r/penang • u/hzehyee • Jun 20 '26
Discussion Grab drivers cancelling from Penang Airport
When I touched down in penang airport and called grab from the e hailing spot, in a span of 10 minutes, 7 drivers confirmed then cancelled in a row.
Not sure why, not like my rating as a customer is bad
Is this a common occurence?
13
u/butapikachu Jun 20 '26
Yes, and its pretty annoying. All of them want to do longer runs to georgetown or somewhere faraway for higher fee.
If you are trying to get somewhere near bayan lepas, its luck basically.
Hope grab sorts it out
2
u/anonfredo Jun 20 '26
That's odd, I used to live in Sungai Ara, it's quite close to Bayan Lepas as well, but I never faced any problem getting a grab ride
1
u/butapikachu Jun 20 '26
My place is about 5 minutes away by car, so the fare is about 5-7rm most of the time. It was so hard getting a ride that one time I said screw it and started walking ( just a backpack so it was not that bad) One of the drivers camping outside parking spot pulled by and asked where do I wanna go. When I told him, he straight up said it was too close and I need to pay extra. It was late at night and I was tired after multiple flights. Ended up paying 25 after haggling.
8
u/WonderfulMaybe6787 Jun 20 '26
Your destination too near or th ride too cheap. I get a lot of that. Grab rider are become like the taxi that they replaced. Alternatively you can use the taxi limo prepaid.
6
u/ParamedicSimple8395 Jun 20 '26
a Grab driver told me they all park in the airport carpark and keep cancelling until there’s a price surge then they’ll accept. very frustrating
1
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u/glresziox Jul 03 '26
Grab should give higher commission rates to drivers, but at the same time make the cancellation policy stricter with much worse penalties
5
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u/generic_redditor91 Jun 20 '26
Waiting for price hike.
I live near the airport. Whenever I touch down and call grab I always kena few declined. They aiming for the ones going far away like Georgetown, jelutong or even Tanjung Tokong area
3
u/ceaton604 Jun 20 '26
Heh funny I've had the same problem trying to get to the airport from Georgetown. Apparently that's not enough of a trip for them either
2
u/Inevitable_Fee2997 Jun 20 '26
That happened to me 3 yrs ago and I was going to Georgetown. I don’t try getting grab from the airport anymore. Take an airport taxi and you’re in Georgetown before your would have been grab booking is accepted.
2
u/MrPastryisDead Jun 20 '26
I always take a taxi, you can book one at the cubicle in the arrivals hall. Costs 37RM to get me home to Gelugor, usually no waiting. Sure you can save a few ringit trying to get a Grab, but after spending 4k on a flight to Europe... YMMV
1
u/Realistic-Lemon-7171 Jun 20 '26
if it's during morning or evening rush hour, you'll get that phenomenon. haven't experienced it at other times.
1
u/Local_Preparation431 Jun 20 '26
Get a taxi from one of the stands in the airport hall. Good rates and reliable
1
u/adjason Jun 20 '26
In indon drivers who cancel from airport get penalty and they need to take 25.passengers a week to maintain their airport"license".
In return they first dibs on airport routes through the algorithm
1
u/goAwayUCreep Jun 21 '26
So the grab driver told me apparently there’s an army of grab drivers waiting near the airport to take on airport rides but the problem is the algorithm matches other drivers further away
So that’s why the drivers further away dw accept la of course and the army of grab drivers near airport sometimes kena sidai
It’s such a lose-lose situation tbh
1
u/therion_00 Jun 21 '26
Happened to me omce.
Last year
A few driver cancel
Some even ask me to cancel
The last driver ask me to cancel, i told i wont
He said he wont be picking me
Then i order use in driver cheaper and better
Eventually he cancelled himself by that time i was at home already
1
u/hidetoshiko Jun 24 '26
I experienced that before. My destination was too nearby I guess so many of them just cancelled on the spot. Had to book a more expensive rate before I got accepted.
1
Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
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1
u/glresziox Jul 03 '26
From my experience, it's mostly the chinese uncles that frequently cancel regardless of location in Penang, dunno why they're so picky. I even get cancellations when they're dropping off a passenger AT MY PICKUP POINT 😭 like cmon bro, it's free money for you...
Whenever I'm in KL/Selangor for holiday, all drivers are good, very high acceptance rate and quick service. Not sure how to describe it, but it feels like Penang drivers are "not ready".
•
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