Working at Heathrow Airport AGAIN!

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

GET YOUR yFood HERE! 👉 - bit.ly/tomthetaxidriver_yfood_tp

[@Sadude13]

How are you keeping up with the rising cost of petrol.

[@goutvols103]

Thanks for sharing. Have you thought about doing Uber? What are you pros and cons if you have not already discussed previously. I would assume that Uber drivers do not need to take the 'Knowledge' test. Thanks in advance.

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

@@goutvols103 working for a platform that can remove you overnight, change their commission rate or how much they pay you instantly? No thanks. Would rather be back at Starbucks

[@CJDJSDiscos]

so its basically Huel right?

[@charlesgaskell5899]

Tom Scott brought me here. Glad he did!

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

I had such a fan boy moment reading his email! Couldn’t believe it! Thanks for joining 🙌🏻

[@georgelloydgonzalez]

@@TomtheTaxiDriver Tom Scott is a KZbin institution

[@michaelwood3099]

All about having the right mental attitude, so respect for that.

[@W_4lt]

Hey Tom, love the videos, I was wondering if you could do a video about adverts/wraps on taxis, the pros, the cons, and why you decided against it. Think that would be quite neat, anyway keep up the good work

[@magnetic_beacon9138]

That would be wicked

[@Fobar90]

Yeah I agree

[@moelester3772]

I’ve been wanting to know about this also! Please do one tom

[@cuppaht161]

I think he’s already done a video about that might not be clearly labelled as that in the title but I’m sure he has

[@Fobar90]

@@cuppaht161 you gotta give us more than that. Give us a link or summit?

[@RobOwenKing]

7.20 for a multi-hour wait sounds a tough way to make a living! I also love the bit about the guy wanting to stop at a newsagents. It's basically a throwaway aside in the video, but it's a big reason taxis and the Knowledge are still so relevant today.

[@adamingleton8529]

I am glad you mentioned about the "local job" having seen another video about the £7.20 entry, when I got picked up at terminal 3 to go to Raddison (barth road??) I felt sorry for the taxi guy who had been probs queing for two hours for a job to then do a £14 job and then reenter at a cost at £7.20 , so gave him a £5 tip to compensate based on prior knowledge which I know now to be sort of incorrect and it would be classed as a local job thanks to your video so he would not have to repay or go to the long que again :)

[@robwhitley7902]

So your fare was £14 from terminal 3 to Renaissance but then want to check in and then go back to Heathrow to take Heathrow Express.

[@sentinel80]

@@robwhitley7902 what are you on about ? Where is there any mention of the Heathrow express 🤷‍♂️

[@sentinel80]

@Adam. I wonder how long this “local” job rule has been going. When I lived local black cabs just refused to take you if you weren’t going into London. Yes you can force them to take you but who wants to sit in a vehicle where the driver hates you 🙄😄

[@ianfowlef6423]

As always loving the ride along videos, keep them coming, stay safe tom

[@vintage0x]

this was totally fascinating. as a londoner, i never take black cabs (i was always taught to think of them as transport for tourists or the wealthy), but the expertise at play here makes me want to take a cab one day. thanks tom!

[@unconventionalideas5683]

Maybe during all of these strikes it might be worth considering using the taxis instead for certain trips. IDK. I hear Britain has a lot of strikes and that the government's intervention in negotiations is making everything much worse because the government is intervening in a very anti-union way.

[@unconventionalideas5683]

BTW, I am American, and we have our own screwed up politics to deal with, although apparently the Roe v. Wade decision has been worth around 5-10+% in elections based on what we have seen so far.

[@vintage0x]

@@unconventionalideas5683 yes indeed the strikes need a resolution from the government, and the strikers should continue until they reach a strong deal. _AND_ yes though it doesn't seem that 5-10% margin will be enough for the Dems to keep the house, so 2023-25 will likely be 2 years of stagnation.

