Tipping and intro flights

[timeoff]

I just bought my father a gift certificate for an intro flight at a glider port for Christmas. I was looking over the back of it in the FAQ section and noticed something a little strange. Under the "should I tip" question, it reads that "customers generally tip between 5-10% of the cost of the flight".

What is up with that? If I was new to flying, I would think that I HAD to tip the pilot. Now I have heard of tipping on sightseeing stuff, charters, etc., but not for instruction.

Have any of you CFIs ever accepted tips after giving an into flight? Would your school put this in writing on the back of a gift certificate?

As a soon to be CFI, I think it is demeaning that an instructor (who is a professional pilot) is accepting tips for doing their job. But then again, what do I know....I've yet to earn a dime in aviation thus far.

 

[unreal]

Ack. As a CFI myself, I wouldn't accept a tip from anyone. Sure it might be a little extra on the top, but I'm a pilot not a waiter. I've worked in a tipped profession way too much to have to carry on that tradition into the cockpit.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I've had tips offered to me an refused. But, while I think the idea of a policy encouraging tipping is a bit tacky, I don't have a problem with the concept.

CFI's at too many places get paid too little to begin with. On top of that, I'd bet that the small fee for the flat-charge intro flight barely covers the cost of the airplane and for the CFI is unpaid time with the hope of landing a new student. Given that, I think a tip is a very nice gesture.

Timeoff, if it's okay for sightseeing and charters, why not for a Ramen-eating CFI?

 

[Lazy8]

To each his own...

I go way out of my way and work many unpaid hours to make sure my students have the best and most efficient training possible. I have rarely ever received a tip, but if someone wants to tip me I accept it. No we're not waiters, but we're more than "just pilots". Being a CFI is more than instructing and evaluating. Hourly wages don't mean much for those CFI's working 40 hours a week and being paid for 10.

*edit*
But in regards to the question at hand, no, I don't believe tipping should be required and it sounds pretty weird that they'd put that on a gift certificate.

 

[timeoff]

Timeoff, if it's okay for sightseeing and charters, why not for a Ramen-eating CFI?

I feel that tipping someone who is teaching and evaluating in an instructional environment creates feelings of uneasiness on the part of the student. To maintain a true student-teacher relationship, any additional money does not need to be left as a "discretion". That is what hourly rates are for.

I should add that ALL pilots are professionals. I re-read my first post and it sounded like I was saying sightseeing pilots and charter pilots weren't "professional". Totally not what I meant.

 

[Way2Broke]

I am a pro pilot and I get tipped all the time. You tip the cab driver right? But to put that on the gift certificate...... makes me want to tell you to find a new school.

 

[unreal]

Well, as Grove said, to each his own.

Thinking about tips just brings back the memories of getting paid $2.13/hour + tips to carry around an iced tea pitcher and act nice to rude people. *shudder*

 

[Princedietrich]

By all means, please tip the instructor. Most schools don't pay the CFI anything to conduct intro flights. At least the schools I worked for didn't pay the CFI.

 

[dumblonde]

I get tips all the time. Even got a $20 for a rental checkout once or twice. If someone asks me if they SHOULD tip, I say no they do not have to but, if they want to tip thats ok too.

Several of my students have given me gifts at Christmas time, but not tips after lessons. ( one student even bought me a Bose headset on the payment plan, I made him send it back. That was just way too much money to spend, plus the b-friend had all ready bought one for me.)

 

[Lazy8]

I get tips all the time. Even got a $20 for a rental checkout once or twice. If someone asks me if they SHOULD tip, I say no they do not have to but, if they want to tip thats ok too.

Several of my students have given me gifts at Christmas time, but not tips after lessons. ( one student even bought me a Bose headset on the payment plan, I made him send it back. That was just way too much money to spend, plus the b-friend had all ready bought one for me.)

Sucks being a woman in a man's industry doesn't it?

lol i'm just kidding