I forget to get cash all the time, I feel kinda bad when I forget but I’m not gonna explain myself to anyone if I don’t have it or ask someone to cover me.

 

You live in a different world and have for a while. A van driver sees an international crew of what? 12 people and 2 fat cat captains. They start doing the math in their heads and know the ride is probably worth 30 bucks. Early morning domestic pick up for 2 pilots and one is in their 20's, they shrug and think the guys can handle their bags. Or a single RES guy without any crew, the driver and pilot are in a hurry because the van was late or they have been standing around because the company made them combine pickups but nobody informs the earlier crew.

 

…so you don’t really feel bad then?

 

I can’t remember a single driver I’ve had in the last five years that didn’t help with bags. Where is this happening? Does it happen to you a lot?

And how much do van drivers make? I honestly don’t have any idea.

 

I still tip van drivers mainly out of habit. But ever since about 2017, most chain hotels pay van drivers hourly rates above minimum wage. In CA, van drivers get paid about $16/hr. That's not much, but it's not the same as the $2.13/hr server wage in the U.S.. Skyhop does 90% of our domestic service and they pay $18/hr. Our $2-6 tips to drive us 30 minutes to our 14 hour overnight is not the breaking point of whether this job is worth their time. If some random FO skips out on the tip, they won't even notice.

 

For me about 30% of drivers have no intention of moving bags.

 

Are you an FO? I’m guessing you are. The only pilots I’ve not seen tip were FO’s. Just had one a couple of weeks ago. I’ve seen it a few times so I keep my eyes peeled and sure enough he wasn’t going to tip. I called him out and said hey don’t forget to tip the driver and he said he didn’t have cash which is BS cuz that’s part of this job. Just like packing your bags for the trip you make sure you have tip money. Anyway I covered for him and said in the future if you don’t have cash just ask the CA and 99.9% of the time they will spot you. And to guys talking about whether or not the driver gets your bags who gives a ****. As far as I’m concerned if they get us to hotel safely they’ve earned the tip. Roads are dangerous these days. They don’t have to “earn” their tip by schlepping all of our bags. Some of you are some stingy mofo’s. Not like they making well into the 6 figures like we all are. I will never understand that mentality.

 

oh boy the person entrusted with your life barely makes above minimum wage so you don’t have to tip?? GMAFB. And they 100% notice they just don’t say anything. Don’t try to justify people not tipping the driver. It’s never ok. End of story.

 

I give every van driver $5 every time. I don’t notice or care if the other people give them a tip or not.

I figure my $5 is partial compensation for them having to listen to the insufferable bellyaching or bragging pilots excel at. I’m always impressed that they have the composure to not swerve into oncoming traffic or a bridge abutment just to shut these dudes up.

 

If I'm on a broken rotation and in the van alone, I make sure to tip 5 dollars at least. One or two bucks for a ride seems like an insult. Now I'm questioning my millennial-ness.