Tipping the Van driver....

[propjockey]

deleted

 

[Tram]

This thread is a joke.. It's almost as rediculous as the "captain didn't use his cell phone to talk to dispatch thread.."

If you tip.. cool..
If you don't tip.. cool..

If the driver doesn't touch my bag, I don't touch my wallet.. He's getting paid - be it minimum wage or not - to drive me to my hotel/airport. That is his JOB. Do you tip the ticket agents, the ramp personel, the TSA folks after searching your bag? What about the cash register worker in the gas station or perhaps the lil' 16 year old girl behind the counter at Wal-Mart? The only people who DESERVE tips are people who work for tips.. waiters/waitresses, etc.. - they WORK FOR TIPS..

If you guys wanna jump on me about not tipping - do it.. but only do it AFTER you start tipping EVERYONE who provides you a service.. Do any of you tippers send the owners of this message board a "tip" to help pay for the server, etc?

 

[P-Dawg_QX]

OK I'll be the first give the van driver a tip when I travel afterall they make minimum wage.

However, tipping crew schedulers is uncalled for. Heck our crew scheduler make more than we do! There are two crew schedulers to one dispatcher. Who cares about the safety of the airline when you have crew schedulers right???

The crews are always bringing them cookies, cakes, krispy kremes, flowers, etc. It's a virtual buffet over there. <shakes head in disgust>

You've got to be kidding me. People are actually tipping our schedulers? "Hey Ryan, thanks for the abuse! Here's a 10-spot for your trouble. Keep it up, only next time use a bigger stick!"

 

[-9Capt]

If you guys wanna jump on me about not tipping - do it.. but only do it AFTER you start tipping EVERYONE who provides you a service.. Do any of you tippers send the owners of this message board a "tip" to help pay for the server, etc?

Certian service jobs in the USA are tip worthy (waiters, sky caps, door man, taxi/van driver) and others are not. I didn't invent the rules, I just follow them.

 

[Tram]

Certian service jobs in the USA are tip worthy (waiters, sky caps, door man, taxi/van driver) and others are not. I didn't invent the rules, I just follow them.

Yes your right, I was being facetious.. However, I feel tips are often expected these days rather than earned.. If the guy earns his tip, he gets one..

 

[Crizz]

You may see many people traveling leaving tips. Realize that many people traveling are doin so on business. Their tips come strait out of their expense account. Granted, a tip is a gesture of aknowledgement of personal service. However, I believe a large number of people traveling on business do not foot any of that bill on their their own shoulders. I know many people that travel on business... they are compensated very handsomly by their respective companies for their time traveling.

So for pilots - We are "on business." We are "at work." The only function of us being at the hotel is as an arm of the company. The van ride PERIOD is a byproduct of the JOB we are there doing.

I tip. I do not tip as custom, however. As mentioned, if the van driver is on time and goes out of their way to make it a pleasant experience (not only getting bags, but in a good demeanor and a positive) then I will give a dollar.

I know for fact, even the lowest van driver gets paid more than I do as a first year FO. I dont think tipping has anything to do with class. I am paid a wage that is almost impossible to live on. PERIOD. It has nothing to do with class if I cant just hand out "only $750" a year, Ty Webb. I'm sorry, Im lucky to spend $750 a year on groceries let alone cigars. For cryin out loud, you fail to make the distinction between you and someone just starting out. When I make 130, 150 or 200k a year, I will certainly be less judicious with my tipping. But for now I simply cant afford for the van driver to have the luxury.

Dont give me the excuse of "its covered in your perdiem." This is flawed on SO many fronts. I rely on my perdiem as an income source, just as you defend the driver's reliance on our tips as an income source. Perdiem is a monetary aknowledgement of the time you spend away from home. Do I spend more than $36 a day (my company's daily perdiem calculated at 1.50/hr) on food while away? Of course not. Is my time at home on my off day worth $36 to me, of course. Its worth far more!

To take this one more step... I have actually been scolded by a capatin I was flying with for leaving a tip. He tipped the guy, and was very surprised that I followed. He basically told me to save every penny I earn and that he knows how much I make.


