I made 20614 last year. I AM A CHEAP ASS AIRLINE PILOT!!!
I get paid nothing, im told that im worth nothing, I TIP NOTHING AND NOONE!!!

 

Exactly, if the driver makes me feel like he is making us their priority, then they get tipped. If they could really care less, then so do I about giving them a tip.

Things that qualify (for me) as No Tip...

1. Late for pickup by more than 10 minutes without a valid excuse
2. Loud obnoxious music on the radio
3. Dropping off pax before crew (when both are picked up at the same time)
4. Not scheduling enough available seats for an early AM show with multiple crews.
5. Bad driving
6. Contract taxi drivers who purposely drive the long way around to make more money from the hotel

But that's just me.

 

Sounds like a lot of people coming to different conclusions based on similar common sense- but sometimes it's hard to tell. There are a lot of people in that business- especially older semi-retired guys- who don't actually "need" the money.

On the other hand, last place I worked for was a company that subcontracted van work from the hotels, and we were barely paid $8/hr..

and lastly, when we had a contract with one of the legacy carriers (contract was with the carrier, not the hotel, interestingly) they were really good about the $1 per person rule of thumb- usually a little more generous when there were only 1 or 2 crew members.

-so thanks.

 

I have a tip, watch all of your bags go into the van sometime they don't always make it. That comes from experince. It's a sinking feeling when you get to the airport and no bag comes out the back.

 

Man!, this a tough croud You guys are killin' me.
fbh

 

Yeah I always have a tip for van drivers.

Instead of giving money though, I tell them to get a real job.

 

Oh wise one, why is driving a hotel van not a "real job"? I have been given rides by very courteous and professional van drivers with whom I'd rather ride than on an airplane in which you're on the crew.

With your elitist attitude, I'm sure they reflect that very sentiment on you. Besides, somehow I doubt you have the guts to actually say that a van driver.

 

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?

 

I've ridden in numerous hotel vans in my previous life as a commuter pilot. One day a crewmember from a USAir crew (this was a long time ago), asked the van driver what she did with her tip money. Her reply? Every year for the past eigth years she had taken her husband and two kids on a FIRST CLASS one week all expenses paid vacation to Disneyland in Florida (they lived in PVD)!!! Her tip money was ONLY for vacations. Well, when I listened to her talk about how wonderful this vacation was every year, it made me realize that it was time I needed to start saving money for ME to have a nice vacation. Problem was is that $14,500 a year after taxes just doesn't go very far. Point is, is that if you can afford to tip go for it, but otherwise save your money. Everyone has a different financial situation, so quit being judgmental about people being "cheap".

 

How do you figure, i think your pilot math skills are broken....

first night $1 - next morning $1 - night $1 - day 3 morning $1 - night $1 - last morning $1 = 6 bucks to me, not 8....


Just my 2 cents.