The bigger question is:

What's the deal with this whole tipping everyone all the time?

Let's take a look at the whole tipping thing for a second. You go out and eat or drink and you tip the waiter/bartender right? Why do you do that? Because they're paid $2/$3 per hour and tips make up the rest of it. I mean, the law is such that it allows employers to pay them that little.

Why do we automatically tip a van driver?

Although van drivers don't enjoy a wealthy compensation package, they generally make $9-10 per hour on average. In Omaha they might make $8 and in SFO they might make $12-14.

Should we tip? Well, isn't a tip a showing of appreciation for a job well done or for going above an beyond what your job description says in this case? I have 1 bag and 1 tote and if you're friendly and load/unload the bags in the van then you get my dollar tip. If you're rude and ****ed off at the world you're not getting squat. Flying domestic 3 day trips i'd say there's at least 1 van driver every other layover that in my opinion doesn't deserve a tip...and I don't shell out the $1. Sorry. It's a tip, look up the definition.

Do people tip pilots on their way out the door because the flight was on-time and the landing was smooth? No.

Do people tip flight attendants for great service (even though we do practically the same thing bartenders do)? 99% of the time...No.


So why do we automatically tip everyone? Are you trying to look good ...or???

Flew with a guy who gave out $2 bills just to see if people noticed, what a tool! Oops, yeah that was me. Once I said "all out of Bens but here's a Tommy." That was kinda toolish, never said it again. :o:)

I give out $2 bills...fewer singles to carry in my wallet and yes, they make for a nice novelty.

/notDelter

TIPS= "To Insure Prompt Service."

I would guess many here have never worked for or relied on tips to make a living, pay for school, or just have extra cash. If you have, you know that it's a significant experience. If not, please TRY and put yourself in the service person's shoes, and just tip them.

Personally, I start the van driver at 2 Euros/Dollars. If there's a significant delay, poor attitude, etc... probably less. Holidays, they're chatty, friendly, took the scenic route, etc... more.

If your wife/girlfriend/mother was standing there and you didn't tip, do you really believe they'd think more of you? :eek:


BTW: I got a $30.00 tip from a pax, JFK-->LAX a number of years back. I tried to refuse, but she said she'd heard what we make and figured it might help. With the help of three crew members, we drank it at the hotel! :)

You tip for a scenic route? Personally, if the van driver shortens my overnight so they can show me the "scenic" side of Cleveland, I don't think I will be tipping.

But as you stated, the important thing about tipping is to get the van driver to associate your airline with $ in their pocket. That way when they hear that we need a pickup and they just left the airport, that van driver will do a 180 to get us even though it will cause the Southwest crew already on the van to get upset :)

in many cases service industry workers have suppressed wages due to the inferred gratuity income.

servers in Georgia resturants more often than not are making about $2.00/hr in pay. its legal and the gratuity inference is why.

I tip transport drivers because they have my personal safety in their hands.

and they handle my bags.

and to engender good will and loyalty to their duties.....that may not directly benefit me.....but perhaps the next crew down the line that driver may go the extra mile for...because he remembers I didn't stiff him on a $5 tip.

$5.00 is my standard. Some sports who earn well north of $200,000 a year are so tight that when they pull a quarter out of their pockets the feathers molted off the eagle. Or god for bid they take a single out of their pockets George Washington is rubbing his eyes cause he hadn't seen the day of light since it went into their pockets.

Sometimes F/O's and F/A's need OJT their first trip out. I don't expect $5.00, but at least a buck.

Aren't all our contract driver already trained? 1 from the FO 2 from the CA. Anything more and they've won the lottery! Especially with 5 or more FAs. :eek:;)

Unbelievable how big of a cheap skate some people can be. $1 is literally what you are paid for less half the time it takes to start ONE engine for one leg. If the guy has to schlep my heavy steel framed bag twice and gives me a safe ride to the hotel, take my dollar. After a plane swap or two it's kind of nice to not have to toss it around once more.

I have been wondering how long "$1 has been the standard tip". With about 100 years of aviation behind us, shouldn't inflation have it up to about $2 yet? But I'm just an FO at a bottom feeder airline so I still only tip $1 and so does most everyone else I fly with.

I've given like $3 in coins and felt embarrassed and cheap as I pull out a hand full of change in the bottom of my bag. :o:o:o

I've also given 10 euros because that's all I had. (in the US)

Disclaimer: I'm not a delta pilot.

There are a lot of nuisances involved in tipping, just wondering what everyone's take is:

Should van drivers get a tip if they don't touch your bag? Do you tip the maid? The front desk clerk? What about hotels that charge $30 for parking the rental car, do you tip the person who brings the car around? The omelette cook at breakfast? The clean up lady hovering around the buffet?

:D I know for a fact that Delta pilots tip the most.

