Blue Bird

Blue Bird
Taxi Service

I would like to complain about the service of the Blue Bird
Taxi company.

On Monday, March 28, 1994, at around 8 p.m., I ordered a taxi
from Bluebird for the following morning to pick me up at 5 a.m.
and take me to the airport. The operator confirmed the order.

The following morning at 5 a.m. sharp, Blue Bird called and
said that they did not have any taxi available. I was furious
because my plane was to leave at 6:30 a.m., meaning that I had to
report at 5:30 a.m.. All I needed to reach the airport was half
an hour.

I asked him to get me a taxi immediately. Meanwhile I tried
other taxi companies which all said they did not have a taxi
available. I waited for 10 minutes, and Blue Bird called again,
saying there was still no taxi, but what about using their
Silverbird service. I said, certainly, on one condition: That I
be charged the same price as for the regular Blue Bird. He said
he couldn't do that. I asked him why didn't inform me before that
there was no taxi? Surely he understood that I had to leave at 5
a.m.? He could have told me there would be no taxi before
midnight.

I am living in a place that is rather far from the main road.
It takes around 15 minutes to reach the main road. I told the
operator that I was going to miss my plane and this was all Blue
Bird Taxi's fault. Of course this was a useless grumble. He said
he would try again.

Instead of waiting any further, I left the house, walking in
the dark, quiet street and fortunately reached the main road
safely and immediately got a taxi.

What if I had to catch a 5 a.m. flight and had to leave the
house at 4 a.m.? What if I lived in the outskirts of Jakarta and
was completely dependent on Blue Bird, which so far has the best
reputation, to take me to the airport at that ridiculous hour,
only to find out that no taxi was available? I mean, no taxi?
After ordering one more than six hours in advance?

To me, this incident has ruined Blue Bird's reputation, even
though it had been my favorite taxi so far. I talked to my
expatriate friend about this, and she said that the same thing
happened to her the day before. She also became disillusioned by
Blue Bird Taxi, as I am now. I hope the management will say
something about this.

BINNY BUCHORY

Jakarta