Tipping

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.

Yup. I hate those type of fast food places and Starbucks where you use a debit card and they give you back a receipt to sign with an area to fill in the tip amount (all over Vegas). Um, nope. Im not giving you a 80% tip for a $2.11 cup of coffee.
 
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.
then you load your own bags and open your own doors.
 
I've gotten tipped for intro rides as a CFI more than once. Ironically, I'm a part-time guy with decent full-time employment elsewhere.
 
On the coporate side, my boss usually tips the line and van drivers really well. On the 135 side, I got around 4 grand this year from passengers ($800 just on Christmas eve), so Im starting to tip others more and more. I tipped the cleaning lady at my last hotel $100.00 since she seemed like she needed it and was doing a really good job.
 
then you load your own bags and open your own doors.

I certainly do whenever possible. I prefer it that way. There are times however where I'll tip the driver for excellent service or when they've done something beyond what is required or expected of them.

You do leave a couple dollars in the hotel room for the maid right? That's just as "customary" as the dollar for the driver.
 
TIPS are for service, not for doing your job. Most counter restaurants no need to tip, sit down as service dictates. Hotel vans, as everyone has said if they open the door, pick up the bags. I mean come on its not that hard. What is a waste to see is the driver leave a couple of bucks in the cup holder up front to "remind" one to tip
 
You do leave a couple dollars in the hotel room for the maid right? That's just as "customary" as the dollar for the driver.
This argument has been had before and @ATN_Pilot will be all over this like white on rice.

The hotel van thing is like 90% + people (not just airlines but all travellers) tip.
The maid service is like 40% of people tip.

In the previous thread there was a link to an article written by the hotel industry association and apparently drivers, valets and bell boys are compensated by the hotel with the exception of them being tipped. Room service (cleaning folks) employees are not compensated on the premise that they will receive tip as regular compensation.

I tip a van driver if they do more than drive. I don't tip if they try and kill me via: falling asleep at the wheel, sliding into a snow bank or stopping in a road rage incident and having a gun pulled on them. All true stories.
 
If the van driver shows effort he'll get $2-$3 for me and my F\Os bag. I've had drivers show up and not even get out of the van, so nothing for them.

Line guys I tip if the service is above and beyond. I had a line guy practically wait on us hand and foot a few weeks ago, never more than a few steps away and ready to help out since we were tight on time with pax on their way. He got $5 for that. Lavs are anywhere from $5-$20+ depending on how bad it is.


Restaurants are 15-20% or more based on service. Here's a question though, how about tipping on drinks with dinner? If you go out and have a few beers, do you tip on the total cost of the bill or just the food? 2 beers could easily cost more than a meal at some places, so what do you do then?

On the 135 side, I got around 4 grand this year from passengers ($800 just on Christmas eve),

Clearly I'm doing this whole corporate/charter thing all wrong!
 
I tip a van driver if they do more than drive. I don't tip if they try and kill me via: falling asleep at the wheel, sliding into a snow bank or stopping in a road rage incident and having a gun pulled on them. All true stories.

Reminds me of a coworker of mine on the air side here. When he was a ground officer/agent, he decides to go through the drive thru of Taco Bell in his patrol car.......with 4 arrested illegals still in the back behind the cage.....on his way to the station.

He got in trouble. Even after getting each of them a taco supreme and bean burrito too.

Even more cool, he still has his Letter of Reprimand.....framed and hanging on his desk wall.
 
This argument has been had before and @ATN_Pilot will be all over this like white on rice.

The hotel van thing is like 90% + people (not just airlines but all travellers) tip.
The maid service is like 40% of people tip.

In the previous thread there was a link to an article written by the hotel industry association and apparently drivers, valets and bell boys are compensated by the hotel with the exception of them being tipped. Room service (cleaning folks) employees are not compensated on the premise that they will receive tip as regular compensation.

I tip a van driver if they do more than drive. I don't tip if they try and kill me via: falling asleep at the wheel, sliding into a snow bank or stopping in a road rage incident and having a gun pulled on them. All true stories.

@ATN_Pilot care to weigh in?
 
The amount I tip directly correlates to the service I receive. At restaurants I usually try and leave at least 20% if the service was good (at least 40% at my local watering hole... my dude gets me sloshed for around $20 every time so I take care of him). If service is poor I leave 15%. If service is terrible and it is clearly the server's fault, then I leave a few bucks.

As far as van driver I tip a buck each time. And sometimes I'll tip more if they are really helpful with bags, restaurant and bar recs, etc... I've noticed a buck is about the norm for most pilots. You figure they are making $3 to $5 bucks a load at most airports and busier hotels so that seems fair for grabbing my bags and getting the door.
 
Great insight guys. What about hotels that want your debit/credit card and charge a fee, but it's released once you checkout...do you try to dispute it or not?
 
Oh yeah? You know what Mike!?? You're right. :)

Haha!

Seriously though, I understand getting a speciality coffee every now and then as a treat; but for people [not necessarily you] who get a daily Venti latte for over $5.00....sometimes even multiple times a day......I've never understood that.
 
If the van driver shows effort he'll get $2-$3 for me and my F\Os bag. I've had drivers show up and not even get out of the van, so nothing for them.

Line guys I tip if the service is above and beyond. I had a line guy practically wait on us hand and foot a few weeks ago, never more than a few steps away and ready to help out since we were tight on time with pax on their way. He got $5 for that. Lavs are anywhere from $5-$20+ depending on how bad it is.


Restaurants are 15-20% or more based on service. Here's a question though, how about tipping on drinks with dinner? If you go out and have a few beers, do you tip on the total cost of the bill or just the food? 2 beers could easily cost more than a meal at some places, so what do you do then?



Clearly I'm doing this whole corporate/charter thing all wrong!


Tipping 15-20% on drinks regardless of price is also recommended, unless you are at the bar itself. Typically servers have to tip out the bartender, the way they do it varies by the joint but not uncommon it is 10-20% of alcohol sales, or its a % of total tips, or % of total sales, all depends, but to leave them only a few dollars on $30-40 bar bill is screwing them when they have to tip out more than that to the bartender. Now if you are sitting at the bar, $1 a drink is average. If I run a tab I do 20% or $1 a drink whatever is greater.
 
I don't tip van drivers. Opening a door to the van and loading a bag onto a van doesn't deserve extra money from me. I do however try to always do these things for myself, some van drivers just don't let you though.
 
Haha!

Seriously though, I understand getting a speciality coffee every now and then as a treat; but for people [not necessarily you] who get a daily Venti latte for over $5.00....sometimes even multiple times a day......I've never understood that.

I do one a day on my way to the office. I used to get a vente coffee and add a ton of creamer. Now I just get a grande coffee in a vente cup, saving .40 ;) I never get the expensive flavored coffees. If there was a cheaper option on my way to work, Id be fine with that coffee. Coffee is coffee really.
 
Back
Top