[@fetchstixRHD]

I haven't taken a black cab in years (and rarely use minicabs/Uber et al either), but I've always wanted a ride in the new electric-ish ones, but never have found an excuse or been able to. Maybe one day, I'll get one to just drive me around a bit 🤣

[@insight418]

racist

[@ShowRyuKen]

I love this sort of content. It's fascinating to hear your reasoning and thinking re: your route planning. Me and my housemate live in London but neither of us drive and we're constantly having these sorts of discussions about bus and train routes around the city, so it's interesting to hear this sort of thing about navigating the road network in a private car. Great to see lots of familiar bits of London on the dashcam too. Nice one, Tom.

[@Kicks-iw2xe]

Great vid tom. My old man was a black cab driver for 35 years doing the exact stuff u doing. So great to see what his daily work routine would of been like. Going to show him your vids

[@falafel4618]

Cheers Tom - exactly answered the question I was wondering: what happens if you queue up 5 hours and just get a local run... Now we know!

[@InclusiveDriving]

Finishing times: sometimes I have to remind myself why I'm self-employed. Flexibility and family time is more important than earning an extra load of cash.

[@anthonymichaeldurkin6244]

difficult to argue that

[@simonround2439]

I once had an early morning ride to Heathrow with a cabbie who said he liked working early in the morning. He would usuually get a job out to the airport and at that time in the morning the wait for a fare back into London was not such a long one. By the time rush hour came around he said he had usually earned a good amount of money.

[@tfairley1187]

I’m a driver in Glasgow and like to start 4-5am for that exact reason. Traffic is much lighter for a few hours so can get a clear run for fares

[@charlesjohnson7813]

Tom why did you take the beconsfield I worked the fliers for 20 years at that time of night and living in S.E. London that would have been curtains for me.Due to heart disease lost my badge ,well life has its knocks ,but in my day Beconsfield was a legitimate refusal.Be lucky son

[@talhaahsanlondon]

I'm recovering from illness and watching a lot of KZbin. This is a wonderful channel to come across.

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Thanks Talha! Wishing you a speedy recovery ❤️

[@ronnieronaldo889]

Always love the Heathrow ones! You actually passed by my mini bus

[@mikethecabbie8476]

Spent 30yrs driving taxi in Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, so plenty of visits to LHR. Interesting to see the other side of the coin; I admit we always loved the ones where we ran customer up to airport, and found we'd got a booking for somebody inbound to go back! I agree with your comments about Sod's Law; it seems to work against taxi drivers everywhere!

[@m4hf]

We need more of the daily work videos in London picking up jobs

[@ryancaldwell9463]

Fascinating to me that the need is at Heathrow, it’s one of the busiest airports in Europe I imagine. And you have all those drivers queue into the tank and wait. But yet you can be waiting in excess of 2 hours to get out of the rank car park.l and get a job and start getting paid.

[@danedao]

I worked in UK as a courier for a year in 2010, aussie here. had a great time, money was very poor but i got to see the whole place top to bottom ,east west and nthn Ireland, watching these vids is great, did a lot of London stuff . Sat nav worked pretty good. Nice one Tom.

[@KennethU]

You went back to Aus after? How comes, if u did

[@syllomusic]

Fascinating, I'm a Londoner who's never taken a cab/uber (easier to just walk/cycle/tube), but there's certainly a LOT more strategy, and knowledge, in running a black cab. My colleague religiously gets one daily, for a short run in the city, he knows all the cabbies now and they look after his phone/wallet whenever he leaves it in the cab

[@almuric1baggins337]

Brilliant, as ever! All the best. Be safe Tom.

[@jonathansapier7574]

Fascinating narration as ever Tom! Living up in Yorkshire it’s great to see the hustle and bustle of the capital - on my iPad 😉

[@carolinex4825]

I actually prefer these videos the most out of everything you upload lol

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Trying to do more in real life stuff! Plenty more to come

[@inayat817]

haha saw you in victoria two days ago and was sooo psyched when you smiled and waved at me !!

