Tipping the Van Driver?

wheelsup

wheelsup

Well-Known Member
This comes up every now and then on the "other" forums but it ends up being a pissing match. I'm interested to see the breakdown and thoughts of tipping the hotel/taxi drivers.

Hopefully it will have a good turnout! I'll keep the poll anonymous so no one will know how you vote unless you voice your opinion in a post.

I'll start by saying I used to tip the drivers. I did it mainly under peer pressure from when I started OE. I don't do it anymore for the basic ride to the hotel and back again, and it's not because of the small amount of money spent. It's more about my ethical/moral reasoning in that the company contracts and pays for the hotel to provide this service for us.

In the past, there have been arguments for tipping to ensure good van service. Our contract states that if the van is not at the airport within 30 minutes from block in, we have the option of taking a cab on the companies dime. Also, if the van service is unreliable, our union will work with the company to change hotels. This has happened in several hotels that I am aware of. Because of these facts, I don't believe tipping is the crews responsibility to ensure prompt van service to and from the hotel.

When eating out, I typically tip 30%-50% of the bill, especially if it's a small ($10-$15) bill. Like I said, it's not about the money in tipping the van driver - it's their job to pick us up.

Now, I can imagine that a MUCH greater percentage of the 135/corporate/fractional guys time, not only because most can expense it out but also because their companies most likely don't contract with the hotels for this service (fractional maybe, but certainly not 135/corporate).
 
The best way to ensure crappy hotel van service is to not tip the driver.

There have been months where I stay at the same hotel, arriving at the same time every week and if you treat your drivers nice, suddenly, there's drink coupons, fruit, pointers on what to do, where to go and "Hey, when you guys are ready, I'll drop you off at a great place for beer and ribs, tell 'em Tony sent ya!"

Treat them like crap, well, they'll adjust service accordingly.
 
Doug Taylor said:
There have been months where I stay at the same hotel, arriving at the same time every week and if you treat your drivers nice, suddenly, there's drink coupons, fruit, pointers on what to do, where to go and "Hey, when you guys are ready, I'll drop you off at a great place for beer and ribs, tell 'em Tony sent ya!".
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Must be nice to work at a "respectable" company :D!

I would agree that tipping *should* get your better service - but I have found regardless of if you tip or not has no bearing on service.
 
Driving the van is a "service" and unless they are rude, get me in an accident or don't load/unload the bags, they get a tip.

[RANT]

Anyone who doesn't tip is cheap.

Anyone who says "It's the principle, not the money" is cheap.

[/RANT]

Kevin
 
Wow thanks for keeping it civil.

regards,
me

More on topic, how is driving a van a "service"? If it's a service, so are ticket agents checking you in for a flight, rampers loading your gate checked bags, or your grocery store clerk ringing up your goods and putting them in bags. Do you tip those people?
 
Whenever i'm flying with dough, I always give the van driver a tip because technically he's not supposed to drive me..i haven't had a situation where the van driver wouldn't take me when with doug and they're normally nice and courteous enough anyways... so either doug or i will give him a pretty good tip for simply being kind.
 
Kristie said:
Whenever i'm flying with dough, I always give the van driver a tip because technically he's not supposed to drive me..
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That's a different situation in my book. I also tip when the driver takes me out to grab something to eat. But for basic transportation to and from the hotel seems like it has been done for years "just because" with no real rational reason. People tend to "look down" on others who do not tip (reference post above w/ name calling) because we don't share the same thought process.

Why does someone tip? Because they don't want to be an [insert name] or cheap? That seems to Kevin's reason for tipping, and I guess what I am saying is, is that really a reason to tip? Should you really tip for safe transportation to and from the hotel, for which the hotel is contractually obligated to do? It's my belief that tipping is way out of control in this country.
 
I always tip $2. That's up from a buck most of my career prior to upgrading. Anyone who doesn't tip the van driver is considered a stupid idiot. And if you don't tip, everyone notices it. They really do....
 
Wheelsup, I apologize for my original post.

Believe it or not I only looked at the poll and not your post before I posted. You're right, I shouldn't have been name-calling; after I went back and actually read your post I realized how it sounded like I was responding directly to you which I wasn't. Again, I'm sorry...

Kevin
 
It's a little diffrent in the corporate world I guess. We tip wether or not it's a hotel van or an FBO van. When you tip the FBO van, you will usually get better service all the way around. The coffee/papers/ice show up quicker, you might be the first in line to get a power cart, or get staged in a better spot etc. So it really pays to be nice to those guys/girls. It always irks me to see pilots being rude to the line guys/girls or CSR's. Those are the people that can make or break you, especially if your tight on time.
 
