Taxi driver gets staggering 37,000 baht tip in return for a 677 baht ride
A taxi driver was left startled after a passenger gave him two 500 euro notes as fare for a trip that only cost 677 baht. The passenger, a foreigner, told the driver, “I gave you change,” insinuating he didn’t want any change back.
The driver shared his story in a Facebook group, Thailand Taxi Drivers, which instantly created a buzz. The two 500 euro notes, when converted to Thai currency, have a value of around 37,000 to 38,000 baht, a windfall that exceeds winning a lottery.
In response to comments, the driver further explained that he had picked up the foreign passenger from downtown to drop him off at Don Mueang Airport. However, there was a mix-up, and the passenger was supposed to be dropped off at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The passenger then gave him just 30 minutes to make the transfer from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi, promising a special payment if he made it on time and the passenger didn’t miss his flight, reported Sanook.
“The passenger probably didn’t want to miss his flight because he had business to attend to. If you calculate what he would lose if he missed his flight, it’s worth it for him. I didn’t demand anything, I just ran the meter as usual.”
Later, social media users questioned the authenticity of the notes, as 500 euro notes are rare and have been out of circulation for years. The driver responded that the notes were real.
“At first, I didn’t want to accept them because they’re unfamiliar to me and I was afraid of getting scammed.”
He also shared a slip showing he had exchanged the notes for 37,600 baht. Some comments speculated whether the passenger believed the notes were Thai 500 baht notes and intended to pay 1,000 baht but mistakenly gave 500 euro notes. No matter the reason, it was an extraordinary tip.
