Cheap pilots

[Deuce130]

But then again, perhaps I'm living in a bubble and all of the comments from military guys that say things like, "You have to tip them?" when I talk about a vacation with porters and guides.

I don't think it's because they are bad people, I just think the culture is such that many career military are not comfortable with the whole tipping thing.

Probably cause most people in the military don't take vacations where you have porters and guides. I'd probably be clueless as to what to do with them, too. The cab driver in Vegas or the waiter at Outback? Gee, ah, um, I was military so waiters and cabbies make me uncomfortable (despite the fact that I waited tables in high school when I was 16), which is probably just my military culture...maybe I can figure out some way to calculate a 20% tip without making me too uncomfortable. I've seen a lot of mil/civ stuff on this board, but your comments are the dumbest. Military people are uncomfortable tipping?? ROFLMAO.

 

[radarlove]

Military people are uncomfortable tipping??

Yup. You're telling me your colleagues tip as much as you do when you're out to eat?

Ask a flight attendent some time. They often go back or secretly put down a couple extra bucks when a pilot picks up the crew's dinner tab.

Again, you were a waiter, so this doesn't apply to you, I'm sure you tip fine.

 

[35khighpjc]

I usually tip about 15 - 20% depending on service. Just recently my family and I went out to one of those above average Pizza / Itallian joints. The waitress was extremely rude, as a matter of fact I was surprised to see a Russian in a Itallian Restaurant. She never greeted us, never smiled, would not come to the table to see how things were going etc, etc.....At one point my 4 yr old spilled his Coke and she just let another waiter clean it up.

I could not believe this was happening but I said nothing. Instead, I tipped her about $2.40 on a $45 bill. I really should not have given that much but I realized we enjoyed the food and would probably want to return.

About a week later we did return and my wife and I looked inside before entering to she if she was there. It was rather comical. I did not want anyone tampering with my food if you know what I mean...

Anyways, my point is very basic. Service people can either make or break a company. If she had been there we would have went somewhere else along with our money. So, next time you want to be cheap with the tipping think about the service you just received. If it was adequate then give the 15%, and if it was excellent then give more. If it was poor then its all fair game.

Just do us all a favor and stop living on the shoestrings of everyone else if your one of those CHEAPOS this post is about.

IMHO and i am about on one of the better tippers on the face of the earth for my age (21) if i got that lousy of service i think that was too nice of a tip for that. If they're gonna be that rude id be rude back, and when they learn that in that 1 hr of being with you they only made base pay (which is probably minimum, maybe not even more than that) they'll learn better not to do pull that stunt again

but thats my $.02

-Paul

 

[JimNtexas]

So if the old lady an I go out to dinner and spend 60 bucks (not a very high amount nowadays) I am supposed to tip the guy 24 bucks???

Thats more per hour than 78% of the guys on the regional board make!

1) Yes.

2) That has nothing to do with tipping.

 

[JimNtexas]

I guess the military has changed, or more likely it's impossible to make a valid generalization about so large and diverse a group of people.

My experience was that fighter pilots and navs were generous tippers. A guy who went on a cross country or tdy and sat in his room eating tuna out of a can was not respected by his peers.

 

[altscap]

So just because an FO is underpaid (as I hope we all can agree), that makes it correct that waitstaff who depend on their customers to earn a living must suffer too?

You see, the problem is that we're supposed to be a society that cares... We (in the West) were once called a "Christian" society, which isn't to say, Jews and Muslims aren't kind, as they also have examples of this in their culture... but the term was applied more in a general sense to mean "kind" or "caring"... Today it's all "me" and "I"

However you in my view represent the victory of your country of origins former doctrine.. that of a Godless communist world where dog eats dog and human kindness is considered anathema..

Peace out.

If we are a good "christian" society and we are supposed to care about people, then why is it we are in Iraq sticking our noses into another cultures' business when our "good christian" leaders can't seem to find a way to help out New Orleans? I'll tell ya - there's no money to be made by helping out those who had their homes destroyed and their lives ripped out from under them. Better to spend our resources on another Crusade than help our own people here at home, at least we'll get part of the revenue from all that oil, right!?!

