Helsinki resident Kimmo Sinkko found out at a taxi stand in Helsinki-Vantaa that a ski bag can cause unexpected problems when finding a taxi ride. Nowadays, the electric cars used as taxis are so small that they cannot fit large luggage.
New Year's Eve on the following Tuesday evening, a Helsinki resident Kimmo Single landed from Ivalo to Helsinki-Vantaa airport with his wife and child.
In addition to the usual luggage, there was a ski bag.
The problems started at the taxi rank, where, according to Sinko, thirty cars were waiting.
None of the cars in the taxi queue at the airport agreed to take Sinkko and his family on board.
Pakkanen hit and Sinko's family searched for a ride without success.
One of the drivers tried to help them by asking the drivers of his own company if one of them could take the family on board. He himself had a car that was too small.
“We have been skiing in Lapland for years, and we have never come across a situation like this.”
Single says of course that he understands that three people, things and a ski bag cannot fit in a small car.
Even the drivers of cars of sufficient size, however, said that it is not possible to board with a ski bag. Sinko was surprised by this, because according to his estimate, the seats could have been folded down.
With a ski bag, you could have gotten into a minivan, but they weren't available.
According to Sinko, another couple was also waiting with a ski bag next to the taxi line. Perhaps they had chosen to wait for a minivan to arrive.
When couldn't get a taxi, Sinkko and his family headed to the service point of Taxi Point, which coordinates airport taxi traffic, where an attempt was made to arrange a chartered taxi for them.
However, that didn't work either.
There were no taxis nearby, and since the Sinkko family was on their way to Suutarila, the taxis located further away were not interested in coming because of such a short distance.
Sinkko regrets the lack of willingness to solve problems.
“I got the feeling that this is such a skimming of the cream, that we will take the easy rides and easy customers.”
From Taxi Point it was concluded that ordering a taxi is successful.
In the end, the Sinkos decided to come pick up the skis from the field with their own car.
For this, they asked Taxi Point if the ski bag could be left for storage at the airport for pick-up. The staff could not answer this.
Finavia's website shows that luggage storage is only open from 05:00 to 21:00.
In the end, Sinkko's wife stayed on the field with the skis and Sinkko himself took a taxi home with the child and other things.
Single went to pick up his wife and ski bag from the field in his own car.
HS took contacted Taxi Point, which manages taxi traffic at the airport, and asked about it.
Janne Ikonen According to the management of Taxi Point, he has never encountered such a case where a taxi customer was left without a ride in Helsinki-Vantaa. He had not heard about Sinko's case before contacting HS.
However, Ikonen says that finding a suitable car is influenced by conditions, time of day and demand.
Ikonen recognizes the challenges of electric cars used as taxis today.
“The back seats in electric cars are so unfortunate. But that's not a problem, since you can knock down benches from them.”
Taksi Helsinki marketing manager Suvi Viitala on the other hand, says that their taxis generally take ski bags in station wagons, depending on the number of passengers.
According to Viitala, Taksi Helsinki does not have a policy that you should order a minivan for large luggage.
Ski holidays will be held in Finland at the turn of February-March. During the holiday season, many people head north to ski and snowboard.
Kimmo Sinkko warns that you can no longer rely on the fact that you can take a taxi with skis.
“In the future, when transporting goods, it looks like you have to prepare in advance,” says Sinkko.
“I've also heard that some have managed to get a ride despite their ski bag.”
#Taxis #Kimmo #Sinkko #surprised #taxis #agreed #family #ride #HelsinkiVantaa
