My Week Long Shift at London Heathrow

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

❗️Get 22% OFF yFOOD! Use my code TAXI-KZbin❗️ bit.ly/TomtheTaxiDriver_yfood_NovPromotion 9th - 12th Nov 2024 ONLY!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@tezcharold]

Glad shift videos are back on.

[@howdan1985]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@michaelfrancis8692]

I used to work Heathrow 15 years ago great jobs like Harwich, Norfolk, Torquay and Northampton. Mate of mine went to Aberdeen, the good old days..

[@naidoo15]

Dam, never thought about that, was just thinking back into London jobs. Forgot about the rest of the country

[@fsbayer]

@@naidoo15 Was there no connecting flights to Aberdeen back then? That sounds mental, it's like a 10 hour drive 😂

[@jimmybaldwin737]

Bloody hell. To Aberdeen. That's got to be at least 2 or 3 grand surely. Would you ask for a payment upfront

[@thomasm1964]

​it might have been worth it to a business customer. Perhaps he had a sales deal hanging in the balance worth tens or hundreds of thousands / millions of pounds to him. In that context, 3 grand on an emergency taxi ride would easily be justifiable if it got the passenger into his sales meeting. Cost, price and value are very different things. So long as the value to you exceeds its cost, then the transaction is worth considering.

[@omarpick9714]

lad stop lying

[@fredv9140]

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

[@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.

[@LDDav]

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

[@DuncanR2007]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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 👏👏👏👏👏

[@paulwheeler4283]

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

[@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!

[@bramhall2002]

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

[@WhollyMowly]

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

[@AnthonysTransport]

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

[@k6kaysix675]

Just put The Chase on and Tom is a contestant!

[@wayneobrien3332]

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

[@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

[@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

[@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…

[@JohnHill-f2n]

Iv been working Heathrow for 25 years,I know the drivers your on about,if you say Gatwick they are your best mate,sorry u have encountered these drivers but we are not all like that so please carry on using us we appreciate your custom

[@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 🤣🤣

[@JohnHill-f2n]

@ took a lovely couple to Ruislip last week Ryan,they left happy,I never want a customer of mine leaving with a bad impression mate,hopefully I pick up up or one of the decant lads mate we appreciate your custom Ryan

[@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.

[@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?

[@nimedave]

There’s more sitting around than I realised

[@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 .

[@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%

[@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… 👍

[@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.

[@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 😅

[@tdtm82]

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

[@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.

[@hotfixen]

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

[@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.

[@Antoine_ZR1]

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

[@MrSharK97]

Hi Tom Been watching your videos for a while now I find them very entertaining and educational I always learn something new from them 😁 Can I ask you what dashcam do you use to record the B-roll footage? I'm a Uber driver had a dascam fitted in my car from Amazon apparently wasn't TFL approved which I din't know about. Got stopped in Heathrow drop off and got a warning for not having a TFL approved dashcam and had to take it off. Now i'm looking to get one but all the TFL approved ones are using the Cloud to upload the videos (as far as I know) there's no physical SD card which I can get the footage from.. I'm also doing YT content and would like to have some B-roll footage from the road. Do you have any advise for me on which one I could get for that purpose? Keep doing what you're doing!

[@mikepwillis88]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@B1u3Monk3y]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@88jerryw88]

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

[@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🚕

[@adzhx]

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

[@jasonruggles2579]

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

[@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!!!! 😅

[@ThB-dc9jl]

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

[@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!

[@adambygraves1580]

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

[@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

[@alecclews]

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

[@davecook3840]

Just seen you on “The Chase”!

[@mildertduck]

I notice that you didn't really do any "central" to Heathrow jobs on your way back to the feeder park. Is this something that doesn't really happen, as I'm surprised that there aren't hotels wanting cabs to take people to the airport fairly steadily throughout the day?

[@bdeithrick]

Hard to get as all sown up by cranks. You can open the apps and point west for a slim chance

[@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.....🙏🏻......

[@JohnHill-f2n]

Been at the port 27 years love it im a lazy sod lol

[@Gary-vv5gt]

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

[@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

[@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

[@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 😅

[@martinharper2215]

Just put on The Chase and there is Tom playing 🤣

[@HeavenlyTennyo]

Love love love these videos where we get to ride with you. Hope there’s more to come! Additionally, I’m too late to the promo code, but I’m also in the US. How else can we support you?