We are using the word "christian" as a veil to cover up all the b.s. our so-called "leaders" are getting away with in order to horde more cash for themselves and their Haliburton friends. I wonder how much Cheney or good 'ol George tip.

It doesn't take a form of religion of any kind to make a person good or bad. But it sure seems that those with religious brainwashing are quick to point out other peoples faults but have trouble figuring out how to deal with there own.

1st overnight-
what business is it of yours with what someone else does with their money? It's not yours and you have no say about how it's spent! yes it's embarassing when our colegues don't step up, but what about my co-workers who walks around the airport with his airline id clipped to his shirt that is unbuttoned to his nipples,no epaulets, no tiw, no wings. Now THAT is embarassing.

Here's a question: should the amount of the tip be based on the price of the check, or on my own personal income?

The only drivers I don't tip are the ones who insist my F/A's, who take home $800 a month, give them a buck when they are taking home $2,000 a month to drive a van around town. You think pilots are under paid? The next time all you high-an-mighties out there get a chance, ask a regional f/a what she/he makes. Maybe you should give them a tip for having to put up with all your whining.

El Pobre-
I used to be a bellman at a local hotel chain in my home town and I would run crews to the airport every morning so I know what it's like to haul 40lb. crew bags into the back of a van up to ten times with a 5-persion crew. Back in the late '80's, and the $300k salaries, the standard tip was $1 a person, regardless of the number of bags, and it's still that way today. And if you want a ride somehwere OTHER than the aiport, it's a buck a person. If you feel the driver was genuinly sincere in response to a question or made you laugh or was extremely helpful in another way, then give $2.

 

[HA25]

If we are a good "christian" society and we are supposed to care about people, then why is it we are in Iraq sticking our noses into another cultures' business when our "good christian" leaders can't seem to find a way to help out New Orleans? I'll tell ya - there's no money to be made by helping out those who had their homes destroyed and their lives ripped out from under them. Better to spend our resources on another Crusade than help our own people here at home, at least we'll get part of the revenue from all that oil, right!?!

We are using the word "christian" as a veil to cover up all the b.s. our so-called "leaders" are getting away with in order to horde more cash for themselves and their Haliburton friends. I wonder how much Cheney or good 'ol George tip.

It doesn't take a form of religion of any kind to make a person good or bad. But it sure seems that those with religious brainwashing are quick to point out other peoples faults but have trouble figuring out how to deal with there own.

You're preaching to the quire on this one pal... I didn't mean to infer that we were indeed a true Christian society in the biblical sense (care for the poor, needy and downtrodden), just that we claim to be. I for one am a practicing Roman Catholic, and can honestly say I agree with my Church on most matters, but that my country has long since left true Christianity behind... todays Christians are hardly living up to the title... They are more interested in world domination, imposing their ways on the rest of the world, hating the rest of humanity and eradicating all opposition to the "American Way" which has long since become the way of the Corporations.

 

[HA25]

The only drivers I don't tip are the ones who insist my F/A's, who take home $800 a month, give them a buck when they are taking home $2,000 a month to drive a van around town. You think pilots are under paid? The next time all you high-an-mighties out there get a chance, ask a regional f/a what she/he makes. Maybe you should give them a tip for having to put up with all your whining.

Now we diverge a bit on this one..

Last time I checked, there weren't many F/A's that had a requirement for a university education and years of technical training with $100,000 ERAU student loans, or 9-12 years of military training or service to land their job. No, actually most of them were working at some other job (maybe the makeup counter at Macy's, or the local IHOP) and with in literally 3-5 weeks were trained up and on the line doing their job.. In the end the F/A position was never intended to be a career one, but just a temporary job for a young single woman... It evolved into this "profession" with the over unionization of the airlines where non-skilled workers began to equate themselves to pilots and mechanics with years of training and experience.

