Tipping hotel van drivers

[AMANSWORLD]

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...

Why and how could one work for $200.00/week, let alone fly an airplane for that. I made more than that instructing. Where do you work?
Note to self never work for that wage.

 

[relief tube]

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?

$200 a week...not even Mesa's that bad.

First I question if van driver's make more than first year FO's. Everyone's different, if you have been furloughed and have 3 kids and a mortgage and money is extremely tight, then that's one thing. But at the same time the only time you should consider it is if your budget is so tight that you're not going to restaurants, not having a drink at the end of the day, don't have cable,

There's many comforts that should be given up before you decide to not tip the driver. The way I see it, there's low income jobs out there you sit behind a desk, but a van driver has that same low income but he puts his butt on dangerous roads. And in a sense, he's like us in terms of having our safety in his hands. He deserves a tip.

And to answer your question, yes you do deserve looks if you don't tip. At least though you're concerned about it enough to question.

 

[BoilerUP]

If I recall correctly, you can tax deduct up to three dollars a day in gratuities.

If I have an exorbitant wait for the van, load my own bags, or the driver has a bad attitude, I'll not occasionally not tip if its over-the-top bad, but most times I still crack the wallet.

Don't be a stereotypical "cheap-ass pilot"...its only two bucks a day.

 

[xjgearbtch]

The best way I've heard it explained, is that if the employee declares their tips then I tip them. If it's a change jar at a coffee joint etc, no way. I pay taxes on every penny I earn, h@ll if I'm gonna give someone else tax free money.
The airline contracts the hotel to provide a service. The hotel then pays its employees with this contract. In no way shape or form is it my resposibility to help fund this "contract." When you rent out a banquet hall for your wedding/impending divorce do your guests pay the tip? No you set that up ahead of time with the contract.
By the way I tip 20% or better when I eat out. And waited tables while in college.

 

[XJohXJ]

If the van service is very good, and the driver loads and unloads the bags, then I'll tip. If the van isn't there when we get out to the curb, then no tip.

 

[AV80R]

“Don't tip at all your first year. Most people dont.”

Huh? Most people don’t? Wow, that’s the first I heard. The fact you’re even asking the question sounds to me like you already made up your mind and now need a justifications to your actions from others.

It wasn’t that long ago I was making a whopping $17,000 a year yet somehow always managed to tip the driver. Just because our pay sucks doesn’t mean we have to be jerks to the drivers.

“People have to work for my money!”

You sound like one of those guys/gals who’s always looking for an excuse NOT to tip. “Oh, there you go - we waited 3 minutes longer than normal for our table – no tip for you!”
Tipping should be the norm, only an unusually substandard service or a rude driver should make an exception to the rule. Even if you waited for the van a little longer than usual, if on the way to the hotel you notice the traffic indeed is really bad, give the guy/gal a break, there’s not much he/she can do about the traffic.

Treat others the way you’d want to be treated!

 

[FreightPup]

There have been several times i have feared for my life in EWR, PHL, BWI,

Ha, that's funny. I've feared for my life there too, and not only in the van!

 

[Hamburger]

I know of a guy that didn't tip the van drivers and was generally a jerk to them...

One morning, after dropping him off at the airport and not getting tipped again, they pulled his tab from the hotel bar the night before. It was time stamped and made for great reading when it came accross the Chief pilot's fax.

One day per diem covers the entire month worth of van ride tips.

It's true that some van drivers make more than some F/O's. If it's that big of a problem for you, go be a van driver. Easiest job in the world to get.

Remember the Steve Buschemi speech in Resevior Dogs? Don't be that guy.

 

[TOOL CRIB]

“Don't tip at all your first year. Most people dont.”

Huh? Most people don’t? Wow, that’s the first I heard. The fact you’re even asking the question sounds to me like you already made up your mind and now need a justifications to your actions from others.

Most people in their first year at a regional airline don't tip.

