Tip the van drivers...its what we do
 

Just a quick topic.....

We of course have our special cases that won't part with a buck to save their lives, all airlines have them....

However I have noticed, as have some people I have spoke to, a growing number of new hires who don't tip the van drivers.

So a note to new guys, we tip our drivers here. Those who are tipping a buck, thank you. Those that don't, find a buck a day. If you can't afford a $1, ask the Captain to spot you a buck or cover you, so that we don't stiff the van drivers.

I know the popular excuses, God knows they have been beat to death on these forums:

-They make more than I do
-This is work, I'm not on vacation
-I can't remember to take cash
-Im on first year pay and it sucks

But in the end, even our first year FAs tip the drivers the majority of the time and they are at what, $20 an hour.

Sure, you will have an occasional late pickup, rude driver, unsafe, etc....but the overwhelming amount of drivers are on time, (even when we are late) grab the bags and don't crash us into a wall because we sit and complain every car ride about our pay, company, management, contract etc...

As the saying goes, we tip the driver not for that ride, but for the next ride.

First year pay sucks, we get it, we all did it. We also all knew the pay when we signed on the dotted line. Hopefully soon enough $38.50 will be a nightmare of the past...

...until then, tip a buck. It has remained a buck for over a decade, some tip more, but find a buck a ride...it is really not that hard.

Thats it...one and done on these forums, just wanted to put that out there.

Don't forget housekeeping. Those girls work harder than just about anyone else we interact with out on the road.

Agreed...van and housekeeping both get tips.

Good god, don't pull that crap. Don't tip housekeeping for doing their job. BTW I tip but we are in the transportation industry too, why do we get a tip?


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There is absolutely no chance of this turning into a socio-economic political argument.....and we're gonna have an industry leading contract by the end of the summer.

Not a Spirit pilot--second year regional FO making what a first year Spirit FO makes (guess which one), but $1/$2 per day per four-day trip over the course of one year adds up to a lot of income that I would rather spend on more important stuff.... And yeah, that van driver is making more than I or a first year Spirit FO. Just saying, it's not because we are pricks.... We really are broke. And then housekeeping, too? Give us a break, man.

In the last 3 years I have maybe seen 2 people not tip the driver. That said, I don't tip the maid yet. I agree with giving tips but it gets a little out of hand when you tip the driver, the maid, the waitress and even tip for coffee it become a little much.IMO it's not the responsibility of successful people to make sure those who aren't are compensated.It's that of the company who employs them to do the right thing, and that won't ever happen.

So, just so we're clear, don't tip housekeeping for doing her job, but do tip the van driver for... doing his job?

I tip the van driver $2, and more if it is longer limo ride. I also tip for my FO if he is on first year. But WTF, why is it my responsibility to compensate all the people on crappy pay. Would it not be better if everyone made a living wage and nice people didn't have to compensate for all the cheap asses out there? BTW with this logic I should go through the cabin for tips because I am the lowest paid pilot out there...

But where does it stop? I pay the hotel for a clean room, they pay the housekeeper for a clean room. I would love to end tipping everywhere EXCEPT for service above and beyond expected.