a true gentleman you're also a credit to everyone who knows you

[@DavidCunnington-j8u]

Love it Tom. I’ve been out nearly 6 years and still not got a Heathrow tag. I learned a lot but I think I’ll still keep dropping at LHR and getting back to Hammersmith thanks 😂 Great to see fellow cab guides featured too… Mannie, Frank and Paul Keep up the awesome work Tom 👏👏👏👏👏

[@mej6519]

I used to run cargo out of Heathrow, waiting times up to 6 hours was pretty common. We used to have a guy in a transit luton whos job was to hold a place in the cargo queue. That was mid to late 1990's. Not sure if its improved since then, left the cargo game 1999.

[@DuncanR2007]

Good to see you on the chase, fingers crossed I’ll see in 45 minutes you’ll come out up

[@HillsHolidays]

Hi Tom, Love the content, If you wouldnt mind disclosing, it would have been great to know, how this compared to a usual week for you, working in the city itself. Did it work out better, worse, how much worse, and compared to the ability to relax a bit more in the feeder ranks. Great content though, always interesting to see the inner workings. Also how generous, just about every driver donating there!

[@wayneobrien3332]

Never thought I’d find a taxi vlog interesting, but you’ve proven me wrong sir! I’m now a subscriber!

[@bramhall2002]

Tom the Chaser, didn't expect to see you on my TV at this time

[@k6kaysix675]

Just put The Chase on and Tom is a contestant!

[@donovanreece5742]

Hi Tom..... Just saw u on the chase.....u were so so unlucky with that last question..... Big up yourself....was great to see you on there.....take care and thanks for all your KZbin work

[@TimtimTimson]

If I understand air travel correctly then there are times with lots of arrivals and others with a lot less. Like 6-10am is when the big overseas flights arrive (>300 pax per airplane). Maybe your work schedule just does not line up with the passenger arrival times.

[@lin90210]

the lady who asked how much longer is it going to take to get to her hotel should have picked a closer one to heathrow lol....better yet get the tube

[@Antoine_ZR1]

Tom your the go to channel for me, to have in the background playing!

[@jackwheatley2478]

I don’t know why I’m addicted to watching your videos Tom. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a taxi let alone a black or yellow one where I’m from. I’ve never been to London or planning on going anytime soon but I think I’ve watched enough of your videos to be able to direct me about 😅

[@vincentbrady318]

I live near Dublin airport so it’s only about a 12 minute drive home . Got in a taxi late one night and he angrily said could you not have got a bus. I only form found out later from another driver that they can skip the queue if they get back within a set time so don’t feel as bad for them now. They’re usually happy enough to take the fare.

[@BaldEagle11100]

Great watch again Tom , always wondered what you guys get up to at LHR ! Stories of card schools used to go around . Tough luck on the Chase , horrible question for sure .

[@freedom495]

Thanks for the video Tom. All I got from it is... steer away from the port, unless it's code red. Working in town is more fruitful, less milage and more tips. I'm currently on a waiting list for the tag, been for more than 1 year. I should have joined when I first passed out. Not in a rush anyway.

[@ComradeDog95]

I took a cab every single day for 2 weeks straight since I was out here for work. Thanks for the insight! T5 to Renaissance hotel every night.

[@mikepwillis88]

Not even sure how this popped up on my feed but it was fascinating! :)

[@tomcrame1842]

Good to hear you mention the Fares Fair scheme - most cabbies at Heathrow will (in my experience) refuse to admit it exists and demand £75 or £80 fixed price to Slough. Haven't used a cab from Heathrow T5 in years because of this, especially considering there is a half-hourly bus for £2.

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

They can charge that fixed price as that is the minimum fair outside of Metropolitan London, but they won’t get the Q jump back onto the terminal

[@burrell222]

​@@TomtheTaxiDriverHow can that be policed?

[@tomcrame1842]

@@TomtheTaxiDriver That makes sense, thanks.

[@greigs9384]

@@burrell222Partaking in the fares fair isn’t compulsory, but if you ask the rank agent they’ll find a cab that’ll do it for the FF. some passengers try to say Slough, and only once on route do you find out it’s actually Maidenhead or Stoke Poges which isn’t included, hence the reluctance.

[@David_Trowbridge]

I saw you driving on the M4 at 28:22, I was driving on the other side. Made my day!