Kevin - no problem. I'm not trying to change anyone's view point - just trying to understand "why" some one would tip.

DE727UPS said:
I always tip $2. That's up from a buck most of my career prior to upgrading. Anyone who doesn't tip the van driver is considered a stupid idiot. And if you don't tip, everyone notices it. They really do....
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Don, in response to your post, your rational for tipping is so that you are not considered a "stupid idiot" and because you are worried how others think of you? Really? That is your reason for tipping?

See where I am going with this?
 
wheelsup said:
Kevin - no problem. I'm not trying to change anyone's view point - just trying to understand "why" some one would tip.
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There's more to "driving the van" than just driving it, usually. Mostly I tip because they are lugging my suitcase, flight kit etc. in and out of the van.

Your point that "my company is paying for the ride" may be true, but the hotel isn't paying the driver much above minimum wage and noone is paying him to lug your suitcase.

Kevin
 
"See where I am going with this"

No, not really. Where are you going?

I tip cause it's the decent thing to do and it's customary. If someone didn't tip the driver, I'd think he's a loser.

Now, if you wanna make some big statement about your decision not to tip...knock yourself out. I'm just telling you that to not tip the driver is very rare at my company and makes you look like a dork.

Feel free to justify it as you wish....
 
DE727UPS said:
I tip cause it's the decent thing to do and it's customary. If someone didn't tip the driver, I'd think he's a loser.

Now, if you wanna make some big statement about your decision not to tip...knock yourself out. I'm just telling you that to not tip the driver is very rare at my company and makes you look like a dork.

Feel free to justify it as you wish....
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First, let me say you do a great job at putting others down. Thanks!

Now, this was more done as a way to civilally discuss the issue vs. doing it on FI. I knew going into it, the overwhelming majority would be "tippers" that would respond, as those that don't certainly don't want to put themselves on the spot (especially in light of how you view them).

I have no "big statement" to make. Just a point of view to offer, and I don't intend to argue either side. But my original question still stands - why would someone choose to tip the van driver, but not other people who do the same sort of "service" type jobs?

I think you hit it - somewhere along the line it became customary to do it, sorta like tipping the Dunkin Dounuts gang for serving you coffee. In reality it has nothing to do with service. "It's just done".
 
"First, let me say you do a great job at putting others down. Thanks"

You're welcome.....I guess....

You seem to be offended by my comments. I'm not sure why. You started a thread about tipping van drivers and mentioned you don't do it. As a professional, uniform wearing, airline representing, commercial pilot, you are expected to follow certain norms. Tipping the van driver is one of them in my experience. If that's not your experience, or you want to start a new trend, then more power to ya.

I could spend an hour telling you how tipping the van driver has made my life easier on layovers. I got better things to do, though, like sleep.

You really feel put down, Wheels?

Whatever.....
 
Hey, we've got a lot of good karma built up. Let's do what we can to maintain that.
 
DE727UPS said:
No, not really. Where are you going?
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That in general, people tip the van driver because of perception, rather than for what it is designed for (better service).

I wish I could go to sleep, I've got too much caffeine in me though :D!
 
staplegun said:
Mostly I tip because they are lugging my suitcase, flight kit etc. in and out of the van.

Your point that "my company is paying for the ride" may be true, but the hotel isn't paying the driver much above minimum wage and noone is paying him to lug your suitcase.

Kevin
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I didn't see this one - sorry I skipped over it.

I agree with your point about moving the flight case/carry on. I actually will load them myself if the driver allows me to. If they insist on loading themselves, I will at the very least hand them my luggage so they do not have to bend down to get them.

But that is a good point. Maybe I will loosen up a bit and pay the $1 to not have to load my own bags :D!!

As far as the hotel not paying him much above min wage - is that my concern? Do the passengers on my flight care how much money I am making? If the driver is looking to make extra money on tips they should go above and beyond what is expected of them (ie basic safe transportation). Even the simplest thing such as "hey is everyone happy with the temperature back there" doesn't go unnoticed, yet in my experience not one driver has ever asked that.

Don't get me wrong - I am NOT against tipping. I guess what I am getting frustrated with is tipping for no reason.
 
This might sound weird, but if I'm building up a lot of pocket change, I'm NOT against giving the guy a few quarters, or dimes to total a buck or two. That way I don't have to constantly dump it out in my suitcase and having it build up.

Otherwise the TSA gets all pissy when I have too much pocket change in my bag.

I don't do it that often, however flight attendants are pretty bad with that sometimes.

Speaking of that, one refused to tip the driver and said, "You make a lot more than me, YOU should tip him for me!" An isolated, one-time event.
 
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