Tipping
 

Not sure if this thread belongs here, but I've been wondering about tipping etiquette. Usually I tip the hotel van driver $1-2. But what if I am bag-less (and therefore the driver hasn't helped load any bags into the van), is it OK not to tip at all?
Also, I have to do off-airport parking at my base. There is a shuttle that takes you to and from the airport to the parking company (it's like a 2 min drive.) Sometimes I load my own bag(s) and sometimes the driver will help. Should I be tipping the driver? So far I haven't because I do mostly out and backs which means I get on that shuttle almost every day, sometimes twice a day. Those dollars can add up and as a first year regional guy, I figure I need the money more than the driver does! BUT, there's a part of me that does feel slightly weird about stepping off the van with just a "thank you".. what do you think, what is the etiquette here?

As an airline guy, I tipped hotel van drivers $1 for helping with the bags. They got a tip if they were pleasant and reasonably on time for the pickup. I was more likely to tip them if they ran me to a restaurant.

I don't tip airport employee shuttle bus drivers or car rental bus drivers. I might tip off airport (remote) parking lot bus drivers.

I generally tip if they handle my bag. Rental and Employee van drivers rarely do, but if they do they get $1. A hotel driver who doesn't even get out of the van does not get a tip. I'm a big guy, and don't really need help with my bag but it's the principle of the thing.

I always give the cabbies who pick me up at home a big tip...the word gets out and this ensures that when I call a cab to go to the airport I never have to wait for long. The dispatchers know me by caller ID.

I give the hotel shuttle driver a buck. When I worked for an FBO I remembered who tipped and who didn't. It didn't keep me from doing my job but if I had two crews needing the same thing at the same time, guess who got priority?

Having lunch money was always a nice perk.

I have two criteria that must be met:

1. Are they paid as a tipped employee?
2. Have they performed a service above their normal job description?

If the second one or both of those are met, then I tip away. I am with Mr. Pink on the tipping philosophy for the most part, we have become a tip happy society. The one difference is that I start at 20% at restaurants.

I tip my bartender.

$5 tip for every $20 I spend in a bar. Never have to wait for a drink and I have one waiting for me at 1600 every Friday.

-LAFF

Any advice on how/when to tip for somebody travelling to the US?

I tip the airport people a buck or two. Bartenders depends on quality of drink, and service. If its just a few rounds of beer with friends 10%. There isnt alot of effort opening a beer cap. And waitresses 15% based on service.

I usually tip 20% at restaurants and $1 per drink at the bar. My wife and I don't usually drink beer at a bar, mixed drinks are the norm so that too probably works out to 20-25% depending on locale. Agree with the comment above if drinking bottled beer. If I'm up for spending the money to eat or drink out, I budget the money to tip accordingly. I have enough family who spent time in the service industry that I was taught growing up to tip well, and like LAFF said, if you frequent the same place regularly and tip well, you can expect first class service every time.

I tip 20% for dinner if the service was avg. 15% for below avg service.

I tip for ontime shuttle service only.