Tipping will come with more discressionary income someday down the road, but for now I have to afford to put food on my table and pay my own rent. Im sure the van driver will be just fine.

 

[scangadah]

[/b]




Even AirTran flight attendents can afford to tip. . . . . If you can't cough up a buck for the van driver, you need to find a new job.

Hey Mr. Big...with that mouth, I hope you are tipping $5.00 a bag.

Some of the van drivers we see week in and week out. They are usually there on time and have water for us. Always grab the bags and have a smile on their faces. Hell, I think one married one of our F/A's. Those guys and gals get a tip. A tip is commiserate with service. A tip is not guaranteed, in ANY service position.

The ones that kill me are the large bus drivers in LAX or SFO. They take 20 people to the airport twice an hour. Think about it. Then give your FO some sh*t for not giving a tip. I think not!

 

[Crizz]

FAs shouldn't tip. They make less than FOs. Perhaps Capts should for them in Express/regional domestic flying.....

I've flown with many a flight attendant that make twice what I do.


I'm tired of all this nonsense about "why did you take the job if it pays so little." Where else do you start?!!? Where did YOU work for when you first started? How much did YOU work for?

-9Capt you talk about making $17 an hour back in '96. Newsflash, its almost 10 years later and first year FO pay hasnt hardly moved up from that.

I am surving on $21k a year. I do not feel I live out of my means. However, I am not going to sacrifice the small amount of discressionary income I have just to act "classy" in front of a hotel van driver. Give me a break.

As I said in my previous post - I am not at all opposed to tipping the van driver. I definately do so on a semi regular basis. But this notion that it is customary regardless of service level is absolute hogwash.

 

[Yank McCobb]

Do any of you tippers send the owners of this message board a "tip" to help pay for the server, etc?

Actually yes. Twice. It was a bit more than a "tip", by the way. How much did YOU send in to help pay for the server, etc?

 

[English]

Me too. I know LOTS of us did. We had a fundraising drive and the loyal members all contributed.

 

[Tram]

Actually yes. Twice. It was a bit more than a "tip", by the way. How much did YOU send in to help pay for the server, etc?

Well firstly, I'm not the one making the firm stand on tipping.. I asked the "you must tip" people this question.. I'm not a big tipper.. I'm not making a firm stand on "you must tip." I am quite happy to not tip - when the tippee doesn't earn it..

However, I have not sent any in to the website as of yet - right now, this website is better for a laugh than to glean any real HELPFUL knowledge of the aviation industry, too many worthless threads such as these to wade through. When and if this website becomes a productive tool for me, yeh, I would love to send some in.. I make $800 a month - so don't expect any tips from me anytime soon.. When/if I get to where I am able to just hand money out, I will do so..

 

[BoilerUP]

Even as a broke-ass college student & CFI, I contributed $10 to this board. I know it was a pittance compared to some, but I made my contribution nonetheless. It would have gone to beer or Starbucks probably anyway, and the contacts I have made and the help I have received has been well worth the investment.

I was stuck at ORD Monday trying to get into SDF standby on United, but weather delays had everything screwed up. I had gotten bumped off 2 flights, and it wasn't looking very good for the last two - and O'Hare had run out of rental cars! I asked a gate agent if he could put me on a flight into IND (closer and they at least had rental cars), and without any begging or pleading got me a seat assignment. I should have tipped him; he had been screamed at all day by pissed off pax and somehow found it in him to help me out. When I got into IND a friend offered to fly in and pick me up. I called Raytheon and they sent an employee over in a courtesy car to pick me up. I offered the driver a buck, and she told me she didn't want it as she "got paid either way". I told her I knew it wasn't much, but I was very appreciative for the ride and maybe she could get a coke or something with it. They treated me like a king at that place until my buddy arrived, going above the typical excellent IND Raytheon service.

In my limited experience i've found its often the gesture, not necessarily the amount, that really matters to someone. I don't tip by habit (except in restaurants) but I try to be generous to those that really help me out. I think if you *really* can't afford a tip its one thing, but its entirely another to refuse to tip because you are cheap. Everybody's situation is different...

 

[turbodriver]

All of you need to go to a place like Australia and see how they tip people down under. We need to adopt those rules here in the US.

