subject: How Long After My Flight Lands Is My Cab Going To Wait? [print this page] Lots of people like to reserve their ride with the local taxi services whenever they're flying into another city. There are a number of reasons that people prefer to operate this way. Largely it is because they don't know the city, and it makes them feel comfortable to have a ride waiting for them. Trying to figure out a new public transit system can be frustrating, and having a cab waiting is just much easier. However, anyone that has ever flown knows that there can be a number of delays in an airport, causing people to wonder just how long that cab is likely to wait for them.
The answer is that it depends entirely on the drive, but usually they're not going to wait that long. Cab drivers are really only getting paid when they have someone in the car, not just the hours that they're working. Therefore, they aren't going to want to wait around with an empty car, losing money any longer than they have to. It is safe to assume that they'll wait for a few minutes, maybe fifteen, but not much longer in most circumstances.
A good practice to get into is to keep the cab companies number with you at all times. That way, after you land, if you see that you're not going to be able to make your reservation you can call them right away. They can then either request that the driver wait a longer amount of time, or they can send out another driver in a few minutes and allow the one that is waiting to grab any available fare at the airport.
Keep in mind that in some cities you don't even have to make a reservation. Many major centers are going to have standing cabs outside the airport at every hour of the day. Many times all you'll have to do is walk outside and you'll be able to get a ride very quickly.
If a cab driver does wait longer than the normal amount of time for you, you should probably try and remember that and tip them more than you normally would. They have essentially been giving up income in order to wait for you and to make sure that you get a ride when you request it, so it is nice if you can repay them for that service by tipping them a little more than you normally would, showing them that you appreciate their patience.