[@nimedave]

There’s more sitting around than I realised

[@RyanHCFC]

Had it a few times now, when getting a black cab from Heathrow to Ruislip Manor the drivers act like you’ve just sh*t on them. Like the fare isn’t big enough? Then rush, make risky moves to get there and back before the time limit. Puts me off to be honest…

[@jon-ie4li]

I love to see their face when you give them a local job, miserable Sods most of them.

[@RyanHCFC]

@JohnHill-f2nIt’s just a really confusing mentality to have. Sorry for living in Ruislip mate 🤣🤣

[@toxophillus72]

Watching this reminded me why I only ranked up half a dozen times at HR over 40 years cabbing. All that waiting, I couldn't do it, mind you Fares Fair didn't exist, just had a 20 minute turn round to get back to the original rank, which very often couldn't be done, even from a local.

[@absbse]

I took a black cab many years ago in the 80s from Heathrow airport to Hounslow and the driver was furious he kept on swearing all the way there. I never knew why but now I know thanks to this video.

[@toxophillus72]

I can understand the passengers confusion, hopefully the fares fair solves it nowadays, after over 3 hrs in the feeder park and over half hour on terminal 2 I got a fare south and as I knew I couldn't get back in time I just drove back to town, thats why I stopped ranking there, I couldn't afford to chance it. There was more work on the streets back then.

[@happycamper90596]

My dad and uncle used to work the old feeder park back in the 80's when the feeder park was situated opposite the old police station, I worked in the cafe for a while , very unique place , had a lot of laughs there. Best memory was watching Concorde take off in the evening . used to shake the building as it thundered down the run way

[@r_0113]

Love your videos Tom, they keep me entertained during my own night shifts . Loved this one too. Can you do another transport style video? Maybe tube or railway stations only for a week ? Turn it into a mini series .

[@reptongeek]

Because I'm a fan of the Underground, when you mentioned your Uxbridge job, I immediately thought of how to get there on the tube.

[@fetchstixRHD]

Incidentally, one of the journeys where it's probably not the best way to get there...

[@trunkthefunk]

this was a great video tom! enjoyed the whole thing and an excellent insight as always

[@martinharper2215]

Just put on The Chase and there is Tom playing 🤣

[@ForburyLion]

A mate of mine got a taxi to a location literally 5 minutes outside the local zone, the taxi driver advised him in future if he said he was going to destination X (just inside the zone) instead of destination Y (just outside the zone), then the taxi driver who takes him will be grateful.

[@hotfixen]

What a day!!! My Saturday is saved. Def my favorite type of vid! Have a great weekend Tom!!

[@davecook3840]

Just seen you on “The Chase”!

[@THSIM]

Uber vs. Black cab: One week ago I booked an Uber for 2 people and 3 suitcases from Islington to Bernal Green. Driver took one look at the luggage and refused to take even 1 person and the bags. Asked us to cancel the booking.... at a fee of GBP 3.50. Black cab comes by - takes us without any hesitation - perfect service! I admit we did have 3 suitcases, but the Uber driver outright refused to take even 1 person and the bags, without ever leaving the driver's seat. At a fee. Luckily we were able to recover the fee through the "help" function in the app, as it was the driver's decision to cancel, not ours. Rest of the weekend, we stuck to black cabs whenever possible of course - but for us tourists, maybe a video on black cab Apps and booking options would help us avoid Uber altogether?

[@bdeithrick]

Tons of app videos

[@steve17hpe]

There's a few apps, tom recently done a video on these. I suggest using gett. Most reliable.

[@ambimu55hak]

How’s a normal uber going to fit 3 suitcases in his boot?

[@MrDanybe]

They wouldnt pay the extra for an XL.

[@THSIM]

Everything and everyone fit into a Hyundai i10 when we reached our destination 😅 And that is not a big car....

[@MickyPeers]

I did most of my fairly short stint as a green badge at Heathrow, basically cos I was bone idle. Great grub in the canteen. But some long hours low pay, unless you get a roader!

[@michaeljames87]

Tom’s videos are amazing. When I’m in London next July I’d love to be in his taxi…. Take me to the bottom bench!!!! 😅

[@adzhx]

Well played on the Chase Tom, some hard questions mate.