 

[superrav]

approach down to min's in a snow covered runway...where's our tip??

 

[Ty Webb]

I know for fact, even the lowest van driver gets paid more than I do as a first year FO. I dont think tipping has anything to do with class. I am paid a wage that is almost impossible to live on. PERIOD.

Well, buddy, that is your decision. I could start a whole new string about your decision to work for less than a hotel van driver (and what that does to our industry) but that has been done before . . . . I did not go to a regional for exactly that reason. I guess we all make our choices.

You guys can justify it any way you want, but a tip is customary, and if you guys can't even cough up a buck, you probably need to find another job. Have some self-respect, for crying out loud.

It's pretty clear that trying to explain this to some of you is like trying to teach a pig to sing, so we'll just have to leave it at that.

Oink, Oink, anyone?

 

[DetoXJ]

Lets face it, There are certain workers where it is customary to leave a tip and a Shuttle Driver who throws your bags and gives you a ride is one of them. The people who lack class and are too cheap to leave them a buck are the same people who stiff the Pizza Delivery Man, the attendant who Valet parks their car and the Barber who cuts their hair. They are the same people who will never tip above and beyond 15% for an outstanding waiter/waitress. The cheap and classless individuals can try to justify it all they want but it simply boils down to the fact that they lack class and are cheap.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

You may see many people traveling leaving tips. Realize that many people traveling are doin so on business. Their tips come strait out of their expense account. Granted, a tip is a gesture of aknowledgement of personal service. However, I believe a large number of people traveling on business do not foot any of that bill on their their own shoulders. I know many people that travel on business... they are compensated very handsomly by their respective companies for their time traveling.

So for pilots - We are "on business." We are "at work." The only function of us being at the hotel is as an arm of the company. The van ride PERIOD is a byproduct of the JOB we are there doing.

I tip. I do not tip as custom, however. As mentioned, if the van driver is on time and goes out of their way to make it a pleasant experience (not only getting bags, but in a good demeanor and a positive) then I will give a dollar.

I know for fact, even the lowest van driver gets paid more than I do as a first year FO. I dont think tipping has anything to do with class. I am paid a wage that is almost impossible to live on. PERIOD. It has nothing to do with class if I cant just hand out "only $750" a year, Ty Webb. I'm sorry, Im lucky to spend $750 a year on groceries let alone cigars. For cryin out loud, you fail to make the distinction between you and someone just starting out. When I make 130, 150 or 200k a year, I will certainly be less judicious with my tipping. But for now I simply cant afford for the van driver to have the luxury.

Dont give me the excuse of "its covered in your perdiem." This is flawed on SO many fronts. I rely on my perdiem as an income source, just as you defend the driver's reliance on our tips as an income source. Perdiem is a monetary aknowledgement of the time you spend away from home. Do I spend more than $36 a day (my company's daily perdiem calculated at 1.50/hr) on food while away? Of course not. Is my time at home on my off day worth $36 to me, of course. Its worth far more!

To take this one more step... I have actually been scolded by a capatin I was flying with for leaving a tip. He tipped the guy, and was very surprised that I followed. He basically told me to save every penny I earn and that he knows how much I make.


Tipping will come with more discressionary income someday down the road, but for now I have to afford to put food on my table and pay my own rent. Im sure the van driver will be just fine.

If the van driver goes out of the way to make it a great experience you give
"a dollar"...

mighty nice of ya there pal...

what a loser.

 

[Icelandair]

I was told during IOE that the Captain tips on behalf of the entire crew. Which is fine with me. Then when I'm captain I'll gladly tip on behalf of my crew.

 

[gnx99]

If I was on a vacation I would tip them. But.... I don't feel I need to be paying people to go to work. The company should pay the tip.

 

[scangadah]

I was told during IOE that the Captain tips on behalf of the entire crew. Which is fine with me. Then when I'm captain I'll gladly tip on behalf of my crew.

If you think that a regional level capt. is going to tip $144.00 a month(min) for him/her and the crew to a van driver......I'll take two of what ever you are drinking.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

If I was on a vacation I would tip them. But.... I don't feel I need to be paying people to go to work. The company should pay the tip.

Your profile is stereotypical.