So you should be more upset with the fact that many Regional FO's take home less than an FA.. that's what should get your blood boiling.

 

[Midnight Flyer]

Q- Why do Pilots like F/A's with big tits?

A- Most pilots have big mouths

Q - What's one of the biggest hazards for an airline Captain?

A - A flight attendant with a chipped tooth.

 

[Mamma]

Yup. You're telling me your colleagues tip as much as you do when you're out to eat?

Ask a flight attendent some time. They often go back or secretly put down a couple extra bucks when a pilot picks up the crew's dinner tab.

Again, you were a waiter, so this doesn't apply to you, I'm sure you tip fine.

You have to be the biggest retard I have seen on this board in almost a week. Take your generalizations about things you know NOTHING about and stick them you know where. "Oh, there were these 2 military guys who once...." Whatever.

 

[radarlove]

You have to be the biggest retard I have seen on this board in almost a week. Take your generalizations about things you know NOTHING about and stick them you know where. "Oh, there were these 2 military guys who once...." Whatever.

Ok. What do you generally tip? Have you ever left less than 15%? How recently?

If you are using a coupon or receiving a discount, what amount do you tip on. Not what you're supposed to tip on, what do you tip on?

 

[altscap]

So you should be more upset with the fact that many Regional FO's take home less than an FA.. that's what should get your blood boiling.

On this one, again, we agree. F/A's at nearly every other regional make more their first year than our 1900 drivers do.

My thing is that, even young single women (and men) deserve to make a livable wage. Sure, they don't have the same emotional and financial commitments to this industry that we do, but they are on the same trips with us that can be up to 6 days long at my employer. Wouldn't it be nice if they could afford a place to live, car insurance payments. which are outrageous for people in their early 20's, AND manage to get something to eat from time to time? That's all I'm saying.

Take care and fly safe!

 

[HA25]

I agree altscap.. living wage is fine, but lets not get carried away with equating their commitment to the job with ours is what I was getting to. This would also apply to, gate agents, reservations agents, rampers, baggage handlers etc.. those are "jobs" that are not or at least were not originally intended to be careers.. the over unionizing of airlines has lead to them being made so, and this has cut into the piece of pie that we, the mechanics, and the managers of the airlines must get paid from, and to be honest, I think we 3 groups invest a lot more getting to where we are than the later.

 

[30West]

I can't understand how some people can make 6 digits a year, but yet they can't afford to "live a normal life"? The most my wife and I ever made in one year was about 75K. We did all of the aforementioned things, and lived just fine. How is it that someone earning half again as much can't?

Simple. Gotta factor in all the alimonies!

Getting wealthy is one thing, staying that way is quite different altogether!

 

[CHQFA00]

.....................

 

[zonker]

I always tip the driver, but more importantly I tip people who clean my room.

Always after a nights stay.

But especially if I am staying there for consecutive nights during training. Primarliy because I am sympathetic toward those who have to perform that job. I really am, and that's no BS.

Also because it's thankless, and I appreciate those that work hard in a thankless job.

And lastly because someone is spending lots of time near my toothbrush.

:laugh:

 

[1st Overnite]

I always tip the driver, but more importantly I tip people who clean my room.

Great point. I wonder how many tip the hotel maid.

If we are a good "christian" society and we are supposed to care about people, then why is it we are in Iraq sticking our noses into another cultures' business when our "good christian" leaders can't seem to find a way to help out New Orleans? I'll tell ya - there's no money to be made by helping out those who had their homes destroyed and their lives ripped out from under them. Better to spend our resources on another Crusade than help our own people here at home, at least we'll get part of the revenue from all that oil, right!?!

We are using the word "christian" as a veil to cover up all the b.s. our so-called "leaders" are getting away with in order to horde more cash for themselves and their Haliburton friends. I wonder how much Cheney or good 'ol George tip.

