Originally Posted by
Baradium
The majority, if not all, of the "mainline types" in this thread are recently separated from regionals. Whining about making two or three times what previous FOs made who DID tip and acting like we don't know how it is at the regional level is pretty ignorant. As is the argument that since you don't use the tax free money, which is tax free for reasons including meals and tips, for meals that you shouldn't have to use it for tips either.
What it truly ignorant is to assume you know another person's situation and to arrogantly judge them. It is great you were able to tip. But you don't know why someone isn't. Could be they just got back from an illness with no sick time. Could be they have other financial burdens you have no clue about. Could be an FA that is working two other jobs just to pay bills. Per diem is a part of the compensation in a contract. How anybody spends that is up to them.
I tipped even when I was making $20 an hour, using the excuse that you don't budget for it doesn't hold water. Of course, the amount of money you say it costs doesn't hold water either. A 4 day trip has 3 overnights, for $6 in tips at $1/ride. If you work with 11 days off a month in a 31 day month that gives you 20 work days. In 4 day trips that means 5 trips and 15 overnights. That's $30 in tips. If you do any 2 or 3 day trips the number drops. It also drops if you have more days off than that in a month or any 30 hr layovers.
Once again, good for you. Glad you were able to do that. Others aren't in the same situation. Actually it does because I tip the drivers two or three bucks. But to use your logic, maybe I should lecture you about being a cheapskate since you make all that money now and only tip $1. Funny thing you mention budgets. When I budget the first things on my list are keeping a roof over my head, running the house, and taking care of the needs of myself and my family. Extras like tipping van drivers come second.
Ever wonder why hotel drivers try really hard to wait for some airlines' crews and not others? Or care about how long they are at the curb? What you're really doing with a tip to a van driver is encouraging good service to crews going forward. And yes, it does give your airline a reputation if most of the crews don't tip.
Never heard or have seen anyone talking about airline crews not tipping and I've been around a while. Van drivers do their job just like anyone else and the idea that an extra buck or two is going to get you a ride to the hotel faster is nonsense.