Wife and I had a layover at Portland Airport 3/28/08 at 5:30pm. One of our favorite restaurants is Salty's, right at the end of the runway on the Columbia River. We walked out front and grabbed the first cab available, which happened to be Broadway cab.
Since we were only going a couple miles, and since the window sticker said $2.50 plus $2/mile, I figured easily less than $10 with tip. Wrong! First, the Russian driver barely spoke English, second, he started driving the wrong way (know how to get there) but I caught him before he made any big errors.
Then, when we got there— even with the error less than 5 miles, he pushes some buttons and it comes up with $25 owing! I said "$25, are you kidding me?!". He just pointed to the meter, and wouldn't let us have our luggage until I paid the ransom. UNBELIEVABLE! How the city or the Airport or someone allows this kind of crime I do not know. This is the only way we can fight back.
The nice people at the wonderful restaurant gave us a free shuttle ride back to the airport, and told us this happens all the time to customers. Now we know..
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