[@jw4317]

Well done a very engaging/interesting take on your other taxi run videos, been traveling into London for many years you have made my taxi ride into London something I look forward to🚕

[@Drdee1]

I've been travelling out out LHR since the 1990's and this is a side of it I've never seen. Thanks for the video

[@jasonruggles2579]

Great video Tom. Seems like it's a drag to be doing Heathrow 24/7

[@thesuomi8550]

Glad to see shift videos pulling in the views

[@martincook3201]

Why do you need to actually sit in the feeder park? It would make more sense for you to register your tag with an app at the start of your shift and be given a say 20 minute time zone to report to the given terminal. Then you could be doing other stuff, picking up other jobs, while waiting.

[@parallel299]

8:26 never would of thought they slept in the cabs! Them taxi drivers a dedicated!

[@Oakwood6922]

Like many, currently watching you on ITV1’s The Chase! Sadly the route on the board came to a dead end. Bad luck fella! Nice one for giving it a go… 👍

[@absbse]

I took a black cab many years ago in the 80s from Heathrow airport to Hounslow and the driver was furious, he kept on swearing all the way there. I never knew why but now I know thanks to this video

[@MrDanybe]

You never knew why 🙄 ignorance is bliss as they say

[@tdtm82]

I had no idea all these regulations existed. Thnak you for educating me.

[@adambygraves1580]

Hello Tom i saw you on the chase the other day, FairPlay for trying mate good luck in the future 👍👍👍

[@danellis-jones1591]

London is so unique. European cities are often quite similar. Beautiful often, but similar. And it's not like Asian cities or North American cities. It's like a gigantic village.

[@88jerryw88]

Came across this randomly, but very interesting to get an insight into the life of a cab driver.

[@bhodisatva]

"Joy of being self-employed, always working" - starts late, takes wednesday off, takes saturday and sunday off...... Yeah, always working :D

[@d4funky1]

🤣

[@jon-ie4li]

Black Cab drivers live in their own little World, thank God for giving us mobile apps despite the drivers best efforts to keep then out.

[@Gingerharry2011]

​@@jon-ie4liI've always found black cabs better than the apps

[@petersmyth398]

⁠​⁠@@jon-ie4liexplain how drivers made best efforts to keep Apps out?

[@petersmyth398]

Probably did more hours than the average persons working week in four days though

[@B1u3Monk3y]

As if I am watching this while The Chase is on in the background.

[@howdan1985]

I found this LHR Shift video absolutely fascinating. Wow, thanks Tom! p s Always on the lookout for you as I drive around London - hope to see you one day and say hi

[@Cubeforc3]

Don't these massive queues in the ranks mean that there are way too many taxis for the amount of work that's available?

[@Gingerharry2011]

It'll all be in fits and starts, 777 might have 400 people that need to set off at the same time and be away for an hour perhaps. So you need a reserve of taxis to take them and have another (potentially 400) ready for the next one

[@gigagurke7364]

How many people really take a cab, i would say only 30%

[@deathpod1975]

Your on the chase ha ha ha Watching now Tom

[@sushi777300]

Love this Airport pickups are the most fun

[@wasabi1m]

Crazy how inefficient this whole thing is. Train goes from under the building! Mad

[@PhannyObsession]

You could have told us you were going on The Chase!!! 😂

[@_Shadbolt_]

I know - can't believe he hasn't used it for content? I guess he'll do a reaction once it's been aired?? Maybe not if he wins £50K though, he'll be long gone 😅

[@PhannyObsession]

@ - or maybe he didn’t get through! 😢

[@LindenTV2023]

Yo Tom, just seen you on The Chase, that was crazy. Tbh I got your last question wrong too, I thought the answer was Brent Cross because I knew the Trafford Centre was built in 1995. Fair play though bro. Great effort on the show

[@THSIM]

Love your shift videos! Just back from a weekend in London, you make me wanna go right back 😂

[@andyholland859]

Love those questions, “ how long will this take?, how much will it cost?, why does the meter keep going up when we aren’t moving? Drives me mad, stilllovehe job though, even after 25 years.

[@SamuelJCarroll]

Actually pretty interesting I'm amazed that going to Slough costs £45 it's literally next door to heathrow

[@50l12]

Watching you on The Chase right now!

[@DavidStevenGuy]

Saw you on the Chase. I remember another cabbie Fred Housego who won Mastermind, one of the questions he got was asking him for the address of the Passport Office which was at that time in Petty France, he knew the answer instantly where many would have struggled! They should have given you some questions like that, of course it doesn't work like that.

