Tipping

Beech90

Beech90

Well-Known Member
How do ya'll go about tipping van drivers? No crew, just one pilot. I think I'm far too generous with tipping...I leave minimum $5 for food service, even if the service was horrible. I never really tipped van drivers, unless they provided excellent service. It's my belief they are just doing their job, and I always put my own bag into the van, and open my own door.

I don't get reimbursed, and no per diem.
 
$1 is fair. When I was a flight crew member that was the norm for everyone. I was told by my tax guy that it can be expensed at the end of the year, however I never took the time to try.

10 over nights per month=$20
x12=$240 per year. Worth expensing I guess.

On a side note, I did NOT tip the driver if he/she showed no effort of grabbing my bags. There have been times in a snowy northeast city that the driver didn't even get out of the van to greet us or open the door!
 
I remember usually tipping $1 or $2, depending on if I had cash on me. If I didnt have cash, I was pretty capable of grabbing my own bags.
 
I've tipped drivers the majority of the time unless they made no attempt to help and/or were flat out rude. $1 - $2 is fair more if they did you a big favor.

restaurants are 5%-20%, depending on service.

I also claim all the tips at the end of the year.
 
when I was an FO I would tip a dollar…when I was captain, I would sometimes tip for my crew when I had a great crew. If I noticed that one of my crew didn't tip, I'd cover that too. (come on 3 bucks?) That's if the driver did it properly, get out, open the rear doors, grab the bags. If the driver stood there and didn't help with the bags, I'd put the money back in my pocket and smile, "thanks"
 
They get $1 IF they load and unload my bags and they are on time(reasonably).

Also if I ask them to take me for food or something similar and they say no they won't get anything from me.
 
hcaeborev said:
They get $1 IF they load and unload my bags and they are on time(reasonably).

Also if I ask them to take me for food or something similar and they say no they won't get anything from me.
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Eh, Im not sure about that. They re job is to take you from the airport to the hotel and vise versa. Id never not tip because they wont make a personal pit stop for me.
 
statusseeker1 said:
I always bring a copy of my last pay stub wherever I overnight. The second I feel bad about not tipping the van driver I look at my pay stub and don't feel bad anymore :) once people start tipping me for my transportation services I might pay it forward to van drivers
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These are usually the same guys that have a smart phone, expensive sunglasses, eating out, etc. Even when I was a first year FO, I had enough respect and dignity for MYSELF to tip the van driver a measley buck.

There have been a couple of times where the driver was so unprofessional that I didn't tip, but that's been extremely unusual.
 
SeanD said:
Eh, Im not sure about that. They re job is to take you from the airport to the hotel and vise versa. Id never not tip because they wont make a personal pit stop for me.
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Most hotels allow the driver to take you anywhere within like 3-5 miles. Typically once they are done with crew runs. I usually have them take me to dinner if I arrive early enough. Then of course I tip a little extra due to it not being a "normal" run for them.
 
The boss usually tips the line guys $20 so I usually don't have to tip to often. The rest of the stuff goes on the company card so we usually tip 10-15% depending on service.
 
How about tipping at a resturant with no waitstaff. You go to the counter to order. They bring your food or call your name either way. The drinks are self service you pay with a credit card and there is a blank for tips? I tend not to tip at these places. Thoughts?
 
fly02 said:
How about tipping at a resturant with no waitstaff. You go to the counter to order. They bring your food or call your name either way. The drinks are self service you pay with a credit card and there is a blank for tips? I tend not to tip at these places. Thoughts?
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No tip, those kind of places you usually pay for your food BEFORE you receive it or any associated service with it. If I'm satisfied after the meal Ill drop a buck or 2 in the tip jar (if they even have one) Or if i pay with cash ill just throw the loose change in the tip jar and call it a day.
 
I like the European method. Just include a service charge.

I just got a hot dog at Pinks here in Vegas and the lady that takes the order has a tip jar. For what, entering my order correctly? :)

Food prep or service I can see, but I think sometimes the tip jar can be tacky.
 
Derg said:
I like the European method. Just include a service charge.

I just got a hot dog at Pinks here in Vegas and the lady that takes the order has a tip jar. For what, entering my order correctly? :)

Food prep or service I can see, but I think sometimes the tip jar can be tacky.
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I like the Asian method: No tip! :)

Saves a surprising amount of cash, though I do have to remember to tip when I'm back home.
 
fly02 said:
How about tipping at a resturant with no waitstaff. You go to the counter to order. They bring your food or call your name either way. The drinks are self service you pay with a credit card and there is a blank for tips? I tend not to tip at these places. Thoughts?
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Always kind of wonder about take out to. I rarely do but it always feels kind of awkward.

I'd usually do a fiver if the line guys had to give us a ride somewhere since it's kind of a pain in the rear sometimes, but otherwise usually a couple bucks if it's actually a van/driver.
 
I've kinda stopped tipping the hotel drivers. I think it's silly as it's their job... I have no choice other than to ride in their van, so sorry, no tip from me. If I'm going to or from a hotel while I'm not on the job I'll tip. If they want tips they can include it in the hotel contract (which MOST do this already.) They're essentially double dipping.
 
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