AirPopo Review
So I don't usually do reviews, but this experience warrants a praise...so le'go!
I booked a trip to Taipei, Taiwan in December 2016 for February 2017. Around the same time I started looking into airport transportation options for late arrivals, conducting random Google searches. Some great person (whose webpage I can no longer find or maybe it was a travel site) suggested AirPopo. The website was helpful in providing an ETA map and comparison price chart for other transportation sources. I downloaded the app, but was not convinced that I was going to use AirPopo. Before deciding to actually use the service, I checked the company's reviews on TripAdvisor. I was impressed with the number of reviews that were excellent. Every reviewer highly recommended the service. 2 days before my trip I attempted to use the app to set up a pick-up. My flight to the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport was scheduled to land at 12:35am UTC on a Friday morning. Based on the scheduled pick-up times I was going to have to take the AirPopo shuttle, at 1:10am. Because I was flying from another country, I emailed support@airpopo.com to inquire about the likelihood that I could make it to the pick-up location before departure, considering that I would have to go through immigration. I received a prompt email explaining that amount of time it normally takes to make it through the gates to the airport exit would not cause me to be late for the ride.
I was optimistic about the ride prior to the trip. The cost of the ride was $16.25 USD or 499 TWD per rider, which was awesome considering that the widely suggested airport shuttle costs $45 USD per person. I was charged an additional 100 TWD for the late hour pick up. The ride would have cost 399 TWD if I had been picked up by AirPopo before 11pm. *Passengers taking the shuttle service between 23:00-07:00 will be charged an additional late-night charge of 100NTD/person (shared-ride) or 200~300NTD/car (private ride).
The AirPopo app is easy to use. I paid with my Korean bank card, but could have used an American credit/bank card as well. When you put in your address the app suggests the closest designated drop off/pick up location to your final destination. You will most likely not be picked up/dropped off at the exact location entered into the app. Before arriving, I was a little concerned about how I would find my way to the hostel from the drop off location.
My plane was slightly late in its runway departure, so I emailed the company again to inquire about changing my pick up time by 30 minutes. The representative that responded was understaning and polite in helping me change my pick up time, after I provided my flight number for her to check the flight status. When I arrived at TPE at 12:40am I contacted AirPopo through Facebook Mesenger. I recieved an email and FB messenger message to wait for the shuttle at Terminal 1 - Gate 18. (There is a different gate number for Terminal 2). I was able to get through immigration, use the bathroom and report to Gate 18 without feeling rushed. I was on-time to share a ride with 2 passengers from Japan. The ride took 25 to 30 minutes; it was raining and traffic was light. I was the first to be dropped off at the 24 hour McDonalds 3 to 4 minutes from my hostel. A helpful and kind female McDonald's employee walked me to my hostel once I showed them the address. Overall, I highly recommend AirPopo for 24 hour transportation service from the TPE Airport.
Note: I did not take the services back to the airport when I departed the northern district of Taiwan, because I wanted to experience the bus service, which was not as comfortable, and takes an hour to arrive from the Banqiao District - but costs less. My goal when traveling is spend less money on transportation and decent lodging, so more can be spent on activities, food, and souvenirs.
*Quote from the AirPopo website's FAQ section.
I booked a trip to Taipei, Taiwan in December 2016 for February 2017. Around the same time I started looking into airport transportation options for late arrivals, conducting random Google searches. Some great person (whose webpage I can no longer find or maybe it was a travel site) suggested AirPopo. The website was helpful in providing an ETA map and comparison price chart for other transportation sources. I downloaded the app, but was not convinced that I was going to use AirPopo. Before deciding to actually use the service, I checked the company's reviews on TripAdvisor. I was impressed with the number of reviews that were excellent. Every reviewer highly recommended the service. 2 days before my trip I attempted to use the app to set up a pick-up. My flight to the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport was scheduled to land at 12:35am UTC on a Friday morning. Based on the scheduled pick-up times I was going to have to take the AirPopo shuttle, at 1:10am. Because I was flying from another country, I emailed support@airpopo.com to inquire about the likelihood that I could make it to the pick-up location before departure, considering that I would have to go through immigration. I received a prompt email explaining that amount of time it normally takes to make it through the gates to the airport exit would not cause me to be late for the ride.I was optimistic about the ride prior to the trip. The cost of the ride was $16.25 USD or 499 TWD per rider, which was awesome considering that the widely suggested airport shuttle costs $45 USD per person. I was charged an additional 100 TWD for the late hour pick up. The ride would have cost 399 TWD if I had been picked up by AirPopo before 11pm. *Passengers taking the shuttle service between 23:00-07:00 will be charged an additional late-night charge of 100NTD/person (shared-ride) or 200~300NTD/car (private ride).
The AirPopo app is easy to use. I paid with my Korean bank card, but could have used an American credit/bank card as well. When you put in your address the app suggests the closest designated drop off/pick up location to your final destination. You will most likely not be picked up/dropped off at the exact location entered into the app. Before arriving, I was a little concerned about how I would find my way to the hostel from the drop off location.
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| Take Off: View from my window seat |
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| Part of the long immigration line at 12:45am UTC |
My plane was slightly late in its runway departure, so I emailed the company again to inquire about changing my pick up time by 30 minutes. The representative that responded was understaning and polite in helping me change my pick up time, after I provided my flight number for her to check the flight status. When I arrived at TPE at 12:40am I contacted AirPopo through Facebook Mesenger. I recieved an email and FB messenger message to wait for the shuttle at Terminal 1 - Gate 18. (There is a different gate number for Terminal 2). I was able to get through immigration, use the bathroom and report to Gate 18 without feeling rushed. I was on-time to share a ride with 2 passengers from Japan. The ride took 25 to 30 minutes; it was raining and traffic was light. I was the first to be dropped off at the 24 hour McDonalds 3 to 4 minutes from my hostel. A helpful and kind female McDonald's employee walked me to my hostel once I showed them the address. Overall, I highly recommend AirPopo for 24 hour transportation service from the TPE Airport.
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| Shuttle after it dropped me off |
Note: I did not take the services back to the airport when I departed the northern district of Taiwan, because I wanted to experience the bus service, which was not as comfortable, and takes an hour to arrive from the Banqiao District - but costs less. My goal when traveling is spend less money on transportation and decent lodging, so more can be spent on activities, food, and souvenirs.
*Quote from the AirPopo website's FAQ section.
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