You guys are making me laugh this morning. Some things you may not be aware of: Your room isn't nec. clean. The maid usually has at least one floor to clean. Hotels as employers are cheap SOBs. A lot of maids will look for obvious soiling on the sheets and many times not change the sheets. They also know, by the time you arrive, they are at home so if the room has to be remade, it is done by someone who is dealing with a angry guest. As far as the airline paying the hotel, so many seem to feel that is money passed on to the driver? Some must be flying with an unpressurized plane. The only ones making out on that are the Hotel GM, sales for signing the contract and maybe the Front Desk manager if there are no complaints. The airline contracts usually come in at less than half of what the standard room rate is. But then again I think most room rates are way out of line.

As far a cabs go, the ones we dealt with only got $15 from us. If they didn't come in at the time they were dropping off the crew and waiting patiently while I checked in the crew, had his reciept filled and and ready for me, then he got his money, otherwise I told him to come back at 7am when the manager was in. If he was rude, or tried to get in and to the desk before the crew, I would make him wait while I did other things. I did more than drive the van, I worked the desk and did the audit over night so I got to see it from different perspectives.

Personally, I don't and won't tip unless I get good service then I have no issue on the matter. Either way, if your actions make an impression on me good or bad, I don't generalize the whole industry to be that way. Or maybe I should since some Piedmont and Comair flight crews where real jerks (trust me, I am being nice), should I assume everyone working for the airlines is?