Am I The Only One Left?

[PositionandHold]

I rarely tip the van drivers. Their W2 prob looks better than mine.

 

[ASA_Aviator]

-Do I handle their bags?

-Have some class, we need to represent our profesion well-especially these days.

I don't know about you, but I regularly carry someone's bag down to the cargo compartment when it won't fit in the overhead (just as the FA said it wouldn't).

Anyway, I normally tip, but if I'm out of cash, I don't sweat it too much.

 

[suupah]

both sides are correct on this argument. When i was an fo suffering from teeth pain and barely making it, i sometimes didn't tip. I also never went out and spent no money on myself. Now that i am making a livable wage i tip.

 

[Flyerdan]

Not to hijack the thread but on a similar subject: Do you leave a tip for the maid when you leave your hotel room on an over night?

I ask because my Mother-in-law used to be a maid in her younger days and she says it is a pretty common practice.

I started leaving a buck but I think I am a minority.

 

[Dubya]

4 trips per hour x 4-8 crewmembers per trip = potential of $32/hr.
A driver at SFO told me while waiting for a pax one day he averages $45/hr.

Be reasonably on time, drive safely, be polite and professional, you'll get my buck. No different in any other tipping situation.


W

 

[laserman2431]

It may not be the driver's fault if they're late.

That may or may not be true. I don't really know how they work. I think there are times when the driver drops off one crew when the inbound crew will be out there in about 7 minutes. The driver just heads back to the hotel only to get called back enroute or turn around as soon as he gets back to the hotel. If these drivers had an incentive, they might use their heads a little more. Also, if they have an incentive, they might be a little more likely to confront management about what works and what doesn't. They might be more likely to watch flight aware instead of American Idol if it effects their money.

I have no way of knowing if they are part of the problem or not. Either way, if I wait more than :15, NO TIP.

If I have to load my own bag, NO TIP.

 

[PooPooPants]

The company has set up transportation for the crewmembers. They negotiate and PAY for the services that will be required. Our contract states that if food is not available, the hotel will provide transportation to meet the dietary needs of the crew.
When Joe the sales man takes a client out to dinner does he tip the server with his own money? NO! He adds it to the company expense report. When my airline reimburses me for tips to van drivers I will tip them. I don't pay to work, I work to get paid.
PS I waited tables for over 10 years, I know how tipping works. I always tip 20%+ because they have to claim it all. Unless you pay for the meal with a card and tip with cash, then uncle sam won't know .
Van drivers don't submit weekly tip reports to the hotel for tax purposes. If they don't get taxed on it, it's not a legal source of income.

As long as you're not claiming it on your taxes then I'm OK with it. I however, tip the standard $1 per ride (from the a/p, the gym or restaurant, whatever) and then deduct it on my taxes. My biggest pet peeve is waiting and for that I won't tip. If they don't load my bags, well then it depends on the driver. I wouldn't let my Grandma or my pregnant wife load my bags, would you? If she's on time I'll get my own bags and leave her the buck.

 

[say again]

It all depends on the attitude and service. I'll hand out a dollar or two dollars if it's deserved. I really don't put much thought, or care on what others do. It's a personal preference.

 

[Yodafly]

got to tip or you won't get no ride to get grub

$1 buck aint much

 

[701EV]

Cheap Ba$tard$!

It's only $6 on a 4 day trip

TIP THE VAN DRIVER!

701EV

 

[Captain Morgan]

I think it's personal preference. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I have money, sometimes I don't. It keeps them guessing so they don't get lazy and assume I'm just going to float them a buck.

 

[Flyin2low]

Times are tough, knucklehead.

If I have cash, I tip. But at the rate of four 4 days a month, that's almost 300 hundred bucks a year. For a 10 year captain like yourself, that's pocket change... But not for the rest of us.

BS.... I tipped $1 when I made $16,000. I'm sure that any ShinyJet driver makes way more than that, even Mesa guys.

This one time when we were getting our bags from the driver, my FA didn't tip. A mainline flight attendant chided her and said "Honey don't you have any money for the driver?" as she hands him a dollar. Then I let her have it, that with the money that she was making, she should tip the driver $4...which she scoffed at and walked away.

 

[LazyLightnin']

What erks me is a driver who will keep you waiting for 30 minutes so he can show up when a later crew is supposed to arrive.

Saves him a trip but gets him no tip.

 

[WWEfan]

It's all about the service to me. Show up on time and take me to the hotel. Load and unload bags. Bam, here's your tip. Not much to ask for I'd say.

Show up late. Stay in the van while I load the FA's bags. No soup (tip) for you!

 

[Crash Pad]

I guess I must be the only airline employee left who thinks it is a total D-Bag move to not tip the van driver after he does a good job getting you around safely, then carefully places your bags right at your feet for your use.

-WTF, People? When did it become O.K. to not tip these guys? (Just $1 per ride-is that really too much?)

I love the $1 tip. Who came up with this? I'm guessing Pan Am in the sixties. Do we adjust for inflation? Nope we just keep going with the dollar tip. I'm guessing we should be giving the van drivers $5 to adjust for inflation. So crj567 who is the D-bag cheap ass now. Maybe I should start tipping $5 every trip. At some point it will become industry standard. Then what thread would you start?

As it turns out we are all cheap. Some of us just cheaper than others.

 

[PooPooPants]

I love the $1 tip. Who came up with this? I'm guessing Pan Am in the sixties. Do we adjust for inflation? Nope we just keep going with the dollar tip. I'm guessing we should be giving the van drivers $5 to adjust for inflation. So crj567 who is the D-bag cheap ass now. Maybe I should start tipping $5 every trip. At some point it will become industry standard. Then what thread would you start?

As it turns out we are all cheap. Some of us just cheaper than others.

The problem is the guys at Pan Am in the sixties were probably making more than our mainline counter parts are making now. Hey, when my salary adjusts for inflation then maybe I will give the van driver a 5 spot.

 

[Gator1999]

Personally, I get a kick out of it when overnighting at the IAD Hilton and the van drops us guys/gals going to Signature first before dropping the airline crews at the terminal, you can cut the tension and angst with a knife. I once got a "death glare" from a very pissed off UAL crew, and just smiled back and got off the bus, handed the driver a 5 and walked away. Maybe if the airline guys tipped a bit better, you might get dropped off first...hmmmm.

FWIW, I tipped at the regionals when I was making crap wages, I don't believe that "I don't make enough money, so therefore it's okay if I don't tip" crap. Unfortunately, many airline crews are cheap and don't tip, and subsequently the van drivers don't expect much from airline crews, so it works in our favor because we'll continue to get preferential service. If you don't tip, don't expect to be picked up and dropped off on time, but by all means come on to FI and bitch about it, you're bound to find someone who may care.

 

[xjgearbtch]

I have the money to tip but I refuse to pay for work. The company is responsible for our transportation, not me. It's not my responsiblity to augment the companies payments to the hotel and its employees.

 

[crj567]

I have the money to tip but I refuse to pay for work. The company is responsible for our transportation, not me. It's not my responsiblity to augment the companies payments to the hotel and its employees.

People like you are the reason for ths thread.... You are simply a tool-and a cheap-ass tool at that.

-Show a little class.

 

[xjgearbtch]

Instead of calling me a tool why don't you logically debunk my reasoning? Grow up and act like an adult. Name calling shows your own immaturity.