It doesn't take a form of religion of any kind to make a person good or bad. But it sure seems that those with religious brainwashing are quick to point out other peoples faults but have trouble figuring out how to deal with there own.

My original post was about how cheap some pilots are. I am trying to connect the dots to see how this became an anti-US-Bush campaign.

 

[1st Overnite]

Here's a question: should the amount of the tip be based on the price of the check, or on my own personal income?

No. Tip what is expected. That is like saying you should pay less for your cab ride, groceries, car, etc based on what your income is.

 

[Fedora]

Worst guy I ever saw was caught on hotel security camera dumping a bowl of candy into his bag. When presented with the evidence by hotel manager, he stated "I take it home for my kids". No sign of embarrassment. He reheats airline dinners on his iron in the room, and replaces burned out light bulbs from home with ones from hotel.

 

[HA25]

Worst guy I ever saw was caught on hotel security camera dumping a bowl of candy into his bag. When presented with the evidence by hotel manager, he stated "I take it home for my kids". No sign of embarrassment. He reheats airline dinners on his iron in the room, and replaces burned out light bulbs from home with ones from hotel.

I heard of this guy during indoc with the Irons in the hotel rooms... but take note of the newhire you're with this trip .. he's pretty good competition for this guy. He brought a suitcase of Kimchi to Helsinki so he can save money over there. Nice guy, but scary cheap; then with the money we're paid during year one, I can't say I blame him.

 

[CrewDawg]

Also, the military doesn't lend itself to the tipping philosophy--there, you're supposed to simply do your job. Getting something extra for simply doing what you were supposed to do goes against the military grain, hence the fear and loathing of getting caught somewhere where you need to tip and don't want to.

That "something extra" is called PRIDE!! True, that may not pay the bills but I make plenty of money and live well within my meals (not cheap). It also gives me something that money never can.

I know most of you civilians wouldn't understand pride in your job, oh wait that would be a sweeping generalization like you have been doing on all your posts, I take that back!

If you really want to know who leaves bad tips just talk to any waiter/waitress that works in an area with a very broad cultural makeup. It would be inappropriate to post on here but there are worse groups than military people.

Ok. What do you generally tip? Have you ever left less than 15%? How recently?

20-25% min. if they do a good job? 15% if they get us our meals and not much else. Even less if they are just plain rude or gave shi#ty service.

You bet I have left less than 15% before. Good story of when I was back in college. A group of about 6 of my friends and I went to a "nicer" restaurant and were treated like crap. We were very respectful and did nothing to warrant being treated like we did. They could tell we weren't rich and they totally ignored us so we tipped accordingly. We had to ask five times over a 30 minute period to get a glass of water refilled. Finally, I went and grabbed a pitcher of water and refilled our glasses! Our waiter saw this and never even apologized. When we got the bill we all paid and my friend (a waiter himself who normally tips 30-35%, OMG a military person who tips....gasp) told my friend he would get the tip and that noone was to leave anything extra. He left a penny, so they waiter would know that we didn't just forget or the everyone thought someone else was getting the tip situation.

I have never used a coupon at a restaurant but if I did I would base my tip on the price before the discount.

As for military guys avoiding places where we have to tip, I don't think you fully understand what it is we do. As someone who is currently in pilot training I can tell you it is usually a race to get out of our flight suits and get to the bar! <-----Note: Tipping is always involved in these places. But your right we do try to avoid places to tip.

 

[CrewDawg]

I think your experience is a little different, since you grew up in a tipping environment. I have yet to meet a single military pilot who ever worked in a tipped position. That's not to say that there aren't any, just that it's mighty rare. Civ guys that worked their way up the food chain seem to have a little more knowlege about why and how to tip.

Missed this one on the first post.

Your right I didn't work in a tipping environment. I paid my way through college by enlisting in the guard. I spent my extra time deploying to the desert.

 

[Rook]

Worst guy I ever saw was caught on hotel security camera dumping a bowl of candy into his bag. When presented with the evidence by hotel manager, he stated "I take it home for my kids". No sign of embarrassment. He reheats airline dinners on his iron in the room, and replaces burned out light bulbs from home with ones from hotel.