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Good to see you! Hope you had a great day

[@seanmarah6886]

Interesting video about Heathrow, I've had my badge 28 years and never ranked up there as I fear getting lost if the job doesn't come back into London😟

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

That is a reality! Completely different job out there!

[@JaffaGaffa]

Schwell.. just before the panicdemic, me and family was in London. Had to take a 7 min taxiride cuz of sons ailing foot. At the end of it, I asked the driver if the expected tips/was it custom to etc. He said: Only if you want to, you dont have to mate!.Gave him the change, 1 pound or so and blessed him (In heart and mind) Edit: I knew enough to make sure it was a propper London Cabbie before we got in to it

[@flibblesan]

Congrats on getting a shout-out in Tom Scotts newsletter!

[@oneteaminbristolbcfc]

Thanks for the upload Tom love the vids!!! You right a lot of luck involved in fares ✌️❤️

[@oldmanc2]

Absolutely fascinating the decisions you have to make. Well produced video! I used to work at LHR and drive past the feeder park every day and think of all the drivers

[@FredoSantana90]

I do deliveroo & uber eats on the side and although different from driving a taxi the experience is almost identical! Even when you explained wanting to get a job in central so you can stay there and get more jobs. Ofcourse you can always just drive there but its always more satisfying to get paid to drive there. I usually float around marylebone mayfair Knightsbridge & chelsea too and go home at midnight.

[@yakdkd]

Tom I like your videos and one issue you raised is when you get a job in your direction to take you home. It's a dilemma for all drivers. Keep going Tom wish you well

[@oliversharpe2689]

14:19 looks like Jeremy is having some late night fun in the P50

[@honeyloops]

Came from Tom Scott’s newsletter. Wasn’t disappointed. So interesting! Nice one dude.

[@simonnlaroche5438]

Excellent as always Tom, clearly a very clever guy!

[@BritishAdam]

I dunno why, but it's always interesting when you're around Heathrow, hopefully you decide to do more videos of the area. I also suspect it must be where you get the most eccentric or odd looking passengers too, all the people coming from afar!

[@niallbourke7963]

I live in Dublin, but my God, London what a town - maybe 10 times the size of Dublin. I lived there during the 80s. I was young at the time and I can still remember the cafes we used to eat in, my favourites were the 'Blue Sky 'just down from Nottingham Gate and another great one on Kensington High St. Still remember the pints we used to drink - Fullers 'Trophy' and 'Extra Special Bitter'. Still remember the pubs and the late night drinking clubs - the 'Brigade' on Notting hill Gate, the' Radio and Stage' in Paddington were just two of them. Always found genuine Londoners to be great, very friendly people. I still love London and return now and again.

[@niallll]

love these videos with a passion

[@prospect8696]

I grew up coming to London every summer with my parents. I am the only American born in the family. We would grab a taxi from LHR to Hilton Park Lane. Now I know why they liked us and wanted the return trip reserved. But cabs would be out front of the hotel starting at 5am, waiting for us.

[@Francesco-jt2mq]

Hi Tom. Remember that you can refuse a job going outside the Metropolitan Area. Beaconsfield is way out, and you could have refused it. It's a great job for those working the airport, but it's a killer if you want to just get back to London. Also, those jobs like Beaconsfield have a fix price. To find out the price for the out of the Met you can either use the price list which is at every terminal or you can get a booklet from the LTDA office at the canteen. See you around

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Thanks Francesco, I definitely live and learn. Huge learning curve at Heathrow and takes a few times to learn how to not get burnt. I had a Stratford from LHR, but when he realised the price, the guy decided to bail on me on the Bath Road. I thought no dramas, I'll just go back to the terminal and the rank marshall will know it's a local. Nope... apparently you have to go back with the passengers to get it authorised as a local. Lesson learnt, back to the feeder I go. That little bit of Knowledge has since saved me in a similar situation.

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

You're such a lovely bloke.

[@greigs9384]

Local tickets are great until it’s Ealing or Hampton Wick at 5pm, and that’s you done.

