Tipping hotel van drivers

[CFI2766]

I'm curious, should I be tipping hotel van drivers?

Thoughts:

1. I'm a new FO, I bring home a little over $200 a week. I'm not able, right now, to tip van drivers. Should I be getting dirty looks for not tipping?

2. If so, shouldn't I be tipping the bus drivers who take me to and from Camp Creek? I don't see that happening...

 

[GogglesPisano]

If they put your bag into/out of the van, you owe them a gratuity, IMHO. Poverty is no excuse. One could argue that per diem is intended to cover "incidental costs" on trips.

 

[CA1900]

Plus, you're shooting yourself--and your co-workers--in the foot if you don't tip. Once your airline gets that reputation, you'll wait much longer for the van rides.

Rather than hash this all out again, please refer to these threads:

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=58712
http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=35625
http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=92705

 

[TOOL CRIB]

I'm curious, should I be tipping hotel van drivers?

Thoughts:

1. I'm a new FO, I bring home a little over $200 a week. I'm not able, right now, to tip van drivers. Should I be getting dirty looks for not tipping?

2. If so, shouldn't I be tipping the bus drivers who take me to and from Camp Creek? I don't see that happening...

Don't tip at all your first year. Most people dont. Just throw your own bags in the van. If they insist, let them. Just say thanks. I only tip if the van is on time and if they're nice about it. People have to work for my money!

 

[701EV]

Tip The Van Driver Thats What Your Per Diem Is For !

701EV

 

[John Pennekamp]

I've got a buddy who drives a hotel van. To them tipping is a joke 'cause those van drivers make more than most FOs and FAs. Think about it.

At a big crew hotel, in a large business city, you could do 4 runs an hour and get a buck from each person on the van. That's 5 bucks per trip, 20 bucks an hour. Plus your $5.15 from the hotel.

Now if you're talking Valdosta, well, give the poor guy a buck or two. But I feel FOs, FAs, and even cheap captains need not tip.

Besides, who ever tips us? We're in a service industry too.

 

[John Pennekamp]

Tip The Van Driver Thats What Your Per Diem Is For !

701EV

Wrong! My perdiem is for eating and drinking on trips.

By the way, I WILL encourage my crew to tip the van driver for special favors, like running us to a bar or restaurant or "adult entertainment venue".

 

[CFI2766]

Wrong! My perdiem is for eating and drinking on trips.

By the way, I WILL encourage my crew to tip the van driver for special favors, like running us to a bar or restaurant or "adult entertainment venue".

I can see this. This makes sense. Above and beyond gets a tip.

But if the guy is simply fulfilling the contract that ASA has with that particular hotel, I'm much less inclined to part ways with the $20 to $30 a month that tips would take out of my budget.

 

[Master Shake]

My number one rule:

When I walk out of the terminal and that van isn't there, no tip. I wait, they lose.

 

[se1776]

I've got a buddy who drives a hotel van. To them tipping is a joke 'cause those van drivers make more than most FOs and FAs. Think about it.

that's sad

 

[flyf15]

I'll tip if I get exceptional service or if the person does something out of the ordinary for us. But, I hate the fact that tipping seems standard, understood, and guarenteed no matter what for most people. Thats not what a tip is supposed to be for. Its not something I "just do."

Additionally, if you think about it, it really adds up. At my airline, there are CDO schedules that have 16 CDOs on them in a month. Thats 16 overnights in hotels. 32 van rides. If you tip a dollar everytime, thats $32/mo, or $384/yr. For a first year FO, $384 is almost another paycheck... or two months of crashpad rent. All for tipping people when you ride the van, even though they don't tip you when they ride your airplane?

 

[mayoplane]

It drives me nuts!

It drives me nuts that everyone wants tip nowadays. The van driver, hair stylist, hiking tour guide, a host of restraurant who takes care of your take-out, rafting tour guides..... You pay $200 for some hikig tour, and they want another $20 for tip at the end of the trip? What did that $200 take care of???

If you are a regional F/O, don't even worry about it. When I was a f/o, I tipped every time, but that's because I felt like I had to. If the Captain gives him/her a buck, that's enough. They have their hourly wage. Tipping is overrated unless they take you to a restaurant or somewhere other than the hotel/airport.

 

[Smash312]

I don't tip. I don't make enough. Period.

If someone takes me to grab some food on the way back etc. then I'll slap 'em a buck or two.

And whay does everyone here expect to be tipped. NO - I won't tip anyone else other than in a food establishment. Hairdressers, cab drivers etc, they do their job - good. If they do anything I feel is extra then sure, I'll give them a tip.

 

[RemoveB4Flght]

It drives me nuts that everyone wants tip nowadays. The van driver, hair stylist, hiking tour guide, a host of restraurant who takes care of your take-out, rafting tour guides..... You pay $200 for some hikig tour, and they want another $20 for tip at the end of the trip? What did that $200 take care of???

If you are a regional F/O, don't even worry about it. When I was a f/o, I tipped every time, but that's because I felt like I had to. If the Captain gives him/her a buck, that's enough. They have their hourly wage. Tipping is overrated unless they take you to a restaurant or somewhere other than the hotel/airport.

I agree with this... I bartendedmy way through college and know how people live and die by the tips they make.. I also know the nights I spent hitting some coed, ignoring half the bar, and still walking with a couple hundred bucks.

The other night I was out at a restaurant with my girlfriend, slow night. The hostess took our drink order, and I watched her give it to our server. She put it into the bar and then disappered in the back. After 15 minutes the bartender walked the drinks over. The girl comes out, takes our order with the monotone push for appetizers and leaves again. The assistant manager brought out the food and refilled our drinks. The girl show up 45 minutes later with our check, ignoring our empty drinks and apathetically asking us about dessert. She acted busy at the next table until i put the cash in the check holder and she swooped right back by to ask if i needed change. Nope.. cost of meal $49 + $1tip

Basically she punched in our food order and then took the money.. the same function a cashier at a grocery store would do. The manager came by, obviously at her request and asked why I left such a small tip. I said if he had to ask, then he didn't understand the concept of a tip.

If anything I usually overtip for service.. but some people just seem to expect 20% or more simply for doing the bare minimum.

 

[EWRJ0225]

I usually tip depending on the driving skills of the driver. if they drive like a crazed lunatic, acting like they are in indy 500 in a POS van with bald tires, then I dont tip. There have been several times i have feared for my life in EWR, PHL, BWI, and basically any time the guy doesnt speak english, blasts crazy mexicano music, or jokes with their buddies on their CB radio using trucker language. I did tip in Dayton the other day cause the guy did get out of bed at 3 in the morning to come pick us up. But its a freakin dollar, those van drivers make bank.