[@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! 👍👍

[@mattg5878]

Hi Tom. Love the vids like this. Wonderful. Here’s an idea - for shift videos, could you have a cumulative fare counter for the shift. You could then give a number of overheads for the shift and give your profit per hour. Would be interesting for the serious anoraks like myself

[@sushi777300]

Love this Airport pickups are the most fun

[@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

[@David_Trowbridge]

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

[@southlondonunderground7293]

Really liked this video - if I was still living in London I would strongly consider doing the knowledge!

[@deathpod1975]

Your on the chase ha ha ha Watching now Tom

[@paulc1983]

So is there anything stopping a cab from just turning up and skipping the feeder rank? Apart from etiquette of course.

[@richi1074]

Probably there is a licence plate scanner camera that will prevent this.

[@georgef822]

I don't think you can skip the rank. You have to go through the barrier.

[@THSIM]

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

[@matt-vk1ny]

Great vid as always. Last knockings go to T5. All the BA flights (majority) landing and using that terminal. Surely more chance of a fare?

[@paulmckue4640]

Tom your on The Chase.

[@PhannyObsession]

I’m sure he knows!! 😂

[@frankberkemeier]

Nice one Tom, cheers for doing this.

[@howcotube]

Always enjoy your videos especially since I can relate to the area as we only travel to the UK from America. I also finally on my last trip to London found Yfood drink and it was great but unfortunately we cannot get it here in the states. Maybe we will spot you on our next trip in September 2025 !

[@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

[@xtys9606]

Here for the chase comments 😂

[@TheLondonTransportDroid]

For that Kings Cross job to the hotel, wouldn’t be have been easier to go via M4, left onto the Park Way, up to Northolt, Target Roundabout onto A40? You took a risk going via Hammersmith Bdy and Shepherds Bush. Those two locations are jammed packed of traffic these days.

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Bus lane 🙌🏻

[@TheOblivionKid19]

Just seen you on the chase, good effort mate

[@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!

[@BCFC1875Cruzeiro]

I like the videos and always wanted to be a London cabbie.. never got around to it.. one of my few regrets. A question for you.. in the opening you say you go to Heathrow to get a job into the city to start work in the city , collecting fares in town, why do you not drive from home to the city and hope you collect a fare or fares on the way? I know Heathrow fares will probably be bigger jobs but 3 hours waiting at Heathrow could you not be making money in town or on the way to town?

[@50l12]

Watching you on The Chase right now!

[@PROGAMING-yu5ef]

Just watched you on the Chase, unlucky mate!

[@thomasm1964]

I'm intrigued now. Have you any feel for how many taxis work through Heathrow each day / week? Is there a body somewhere which publishes the stats?

[@bosco66]

Thanks!

[@parallel299]

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

[@Lambicman]

All the waiting in feeder parks seems very wasteful and inefficient.

[@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

[@lewiskelly14]

I was expecting you to talk about at least the money Difference between heathrow and not

[@Tisbigs]

Great video, Questions financially was it worth?

[@tobeytransport2802]

What’s the difference between the rules for the 90 minute jobs and the 60 minute local jobs? What’s the benefit of having a local ticket as opposed to going somewhere that gets you back in 90 minutes?

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

The 90 minute jobs are a fixed price. Locals could be undefined within the local area for instance, I once took a couple to pick up their dog from the airport area where animals get sent from flights, they went inside, meter was left running and they came back and wanted to go to another terminal.

[@tobeytransport2802]

@ ahh ok, that’s interesting- thanks for the insight. By the way I love watching your videos and it’s made me very much respect London taxis, and make use of them when I’ve got luggage or transport just won’t work for the journey.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@jameslane411]

What were the results of the test? Was it a better / worse week in terms of takings?

[@clarenceishmael9615]

This is interesting! How do you manage all that Heathrow mileage in a TXE? I'm hearing the electric range is not great. Do you just find yourself using the Range extender a lot more than usual?

[@xscreamsuk]

what's it like early morning, like picking up for the 6 and 7 am arrivals?

[@bdeithrick]

May aswell sleep there 🛌

[@xscreamsuk]

@@bdeithrick Just thinking that most of the trans atlantics arrive morning, and maybe more likely to be going into central London.