[@walkamileinmyshoes7096]

Brilliant video mate and really informative. I was always a bit worried attempting to work Heathrow because guaranteed I’d balls it up. That’s put a lot of light on it. Thanks mate!

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Great to see you Rosh, hope you are well! I've had a few blunders, took a Stratford off T2 late night, young Aussie lad. He asks how much it might be and I give an estimate. As we exit the tunnel road he asks if we can pull over somewhere as he's due to meet a mate (he's on the phone trying Uber). Of course I oblige, he pays what the meter got to but as it wasn't down as a local, I had to go back through the feeder park. Literally live and learn.

[@RoadRunnerTaxi]

Is it worth spending all that time there surely there's more work in town lol

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Can utilise the downtime and all depends on luck. Sometimes town is better, sometimes Heathrow works in your favour

[@tobyjohnson6722]

How do people who only work at the Heathrow taxi rank make money? I just don't understand how waiting for 2 - 4 hours for a fare is cost effective

[@Andytizer]

Yes especially when paying £7.20 for the fare on top.

[@iosgamingshorts]

They should make a virtual waiting line..

[@jedfra9172]

Picked up a Will Self novel "The Book of Dave" from a charity shop and just finished reading it when magically for the first time ever I get recommended a London cabbie video. How good is that algorithm 🤨 Not normally someone interested in cab drivers or London but so interesting to watch some content on this channel after randomly reading a crazy novel based around 'the knowledge' and black cab driving in London. These guys definitely have their own special set of skills and work very hard for their income.

[@bengolding1551]

This is really interesting! Don’t live in London anymore buts is great to see the perspective of a cabbie. Subscribed 👍🏻👍🏻

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

Love the sound of the traffic.

[@RickardEB]

There is really not much difference driving a cab in London from driving a taxi in Gothenburg other than you have a cooler Volvo ;) So many hours I have spent on Landvetter Airport in Gothenburg. But here we charge the customer for the rank fee at the airport. The fee here is sek 37 or about £3. But now I work at our main office as a planner/dispatcher. I sometimes really miss driving a taxi. It's really nice to see you working in London!

[@johnmckay1423]

You mean because Volvo and London Taxi Company are the same now? Both owned by Geely. I like the new black cabs, but tbh I'd probably rather spend my day in a V90 or XC90 😀

[@edwardinho6185]

Interesting video and I like how you seamlessly added the promo bit!

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

😉

[@dirkpieterdemol-meulendijk6615]

I work in the new build office overlooking the Heathrow taxi feeder park. So cool to now know how it works around Heathrow!

[@petewright2283]

Fair play. I thought it was a joke when I heard the name on rides but absolutely brilliant insight. We’re planning a London trip so have to try and catch a ride with the man

[@danbuac1156]

What’s stopping you from going to whatever terminal you’d like if you haven’t joined the rank at Heathrow. Could you realistically just go straight to a terminal and not pay the taxi rank fare?

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Heathrow tag. You have to scan it as you arrive at each terminal.

[@tonyclifton265]

the other cabbies might spot that you're a queue-jumping Judas and beat the S out of you

[@danielgill797]

I have just discovered your channel today and I find it really interesting leaning about the life of a black cab driver. Just gets me wondering if you have ever gone to any of the places in Central London that I know. My dad used to work for a mini cab company when I was young so he was always doing nights. Me myself I live in Sutton just outside Croydon so South Central London but still inside M25. Grate videos, please keep going.

[@yorkieterrier8868]

Discovered your channel today. Found it mesmerising. Love London but traffic is crazy.

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Thanks and welcome!

[@KatyaFirehair]

I'm genuinely surprised that Wraysbury isn't on the 'local' list - it's like 20 minutes away!

[@silversurfertraveller]

Hi Tom, you mentioned in one of your previous videos that you didn't think you were a good communicator. I have to say that I beg to differ. I think your videos are great and the information and style is brilliant.

[@MrSandhopper]

Always enjoy your vids Tom. Keep them coming fella.

[@DerangedAussieMan]

This video was actually pretty interesting, even though I've never been to the UK.

