...And let's just say for the sake of argument it's 3 to 4 four day trips per month. That's $18-$24 per month or $216-$288 per year. That's 1.4% to 1.9% of annual income to a pilot making $15K/year AFTER taxes. A small amount no doubt, but I'd rather give nearly 2 percent of my after tax income to a charity or church. I'm not saying that van drivers don't work hard, but I'm of the mentality that a wage is a wage and tips are bonus (earned above and beyond). In the same breath that most would say "you should tip no matter what," do you also say that those who earn the tips should report every last dime to the IRS? I have to, it's called my income, I don't get tips for flying people, I get snide remarks for landings from dipthongs who think they know something about airplanes because they're frequent flyer princes. Isolated cases, I know.

I don't like the professionalism argument because what are waitstaff, ameteurs? It's a job, if they don't feel they are compensated enough for it, get a different one or demand higher wages. My job REQUIRES me to travel to and from a hotel (sure I could stay at the airport, but then I don't rest, smell, and get real cranky and call in fatigued [that won't work!]) why do I have to pay extra for something manditory?

I don't automatically tip 20 percent. They have to earn the money I give them, and since when is 20 percent the norm, what happened to 10 to 15 percent at a restaurant? I stay away from overly nice hotels when I travel, everyone wants to do something for you, all at nice tip (charge)...no thanks, I'm perfectly capable of carrying my own bags to my room, thank you.

I'll tip when I feel it's necessary and RIGHTFULLY deserved and I won't let anyone make me feel guilty for not.

Fire retardant suit: ON