New to the biz.
+
FO.
+
BMW avatar, which suggests you have one, in that case. You got a BM'er but no tipping? Or BM'ers fit into your planned lifestyle, in which case, no tipping is contrary...
+
Apathetic signature line.
=
PS2 Pepsi generation. I want mine and I want it now!


Now, conclusions are being made with the given information.... fill inthe blanks...

BTW...do you carry a backpack in uniform?

 

[FlyChicaga]

If you think that a regional level capt. is going to tip $144.00 a month(min) for him/her and the crew to a van driver......I'll take two of what ever you are drinking.

I carry Canadian dollars and Mexican pesos when flying in those countries. Often times I have tipped for the whole crew, giving the driver a Canadian $5 bill instead of everyone giving American cash. I just tell the Captain, "catch me later with a beer" or something to that effect. I also don't keep tabs on when I lend a dollar to a crewmember if they don't have a single. It all comes back to you in some way, shape or form. Even Steven, ya know?

 

[DetoXJ]

Lets face it, There are certain workers where it is customary to leave a tip and a Shuttle Driver who throws your bags and gives you a ride is one of them. The people who lack class and are too cheap to leave them a buck are the same people who stiff the Pizza Delivery Man, the attendant who Valet parks their car and the Barber who cuts their hair. They are the same people who will never tip above and beyond 15% for an outstanding waiter/waitress. The cheap and classless individuals can try to justify it all they want but it simply boils down to the fact that they lack class and are cheap.

.....

 

[gnx99]

Your profile is stereotypical.

New to the biz.
+
FO.
+
BMW avatar, which suggests you have one, in that case. You got a BM'er but no tipping? Or BM'ers fit into your planned lifestyle, in which case, no tipping is contrary...
+
Apathetic signature line.
=
PS2 Pepsi generation. I want mine and I want it now!


Now, conclusions are being made with the given information.... fill inthe blanks...

BTW...do you carry a backpack in uniform?

My signature is a quote from the wonderful movie "Office Space". Not my words.

Of course every BMW is at least $100,000, everyone knows that. I spent $7,000 on a used BMW, and that's a big deal? If I spent $15,000+ on a Civic, Carolla, Focus, Cobalt what would you think? I got twice the car, for less than half the price. I think that's more common sense and smart purchasing, than a "planned lifestyle"

Sorry, no backpack here. I try to look professional when I'm in front of customers.

 

[User546]

I typically tip a hotel or FBO van driver $5 each way, when we have sole service. If there is multiple people, as in a hotel shuttle, I'll give the driver a couple bucks. If the van is late, it'll be a case-by-case basis. As long as he doesnt make me late for my flight, I still don't mind tipping him for the service he provided me (and the money he saved me not having to call a cab.)

A good tip at the begining of a trip can go along way some places.

All tips given on a trip at my company are reimbursable, however I use the same rate if I'm on the road on personal trips.

I agree completely with there being an gross over-abundance of tipping out there now. I only tip where its customary: restraunts, van drivers, someone pumps my gas, etc.

 

[inthegoo]

Ty Webb is a f-cking moron!


All you tippers, add it up, its alot of money!

Next time your computer crashes, or your transmission goes out in your car, think about the fact that you gave the van driver more than the money last year than you need right now to fix your car, THE VAN DRIVER!

You bought him a new PC, or a big TV, THE VAN DRIVER?!?!

Can you imagine if you tipped everyone you come in contact with during your week, like the van driver, you might as well stay home and collect welfare.

Look at the new hire FA's or FO's, 17 Grand their first year maybe 19 grand, they give like 500 bucks away, thats like 3 percent of their take home pay!

At my airline we are squabbling about union dues, (if the pu$$ies will vote for one) and thats way more than union dues!

THINK ABOUT IT!

You are giving away your kids college money to THE VAN DRIVER!

-Goo

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Ty Webb is a f-cking moron!


All you tippers, add it up, its alot of money!

Next time your computer crashes, or your transmission goes out in your car, think about the fact that you gave the van driver more than the money last year than you need right now to fix your car, THE VAN DRIVER!

You bought him a new PC, or a big TV, THE VAN DRIVER?!?!