[@marcus25g]

I haven't worked the airport for ages, but it always used to get my adrenaline going in anticipation of the route I would need to take as I am good in Town but not so knowledgeable outside of the M25

[@ThB-dc9jl]

I've literally just watched the episode of chase toms on

[@Teverell]

Hey Tom, hope you don't stop the shift videos, I know they're a pain to edit. This is really interesting, seeing a whole shift out of Heathrow. BTW, hope you got that chip in the windscreen fixed!

[@stuctr]

A breakdown of how much you earned that week in total would have been nice at end of video I worked in London for 3 years and never again for me hate the place

[@TheOblivionKid19]

Just seen you on the chase, good effort mate

[@frankberkemeier]

Nice one Tom, cheers for doing this.

[@gazfish]

My Dad worked the airport for many years, used to drive there at 4am and sleep in until the first flights landed. That was before all the express trains and Uber options were available into London. Dunno how you lads make a living these days.

[@global001]

Unfortunately I don’t have 40 mins to watch all of the video. Would be good to have a conclusion at the end so we can find out what your assessment was. The intro was good. Need an outro! 😊

[@AustraliaDoesntExist]

Tom, I literally just saw you on The Chase, what a coincidence 😂

[@Markstaxidiaries]

I have applied for my Heathrow tag and as of last week I was 1366 in the queue

[@CaboloNero]

I’ve had mine 9 years used it probably 4 times 😅

[@TheMasterAnalyst]

Seen you on The Chase 😂👏🏻

[@PROGAMING-yu5ef]

Just watched you on the Chase, unlucky mate!

[@kellyk5946]

Tom. May I suggest studying Flight Radar for a bit to understand the Terminals. Certain times of the day have Aircraft arriving from certain directions.May explain the how much Terminal!

[@Carpetlay1]

I’m having a stewards about your route to St Pancras. M25 J16 M40 A40. Bosh job done 😉

[@xtys9606]

Here for the chase comments 😂

[@willstevens1986]

it seems like it would be really difficult to make a consistent living just doing Heathrow so I’d have assumed that drivers who just do Heathrow have already made their money and they just do it for a bit extra

[@andysexton1948]

32 years a Heathrow driver ..... you are correct done my hard yards 3 kids left home now a grandad myself..... and as I'm now 58 ..... mortgage free it's a different job ...... the stress has gone , but it was earned over 32 years not given ...... I just hope TFL don't ruin it for the younger cabby's.... we need our elite taxi service preserved.....🙏🏻......

[@GazzOak69]

I think if you want to fart around and do fuck all, then yeah

[@Alf857]

My only criticism is wish you would upload more consistently but that’s me being selfish 😂 love your content and your a proper grafter keep smashing it Tom 👌

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

I upload every week? 🤔

[@Alf857]

@ only the last 4 episodes lol

[@alecclews]

So what's the conclusion. Was it financially worth it? Less or more stressful?

[@ryankata2880]

Sat here watching tv and seeing tom on the chase

[@paulmckue4640]

Tom your on The Chase.

[@PhannyObsession]

I’m sure he knows!! 😂

[@014london70]

So glad I got out of the game after 17 years when covid came along. Saved my sanity. Gives me the horrors thinking about it. Be Lucky though!

[@mallorca629]

Great Video Tom! Im a taxi driver in mallorca (Spain) … and i often go to palma airport, our feeder park has a big bar/ restaurant just for the drivers, with TV etc, there are ganes of cards , dominoes and some gambling going on…. So its quite good fun! We dont have to pay to use the feeder park because taxis in spain are considered public transport and have a right to go to the airport like a public bus also does…….

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Love this! I would love to come and see how this looks!

[@mallorca629]

@@TomtheTaxiDriver there is one thing you guys have that we dont: Cabmans Shelter! I would love to be able to stop and have breakfast in a shelter with the taxi parked outside lol! 👍👍

[@mooe3587]

Great vids keep em coming 😎🙏🏼

[@thatkurdy]

Another great video Tom! Keep up the good work. 👍

[@christopherdancer4064]

See this is fascinating, as someone who lives in slough and loves to land from internationals at 1-2am always found it frustrating to get a cab... I at least see why now!

[@disrealnow9664]

Can't see how you can make any money doing this - more waiting than working.

[@danellis-jones1591]

Only at Heathrow. Check out his other videos if you haven't already. Mind you, his income is extremely variable, and although he's also gone over how much money he makes, it seems like a lot for a cab ride, but not much when looking at it as income.