[@craigdavidmack]

wow the heathrow system is very interesting, like playing the lottery, great insight, thank you

[@theadventurousboi9609]

I love Heathrow. I went plane spotting there once

[@molineuxtv]

Hi there. Really enjoyed this video. I managed to catch a black cab when in Terminal 5 once or twice, but the most recent time we did so was just this past June and it was staggeringly dry and hot and we - me and my parents - chucked ourselves in the back with all our bags and went our way. It was about a 1 hour journey from there to Kingston in the end with all these roads blocked up. But I am enthralled by the whole system and that our own black cab had to do all that queuing in spots that I completely recognise (thanks to all the car rentals and travelling in transit vans)!

[@OG_Rider]

Interesting to learn about how it works from your point of view.

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

I still don’t know the ins and outs. In many ways it’s a completely different job to working in town

[@rjmunro]

I read an article years ago that said most New York taxi drivers get their strategy wrong, and you seemed to do the same. The correct strategy is if you are having a bad day, you should cut your losses early, i.e. after the Beaconsfield job you should have gone home. If you are having an extra good day, maybe when there is a problem on the tube or something, keep working as late as you can. You'll make enough money that evening that you can afford a lie in the next day. Don't stop early thinking I've made enough money today. When it's busy and going well for you, people need taxis more, so work longer.

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

That’s an interesting way of looking at it. My other mental model is: a bad start doesn’t mean a bad ending. I’ve times where I’ve got off to a bad start and felt the need to chase it and it’s turned the day around. Likewise, having a good start can mean I step off the gas a bit and I do less as a result. Only takes one job to turn your day around!

[@kevinrayner5812]

I worked with a guy who lived in Hounslow who had an almighty row with the taxi driver who objected to the short run. I was quite surprised what constitutes "local". Not quite sure why the driver chose to be so aggressive when on his return to the airport he was able to jump the queue.

[@Francesco-jt2mq]

it's one of the great mystery of this Trade which I still haven't found an answer for: why some drivers hate locals so much whenever I get many locals I have a great day if you work the airport locals are a money spinner either locals or a Manchester or similar. I have been waiting for my Manchester for 23 years and I believe it may never happen, so i will stick with my locals to make a good day.

[@McMetro]

Great Video 👍 I also like that you have the non-existent Terminal 1 on your thumbnail 🤣

[@timames4405]

Just to say Heathrow Airport Ltd charging £7.20 for you just to pick up a fare is outrageous. It would be reasonable say if the wait time was say 15 minutes but 2 hours. Nah.

[@POTThaesslich]

Ha, I've been on the other side of all of this. being screamed at by a cabbie because the rank marshall messed up and I was sent to the "wrong" cab. but I lived right at the edge of the local zone, so usually would give a destination within the local zone and cabbies appreciated that.

[@louisself5749]

I just started at Heathrow fixing lifts and it's always mental with traffic

[@mallorca629]

Great Video Tom! I drive a taxi in Spain ( Palma de Mallorca) we got the airport and a cruiseship terminal, best job would be: Airport to cruiseship….. go in the queue , and luckily get a trip back to the airport ! I would love an LEVC in spain but: are they anygood for like 50 mile motorway journeys? Cheers

[@FBMoy]

Great video as always mate!

[@timg5tm941]

Tom loved the video and now subscribed. Nice job

[@thomasBCFC250]

Really enjoy the Airport videos, some new ones would be good

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

all coming soon!

[@scooby6518]

KZbin recommend your video, and I love it,,, new subscriber here 🎉🎉

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Oh my gosh, even the cabs politely queue!

[@kiskis0611]

i work as private hire driver i understand thes challanges thats nice to see i working 2 shifts morning nap and aftrenoon tik 8pm

[@craigablitt7352]

Another great video as per. I was studying my blue books on a flight to Belfast this week and the guy next to me noticed this and as we got talking it transpired he was also a fan of your videos… (hello if you’re reading this!)