It wasn’t that long ago I was making a whopping $17,000 a year yet somehow always managed to tip the driver. Just because our pay sucks doesn’t mean we have to be jerks to the drivers.

That's wonderful. I'm glad giving away your money for contracted services makes you happy. You could have made $17,300+ your first year if you didnt. That's 2% of your income.

“People have to work for my money!”

You sound like one of those guys/gals who’s always looking for an excuse NOT to tip. “Oh, there you go - we waited 3 minutes longer than normal for our table – no tip for you!”
Tipping should be the norm, only an unusually substandard service or a rude driver should make an exception to the rule. Even if you waited for the van a little longer than usual, if on the way to the hotel you notice the traffic indeed is really bad, give the guy/gal a break, there’s not much he/she can do about the traffic.

Treat others the way you’d want to be treated!

I stand by my statement. I tip for good service. That's how it should be. Unless your party is 8 or more or whatever it says on the bottom of your receipt

 

[AV80R]

I stand by my statement. I tip for good service. That's how it should be. Unless your party is 8 or more or whatever it says on the bottom of your receipt

I stand by my statement too!

I guess the aeropark in your avatar is for your private use huh?

 

[CrownandCoke]

a while back, I read in Dear Abby (don't ask) a letter from a waitress saying that she expects 25% tips now. She said 25% is customary and that if she is undertipped, she makes a fuss about it to the customers. If I ever meet that waitress, I will punch her in the face. In other countries, it is offensive to tip. It is a mentality thing in our country. I am a first year FO, and I have never tipped a van driver. Don't plan on doing it until I am a captain, and if they are late, bad driving, etc, that will equal no tip.

15% at a restaurant, pretax. Lower if the service is not superior.

 

[John Pennekamp]

I know of a guy that didn't tip the van drivers and was generally a jerk to them...

One morning, after dropping him off at the airport and not getting tipped again, they pulled his tab from the hotel bar the night before. It was time stamped and made for great reading when it came accross the Chief pilot's fax.

Yet another reason not to drink in hotel bars.

One day per diem covers the entire month worth of van ride tips.

It's true that some van drivers make more than some F/O's. If it's that big of a problem for you, go be a van driver. Easiest job in the world to get.

Remember the Steve Buschemi speech in Resevior Dogs? Don't be that guy.

It also covers the bar tab for my crew. No desire to be a van driver... this is easier and more fun.

 

[relief tube]

you chumps that don't tip regularly and then make up some half-a$$ rationalization why you dont are a bunch of punks. van not there? guy not in a good mood? come on.

At least take the skirt off and have the balls to admit you're too f-ing cheap to tip those guys. then at least you'll be a cheapa$$ instead of a guy too coward too admit the former.

 

[AV80R]

In other countries, it is offensive to tip. It is a mentality thing in our country.

Has nothing to do with mentality, has to do with tax codes. In most Nordic countries for examples restaurant workers get a mandatory tip allowance as part of their paychecks; in other words a part of the price of the meal you are paying is reserved for tips and is included in the waiters’ salaries.

I am a first year FO, and I have never tipped a van driver… if she is undertipped, she makes a fuss about it to the customers. If I ever meet that waitress, I will punch her in the face.”

Maybe the drivers should “punch you in the face?”
Wow, I guess you deserve a Medal of Winer!!! Poor me, me, me…

Ps. Maybe you can ask “Dear Abby” how to become a better person?

 

[John Pennekamp]

you chumps that don't tip regularly and then make up some half-a$$ rationalization why you dont are a bunch of punks. van not there? guy not in a good mood? come on.

At least take the skirt off and have the balls to admit you're too f-ing cheap to tip those guys. then at least you'll be a cheapa$$ instead of a guy too coward too admit the former.

Ooooh, internet tough guy teling us off anonymously. I bet you have a 1 inch johnson too. I bet the ladies are impressed!

Look, y'all. Tip if you want to, don't if you don't want to. I'm not afraid to admit that I'm a cheapass who would rather spen that tip money on alcohol for my crew.