Can you imagine if you tipped everyone you come in contact with during your week, like the van driver, you might as well stay home and collect welfare.

Look at the new hire FA's or FO's, 17 Grand their first year maybe 19 grand, they give like 500 bucks away, thats like 3 percent of their take home pay!

At my airline we are squabbling about union dues, (if the pu$$ies will vote for one) and thats way more than union dues!

THINK ABOUT IT!

You are giving away your kids college money to THE VAN DRIVER!

-Goo

We realize all of this....yet we still tip......

Instead of a beer how about giving your van driver and waist line a break....

 

[User546]

When was the last time someone slipped you a couple of bucks for not killing them in a thunderstorm.....or a smooth landing.

Here's the bigger question, when was the last time you paid $3,500 an HOUR to ride in the back of a passenger van?

I get so tired of hearing pilots make stupid statements about "why don't we get tips for doing this... doing that... etc." Because you're a professional pilot with above average intelligence and skill. You're not a short-order cook at McDonalds, or a grocery bagger at Walmart. That's why you don't deserve tips!

Do you think accountants and lawyers expect tips at the end of their work day - because they got you thru a mean tax problem, or a ugly lawsuit? No of course not!

Even if you work for a regional where you make just enough money to pay the bills, quit complaining and view yourself as the professional that you are. If the money isn't hacking it and you're really that miserable... then get a new job, or change professions all together. That's the problem with a lot of you guys today, you all view yourselves as equivellant to short-order cooks and grocerry baggers. Come on, have some pride and bring some professionalism back into the game!

Yeah they're called Mormons.

Shroomwell, I don't know how I've missed this for three weeks, but get your own avatar bud!
.
.

 

[Icelandair]

Tip the gas guy for pumping my gas? No way not with these outrageous gas prices not one more cent to the gas station. Let them raise his pay rate with all the extra cash they are gouging us for.

 

[Marsupial]

well thanks to everyone...this has been some fascinating, and rather darn humorous at times, downtime reading!

now to add my two cents...i used to be a flight attendant making a whopping 14k my first year. i felt the peer pressure to give a tip to the driver each and every time. but often times i could not. sometimes i only gave 50 cents. call me cheap or without class or whatever other things people have said, but i had bills to pay. and no i wasn't spending money on starbucks or other frivolous items. as my pay increased, i was able to start giving the 1 dollar tip (which apparently some of you think still isn't enough)...so long as the driver wasn't later, or a jerk, or throwing my bags around in a way that i worried the contents would break! now 8 years later i am once again raking in the big bucks on first year fo pay of 19 dollars an hour. woohoo. i am 37 years old and can barely pay my student loans and some basic bills. good thing i don't have a car payment. and luckily and thankfully i am married to someone who makes a decent wage and can pay our mortgage! if the driver deserves it and i have the spare cash then i will certainly try to tip. but if i am on your crew one day and don't do it, please don't hate me for it. to the guy who said something about making the choice to go to a regional and make less than a van driver and that that was the reason he didn't do that...well i guess you are lucky. not all of us have the luxury to do so. there just aren't that many flying jobs like that out there. so most of us have to start at the bottom of the barrel (or maybe under it) and do what we must to survive until such time as we work our way up (which is basically waiting for the calendar to change to a new year) and as far as the 'stop whining and get a new job if its that bad' train of thought out there...i did hate my job as a flight attendant and that is why i worked to get where i am now. as much as i think the starting pay is lousy and pathetic and can hardly wait to get to 2nd year pay (which is a sad thought in itself as that is still barely liveable. but trying to look on the bright side, it is a whole heck of a lot better), i am still grateful to have a job and be doing something i enjoy. i would love to give a tip everytime, if i felt the person deserved it. i feel like i am a giving person in my life, but there are just some times you have to look out for yourself. it really sucks when others make you feel like you are just some cheapskate without knowing your situation. and i certainly resent the assumption that someone in my position is without class. whether you think tipping is a must or customary or totally out of hand, whether you do it all the time, sometimes, or never...well that is up to the individual. thankfully we live in the good old usa where we are free to make those kinds of decisions and the biggest repercussion we have to face is a bit of name calling on the internet!
cheers!