TEN

Exactly. Tips were made for people who's wages are well below the minimum wage since tips are then included in the wage. For example bartenders and servers. My last trip to SEA I was talking to the driver and he was telling me how they're all working overtime because they're short drivers. I asked them how much they paid drivers to start and he said usually $16-17 per hour. To start!

A buck was the standard as far back as 1985, but prior to that? Well, I'm old but not that old. In 2006 I unilaterally decided to up it to 2 bucks, because like you said, inflation. Over the years I have heard all of the rationales against tipping, nobody has ever succeeded in convincing me it's anything other than being a cheapskate.

I agree completely. I also think we should have the US government standard for per diem to account for those expenses. Or have Delta pay a fixed tip authorized by a crew signature. This should not be our expense. Yeah, I'm cheap. So cheap I don't want to pay the $50 to account for the per diem difference on my taxes.

Or just give us expense accounts. But this is Delta's cost of doing business. Being nickeled and dimed literally, just rubs salt on the wound. Business travel should not cost us as it doesn't cost other Delta professionals.

Small potatoes yes, but potatoes.

trying to rationalize why you don't need to tip makes you come off as a cheap s.o.b.

Turbine:

The rest of the story: Paris; nice day. We stay at different hotels, depending on your state-side destination. We had a new hire who hadn't been there before. The purser asked if we could take the scenic route for the N/H, and drop them off first, versus the usual heavy-traffic, dingy, drab highway route. I said OK.

--The driver did a good job, and the scenery was worth the five extra minutes.

--The F/As were appreciative and happy. (I may not see them for months.) Good PR is never a bad thing.

--I took care of our driver.

Bon Voyage et Bon Chance! :)

I don't see how that's the case. If everyone had to do it regardless, then it's not a tip but rather a fee. If it's a fee that I have to pay to a driver then Delta should shell out the money for that.

Even when you go out and eat, if you get terrible service do you still tip the waitress? I would hope not. If you do a mediocre job you get 10%, average 15%, good 20%, excellent 30%. That's the scale I use when I go out and dine.

So why all this pressure to "tip" (seems to me like it's a fee rather than a tip since some make such a big deal about it) if the driver doesn't at least do a good job? If you load/unload my luggage and are friendly you get a tip...otherwise you don't. If it's mandatory then it's a fee and Delta should pay for it.

If you think this makes me seem like a "cheap sob" then giving someone money for barely doing what's required in their job description is purely idiotic unless you love giving your money away.

In the olden times, there was a place on the pay sheets for tips. Unless it looked fishy, the Company usually paid.

Was that when dinosaurs roamed the earth?:)

Denny

http://www.monologuedb.com/wp-conten.../rdogspink.jpg
Know this guy?

Jez, when tablets were really tablets.....:D

One point on tipping. You are tipping the driver for assistance with your bag. It's my understanding that the contracts with the company have a driver tip built in for the actual driving. The standard tip is 1.00 per bag. If you are a 4 bagger pilot or flight attendant you should be tipping 4 bucks. Recently I have actually seen some five baggers however they were all flight attendants.

What's a pay sheet? :confused: ;)

It's also in poor form when the f/a's drop their bags at the back of the van and rush to get the best seats!:mad:

More than once, their bags did not get to the hotel! Stolen right there!

I usually wait at the back until all the bags are loaded, but I also still do the "boogie man" check in the hotel halls so the f/a's can check their rooms...

Guess I'm ready for the old folks home! BadFlaps, where do you recommend?:D

Some great gummer joints in Mexico.:)

I do love giving my money away, because $2 to me is literally nothing, and it means a lot more to the recipient.

Pay it forward. Try it sometime.

If I have to load/unload my own bag I don't tip


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Get a life, try underwear that don't restrict the blood flow to your brain.

Wow! A thread in which up until this point no one is blaming ALPA for their stolen pensions and widebody positions which in turn leads to their, shall I say, thriftiness with tipping.

Miracles do happen!


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If gutless ALPO had negotiated appropriate Per Diem rates that took into account a DAL pilot's naturally generous nature...

I think air travelers should start tipping Flight Attendants!

As a 1%er, I enjoy sharing. It's unfortunate how many among us fortunate few gain no such pleasure.

So what's the consensus on hotel housekeepers?

Tipping, I mean.

Now that's a "coffee out the nose" moment!:) If I drank coffee.........

Denny

I was standing in my hotel room naked and the housekeeper walked in...eventually. (Rodney Dangerfield)

I always tip the housekeepers, at least a couple of bucks per service. Usually more if I am on vacation with the family.

Agreed, 1000%!



WT-F-? Flamebait much? :rolleyes:

Well I thought the hotel vans have no obligation to pick us up at the trng building.... but do, hence the difference.