Exactly. Tipping is supposed to be for WHEN YOU ARE PLEASED with the service, not because you are "expected" to tip no matter what the situation.

One scenario that infuriates me is when we have to wait on the van 20+ minutes for example (yes, taxi after 30 mins but haven't had to do that yet at the current airline) and the entire crew is in a big huff about it yet some of the ones that are angriest STILL TIP! WTH?!

I make sure to let the van driver know in a polite but firm way how long we've been waiting and then there's no tip from me. Hopefully that gets the point across that they are supposed to be curbside waiting for us.

That said, when they are there waiting for us and the service is good I've been tipping $2. Plus if I remember to I'm leaving a $1 for housekeeping as well.

Delta paid me $255,000 to sit in the right seat of a narrowbody last year.

I tip every time.

But I also take the cab rather quickly. And tip that guy.

I tipped everytime when I made $16,000 gross flying a Embraer Brakillia out of the swamps of Houston to the swamps of... Houston. We had some short legs. $2.15 was my pay I believe for IAH-HOU. So the van driver got half.

What does your personal income have to do with how much you tip? Should this now apply to restaurants too. I don't know about you but at restaurants I tip based on service and and the bill total.

So, you're saying you tip the van driver even when you get in on schedule at midnight for example but are waiting curbside for 20 mins to get to a hotel that's less than 10 mins away?

If the answer is yes, you're only reinforcing bad behavior and an expectation of a tip even when their job is not performed properly.

Some of the crew meals at airline #2 were not so yummy, but the ones at my last carrier were actually pretty good (and you can probably safely classify me as a "foodie") for that matter.

You're right, the healthy (or unhealthy or whatever) food you bring on your trip should be of no one else's concern and good for you for not playing into the blatant raping of the traveling public by the airport concessions and their insane prices which have skyrocketed the last five years or so.

I wish I was more motivated to pack some healthy food for my trips but being a single guy that's constantly on the go outside of work I never really do.

My original point was that even at my first airline (a regional) we had a policy of calling in unscheduled "crew breaks" to ops when we needed a break to get food. I'll be damned if any airline is going to run me so ragged as to not take a delay if myself or my crew need nourishment if they're not going to provide some decent crew meals or meals from the aircraft galley (which for us is not an option).

As for rollaboards, I've never know anything else so I'm not old enough to be upset about them but certainly old enough to be upset about the backpacks.

It appears that battle has been lost. FOMs now have policies permitting backpacks, companies are making flight crew backpacks, and I can spot pilots of all generations with them in the terminal.

But just like tipping, the number of bags and types of bags someone uses isn't important. If people honestly get this upset and entrenched in matters like this, I don't see how they could make it to the end of a day and still be able to smile.

Dad started driving hotel vans on the side when the mill cut his hours. He went full time for two different hotels when the mill shut down. For 27 years he worked 18 hrs a day driving vans and putting six kids through college on well earned tip money. Mom would ride shotgun just to talk to him and then she'd throw bags in the worst weather. (She was tough; youngest brother came out sideways on the kitchen table; she never even whimpered and she made her shift at the diner.) They got two surgeons, a pilot, an engineer, a professor, and an exotic dancer for kids. They done good and they did it with tip money (and a keen eye in the futures market). We buried Dad the way he lived - sitting up with two hands on the wheel.

I'll agree with you that the prices in airports are a little out of control. However, my guess is they're paying extra fees for having a store in an airport, that they wouldn't have if they were a stand alone operation down the street. That said, I can eat relatively healthy for less than my days per diem. Some airports are easier than others...thanks a lot California! :mad:

Ya man, it's a pain at times. I'm single, with a mil job and rental properties...I get being on the go. My motivation kicks in every time I walk down the concourse and see an old airline guy with his gut hanging over his belt, and his jacket unbuttoned.

100% agreed. If i'm hungry, and I don't have food, I stop and eat. Even with an hour turn, I can usually do this without rushing or being late. If it does cause us to be late, so be it.

Ha, that was most definitely in jest. However, I'm ok with a backpack as long it's attach to your rollaboard (...not on your shoulder). They generally hold way more than any "crew" bag and are great for excursions/hikes on long layovers.

I agree they are responsible for it, at least when they have to arrange transportation. For actual hotel vans, the hotel is responsible for it. In many cases of contracted transportation, the company does include tips. Ever accidentally tip on a restaurant tab even though it was pre-included (usually 18%) even for small groups? We do that a lot too.

Several years ago went out to lunch with the captain. The place we chose offered 20% discount to crew members. Both of us left our ID's at the hotel. The server stated no ID = no discount. The captain spent ten minutes essentially bullying her to the point of being annoying. She finally caved and agreed to give us the 20% discount.

Upon finishing his entire meal, plate clean, everything devoured the captain declared to me his meal was unsatisfactory and would not be leaving her a tip. I kept quiet and left more than enough tip to cover both of us.

I nominate this the most pathetic thread award.