@geekrider

I was flatly refused by eight cabbies early in the morning. Even offering a 100 yuan note got me a shake of the head as he left. Not one of them even tried to bargain. After 45 minutes, I was ready to pay to make my flight.

I also would like to know how to arrange for a taxi.

Supposedly, Kunming instituted a telephone number for taxi pick up arrangements about the time the new airport went into operations. The number is 331-2533.

I have not personally called or used the service and don't have any idea if it works or if it's reliable. But I've heard if one calls the number to book a taxi but fails to show for the ride, the caller (identified by caller ID) will be "blacklisted" for future telephone taxi bookings.

@geekrider

There will be someone in your neighbourhood who operates a 'black' (unlicensed) taxi. There will always be some local who will do it for a fee.

I am not suggesting this as it is very naughty, and I cannot condone this illegal behaviour. I am sure that your gate security guards will be aware of someone who does this locally.

I have just seen this in the classifieds on Gokunming

gokunming.com/[...]

Wow. Good timing for that guy! I had a Chinese friend call a taxi and the drive was very emphatic that all taxis go to the new airport and that a fare would not be rejected.

I'll try out the guy in the classifieds for my Sunday trip and report back.

Driving habits in China vary from safe to looking for trouble. Automobile by various makes, and particularly the sub-compact and sub sub-compact models, most likely do not meet even the basic safety standards as required in developed countries. In addition, many car owners do not have sufficient insurance to protect themselves and their passengers.

Please add the above to your consideration when choosing your ride.

I used Brett's service today to get to the airport. Through a combination of text messages and an email, I requested a 7.30am pickup. He was early. True to his ad, he has a small car that will fit 3 adults and maybe 2 pieces of luggage. He was friendly and spoke very little English. He was a safe driver. I rarely saw him exceed the speed limits and he was cautious. We made it to the airport and he dropped us at the terminal. All in all a good service.

I would use his car service again. The only downside is that his space is limited.

@geezer
You can call to complain about ANY taxi driver that refuses service. If they stop - they MUST take the fare. Record the taxi number (license plate), time of day, start and end destination, then call the chinese only hotline to complain and navigate the chinese only menus.

Complaints will in theory generate some seriously stiff fines for the drivers aka the taxi's owner, although I've never seen any government reports on quality management of Kunming's rather crappy taxi service.

There should be zero reason to have to bribe someone to do a job for which they are licensed by the government. They MUST obey the rules - but we can only get retribution for crappy service if and only if (IFF) we file a formal complaint (again - all in chinese only).

RENTAL CAR SERVICES
There are a couple of people advertising rental car services. If you have the guts and language skills - you can also locate rental car places (look for the "car" character in their sign) and negotiate a car and driver - for when you absolutely positively must be at a certain place at a certain time.

ALTERNATIVES
Alternatives to the crappy kunming taxis refusing fares to the airport - suggest they take you to the subway station instead. Then drag your luggage and kids through that gauntlet. That should avoid the lazy (infinitely many unpleasant and derogatory expletives) kunming taxi drivers refusing fares. And don't forget to dial the kunming taxi hotline in front of them (even if you don't know how to navigate the menus - just pretend your reporting them).

@laotou

Call and complain? Are you kidding? If by some miracle I actually get to speak to a person, most likely he/she will not speak English. If by the second miracle he/she does speak English I fully expect to be accused of some crime against the Chinese nation, and/or, be accused of failing to understand how things work in China.

I have been refused a ride at least once for every ride I have taken in a taxi in Kunming. I don't know if it is a language thing or the cabbie just not wanting to have a laowai day.

The subway begins running at 9am. So any flight departing before 11am means a taxi ride. The subway stops it 6:10pm. Not much a window unless you take the mid day no discount flights.

The buses to the airport are a mystery to me. I have the list of stops but the K18 seems to have another plan. I got it at the north bus station. Getting an express bus at 小西门 is ridiculous as I live in the Beichen area.

Actually, I sympathize with the drivers. They take a fare out to the airport then have to wait on line to get a fare back to town. Or, they can come back empty and pay the 10 yuan toll. A fare to the airport at 6am is not worth it.

Laotou, you don't have the same problems that us laowai that look like laowai have. Also, I often chuckle when you announce the way things are or should be. I have been to more than 90 cities in China, mostly by air, and 长水 ranks in the bottom 10% for convenience and services.

@Geezer
"I have been refused a ride at least once for every ride I have taken in a taxi in Kunming."

I'm amazed. What are you doing wrong? I'm a "laowai who looks like a laowai" and have lived in Kunming for over 5 years with minimal Chinese. I take a taxi every day or two and have never once been refused a ride (or cheated). Perhaps it's the area where you are trying to catch a taxi or trying to get to?