Yeah he was a legend in indoc. Heard he bought bread and cheese and made his own grilled cheese ala ironing board sandwiches. The lights though? Man that's hilarious.

 

[retired guy]

When I first got hired, a long time ago, I flew with an old captain that brought his burned out light bulbs with him. He swapped with the hotel on layovers...now thats cheap!

 

[Mamma]

Ok. What do you generally tip? Have you ever left less than 15%? How recently?

If you are using a coupon or receiving a discount, what amount do you tip on. Not what you're supposed to tip on, what do you tip on?

I generally tip 20%...even more if a bar is involved because it gets me my drinks faster. In Europe, I don't tip so much because it is included in the bill and it is not part of the culture. Since there are thousands of reserve, guard and ex-military pilots, I want to know how many have you flown with that lead you to make such a sweeping ignorant statement?

 

[HA25]

I generally tip 20%...even more if a bar is involved because it gets me my drinks faster. In Europe, I don't tip so much because it is included in the bill and it is not part of the culture. Since there are thousands of reserve, guard and ex-military pilots, I want to know how many have you flown with that lead you to make such a sweeping ignorant statement?

I have found more and more in Europe tipping is becoming normal.. at least I get the impression that they almost expect us Americans to tip because they know that's how we do things.. but you're correct, they're paid much better wages there and so the tip is not expected as it is here.

 

[Mamma]

I have found more and more in Europe tipping is becoming normal.. at least I get the impression that they almost expect us Americans to tip because they know that's how we do things.. but you're correct, they're paid much better wages there and so the tip is not expected as it is here.

That is true. They seem to be expecting it from Americans now. When I lived there we would tip the change...couple DMs or Euros. Nothing near 20%. Heck, 16% of the bill was taxes which funds their 6-8 weeks of paid vacation each year and pension.

 

[Little Bubba]

I don't give the van driver a dime, UNLESS he helps me with my bags.

 

[Way2Broke]

Do I tip the van driver? No. But I go out of my way to load and unload my own bag. I guess I am cheap. If I am worn out don't want to load and unload my own bag and they offer I will and do tip. If the van driver takes me somewhere besides to and from the airport, they get a nice tip because it saved me a taxi ride and its not work related (or if they stop at a fast food joint on the way to the motel, etc.). Unlike wait staff van drivers are not paid $2.10 a hour. I really can't stand it when you get in the van and they have a cup full of ones, or a sign.

If I do not have enough cash to tip the waiter/waitress I do not go out to eat at a sit down type establishment. When I do go out I tip the standard 15-20%, to the penny usually. This is less and less of a problem these days, but back when I was making poverty level wages flying for a living I ate at home for this very reason.

Have I ever stiffed a waiter.... yes... but the service was pathetic. My dad use to leave half pennies if the service was bad (and I mean really really bad). Its quite sad actually, in todays day and age tips have become accepted, instead of earned. Its all part of the "Entitled Generation" problem. Its one thing if the service is bad and the manager comes to check on you and you say something and they do something to take care of you, but if they don't understand what customer service is, well then they do not belong in the service industry. (And yes I waited tabled in High School)

If I ever had a crew member order off the kids menu I think I would offer to buy them dinner, that just embarrassing. I mean, don't you have to be under 12 to order off that thing anyways?

Bottom line, I am on the road to make money, not spend it. However, that doesn't mean you can be a dirt bag just because you are not in your home town.

 

[Fedora]

but take note of the newhire you're with this trip .. he's pretty good competition for this guy. He brought a suitcase of Kimchi to Helsinki so he can save money over there. Nice guy, but scary cheap; then with the money we're paid during year one, I can't say I blame him.

Yeah, come to think of it, I don't think I saw him spend a dime on anything during the trip. He was very excited about how "we get to eat so much food all the time" You are right, though, about him being a nice guy.