[@robertmorrey547]

Love these videos Tom keep the the great work 👌🏻

[@TheFairway8]

In 27 years of driving a London Taxi I never worked Heathrow once obviously I would drop there and surrounding hotels but would always head back empty and aim for Hammersmith. To tell the truth I could just about find the rank but it never appealed to me

[@tonytaxi6180]

Tom you do realize you didn’t have to take that job as it’s outside the M25

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

I live and I learn haha!

[@tonytaxi6180]

@@TomtheTaxiDriver every days a school Tom lol be lucky

[@oilburner225]

Yet another great video Tom, loved it.

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Thanks again!

[@TeddGCM]

What amazes me, as an American, is the enormous amount of time, study and money you spend to become a taxi driver in London. what is it called? "The Knowledge Test?" Required to know every street and the best route to get from anywhere to anywhere else in your head!

[@razkki]

I have no idea why I watch this but it's great

[@pkurt101]

You sometimes mention picking up a job from the "taxi app" - could you talk more about that on a future video or if you have in a previous one, post the link here - thanks

[@BlueButtonFly]

As someone form a prairie city in Canada, this is insane to watch. It's just so different. 14:00 for example: someone would get killed here.

[@benduke9150]

Tom - until first week of September RAH will be hosting BBC proms - these hardly finishes before 9.30, but on everyday post the show there will be jobs as a lot of people hail taxi home

[@thisnthatntheothereverywhe3339]

I feel famous when I see my own cab in one of toms videos 😬😬

[@mfurmyr]

Great video as always. I have never seen you have customer with wheelchair?

[@alexg4015]

This is really interesting behind the scenes and all the information. If you want a job from LHR to the city isn’t it better to stay on central London all day? Or is the traffic unbearable. And won’t have to pay the £7.50 to queue

[@LynxEE20]

Great video once again. One thought I've had with this is once you're in the initial feeder park is there a way to abandon your spot? Say if your plans change or you had an emergency situation etc... Can you escape the area as clearly you can be blocked in by many other taxis for long periods of time. Is there a way out?

[@tonytaxi6180]

You can get out via escape lane but you’ll have to talk to drivers around you and if stuck on the middle of the park this could be hard.

[@ashleynicklin4126]

Love these videos mate

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Thank you for watching 😊

[@masterblaster20006]

Im a taxi driver too! Randomly discovered your channel after my KZbin app signed me out for some reason. The biggest difference between us is I'm in a 2015 Passat and I'm the opposite side of the country to you, most of the way east along the A40 in Carmarthen, west Wales. It's interesting to see the operational differences in other areas. Yes the core of the job is the same, but I've always been curious as to how Heathrow taxis operate. Thanks for the insight. +1 subscriber! Mind how you go mate 😁

[@YRDX]

The 0.5 mile one... just walk!!

[@msajir2197]

Good advice

[@jaserobert2758]

If a passenger asks you to go through a McDonald's or other fast food restaurant drive-thru are you happy to oblige on the way to their destination?

[@phillmc84]

Great video as always Tom. could you run through what products you use to clean the Cab in one of your videos please.

[@pattersonpogo]

Do Taxi drivers use the rank at Heathrow 24/7? Or can you just go to a terminal in the early hours? Just asking as I have frequently seen drivers sleeping in their cab on the rank outside terminal 4 when I turn up for an early shift.

[@davidgordon6149]

Hey Tom - love the videos. I'm a cabbie in Edinburgh and recently we have been authorised to add the £4 airport charge to the fare. I'm assuming London don't allow it?

[@JunaidJDM]

They add £2.80 I think

[@shayedkarim7656]

Another great video, very interesting.

[@originalpickaxe]

Ha ha , chatting about the cost of living with a fella who's just rolled out of the casino and then goes back to the Chelsea Harbour Hotel and probably orders up a brass as well......

[@squish_nerd]

So basically you can do what you want? If you want to go home, you can. But if you want to carry on you can. All the rank fares are out of your bank account and as long as you are a taxi driver from Heathrow you can pick up whoever you want.