Originally Posted by
AZFlyn1
I'm just sitting here in my hotel room on a layover, reading through APC and just had a thought and decided to post it. I've debated with my crews over the tip/no tip of shuttle drivers to/from the hotel. What's your opinion on this? I think it's tough because I make less than these shuttle drivers do I'm sure, yet I feel cheap if I don't give them a buck each and every time they pick me up and drop me off. Yet no one tips me for getting them to their destination. I know I'm a professional though, so I shouldn't get tipped, I'm just curious to see what my fellow pilots think about this issue.
Lots of good points that people have brought up. I'll just tell my story.
It all started when I was the only crew member on a van in CVG. Since we trained there, I knew the drivers all real well. I got into a conversation with one and asked about pay/benefits. He stated that he made $13 per hour and usually worked 50 hour weeks (with 10 hours of 1.5 pay). So, by using my pilot math skills, $715 a week seems to be the number. This along with running crews to a busy crew hotel (3 or 4 members at a time), figure on the low end, 1 crew an hour ($30 or $40 a day cash).
This was in December 2007. On New Year's Eve, I made a resolution to not tip the drivers during trips. Instead, I would put the $6 per trip (3 overnights) away in a jar for the whole year. At the end of the year, I had $290.00 in cash shoved into a jar!! Yay! Many drivers, especially in Canada, stood there waiting for me to tip and some looked angry as I walked away after thanking them, but I guess they'll get over it.
Special circumstances do arise though. I park at a local hotel because it is cheaper than the airport parking. These guys are great, and I usually give them $2 each way. The hotel is nice enough to let me park there, and they go out of the way to pick me up, sometimes late at night.
The airport parking at my home airport (RSW) is great too. If running late, I sometimes have to park at the airport. This place has guys that direct you to a spot, then the van comes to your car, and the driver loads/unloads your bags (even has an umbrella for you in the rain!). I always tip these guys!