Tips

[Groundpounder]

I've been doing line service for a while, and I think I do a pretty good job, and I get tipped by pax and flight crews fairly often. I don't expect it, or stand there with my hand out, but it is nice to get a little something, and the good tippers always get good service. But what really gets my goat is when I go the extra mile to help someone out, and I get nothing.

For example, a brand new Citation Encore showed up today, and they wanted a lav service. It was a pull out lav, and when I went to get it out, I found that the knife valve was closed, and the bowl was full, and some had leaked out. I cleaned up the mess, and mentioned it to the pilot, and he said he had no idea how the lav worked since the plane was new to him. So, I showed him how it works, how to take it out and put it in, etc etc. In return for my help, I got a whole lotta nothing. It sure would have been nice to get a little something for what I did.

Anyway, sorry about the rant.

 

[semperfido]

probably his first gig and doesn't know how the world works--who knows?- figure it this way - pilots are known to be cheap sobs so just be glad when you get something and keep doing a good job.

 

[h25b]

In return for my help, I got a whole lotta nothing. It sure would have been nice to get a little something for what I did.

Anyway, sorry about the rant.

Hate to burst your bubble, BUT ... There are many different way people look at gratuities, especially for folks like line service. I think you need a small attitude adjustment. I'm not saying what happened was right, but it's very common. This is why you're probably not looking at line service as a career profession. From your profile I take it that you are looking to eventualy fly for a living. If that's the case, get used to getting screwed. That's why line service is generally thought of as a "paying your dues" position.

 

[Dangerkitty]

I've been doing line service for a while, and I think I do a pretty good job, and I get tipped by pax and flight crews fairly often. I don't expect it, or stand there with my hand out, but it is nice to get a little something, and the good tippers always get good service. But what really gets my goat is when I go the extra mile to help someone out, and I get nothing.

For example, a brand new Citation Encore showed up today, and they wanted a lav service. It was a pull out lav, and when I went to get it out, I found that the knife valve was closed, and the bowl was full, and some had leaked out. I cleaned up the mess, and mentioned it to the pilot, and he said he had no idea how the lav worked since the plane was new to him. So, I showed him how it works, how to take it out and put it in, etc etc. In return for my help, I got a whole lotta nothing. It sure would have been nice to get a little something for what I did.

Anyway, sorry about the rant.

I always always always tip the line guys when they do the lav. And it's always a minimum of $5 bucks. Dumping LAV's sucks and the least I can do to show my appreciation is give you a 5 spot.

If line guys go out of their way then my wallet comes out. Last year up at Jet Aviation in Bedford, Mass I was throwing around $20's like they were going out of style. A Noreaster had come in and our plane needed some serious attention because it couldn't be put in the hangar that night. These guys busted their a$$ and were tipped accordingly.

 

[kingaira90]

also remember that some employers reimburse for tipping. Like Netjets and Flight Options. I'm sure some others too. So for those guys, it isn't their money, the company pays them back. Not saying that the only pilots that tip are getting it back. But if you tip a couple bucks here and five bucks there it adds up if you are doing lots of legs in a week or month (it would really kill the 300k a year salary). That would really hurt the pilots are cheap persona if we did all the time -kingaira90

 

[irapilot]

It takes a team to pull off the mission. Line "guys" are a crucial part of the team. A top-notch flight department will have a budget/policy for tips. Tip well for service above and beyond and it is more than recognition of a job well done, it is sure a great way to get excellent service in the future. It may be "paying your dues" but it is a hot, cold, nasty job with little or no real $ or respect for an important, critical piece of our day to day operations. If a guy cleaned up the lav on my brand new aircraft that I had forgotten to open the knife valve on (my responsibility) and didn't ruin the carpet I would tip him $20 out of my own pocket.

 

[Groundpounder]

Don't worry about bursting my bubble, it's been burst for a long time. Like I said, I don't expect a tip, but sometimes I feel like I've earned it.

Anyway, whats with the $2 bills that Netjets pilots always have? I've gotten so many from those guys, I'm wondering if there is a printing press back in Columbus.

 

[G100driver]

Groundpounder, park the guy in the south 40 next time.

As for the comment about this is the way many flight department's do things, well .... I do not know what to say about that. I guess it takes all types.

It is amazing how people remember you when you come onto the ramp. In TEB we pull up and the SAME guy from the FBO comes out, greets us, unloeads our pax bags, takes our dishes, takes our garbage, puts on our engine covers and pitot/static plugs, and get our lave handled. He also know that we are going to hand him a $20 for going above and beyond for his service.

Good luck with your ratings. I was there once .... how I hated it when someone said that to me

 

[Dangerkitty]

Don't worry about bursting my bubble, it's been burst for a long time. Like I said, I don't expect a tip, but sometimes I feel like I've earned it.

Anyway, whats with the $2 bills that Netjets pilots always have? I've gotten so many from those guys, I'm wondering if there is a printing press back in Columbus.

Go to any bank and you can get crisp $2 bills. People think they are out of circulation but they are not. I think they make a great tipping bill.

 

[Groundpounder]

It is amazing how people remember you when you come onto the ramp. In TEB we pull up and the SAME guy from the FBO comes out, greets us, unloeads our pax bags, takes our dishes, takes our garbage, puts on our engine covers and pitot/static plugs, and get our lave handled. He also know that we are going to hand him a $20 for going above and beyond for his service.

I'm the same way. I have a few regulars that I'm on a first name basis with, and I take care of them cause they take care of me. I know exactly what they are going to need, and it allows the crew and pax to get on their way much quicker.

 

[GIVDrvr]

Hey Groundpounder,

Do you guys have a pool that all the tips go in or how is that set up? I make a conscience effort to tip very well...I worked some sh**ty service jobs on the way up and know I have it good now....but I often wonder if I am better handing out a bunch of tens or if I can spiff one guy and assume it gets shared. There are probably as many answers to that as FBOs but I cant always get to each and every face individually. Hang in there....

 

[Groundpounder]

We split the tips between everybody at the end of each shift.

 

[AlabamaMan!!]

We always tip when someone takes care of the $hitter, usually a tenspot.

There have been times when niether of us had more than a dollar in our pocket, so the poor guy gets a couple bags of chips, candy bars, and a few sodas to keep cool with. Not much but better than nothing. Even threw in a few beers one night as the guy told us he was about to punch out.

However........there is the dilemma of going to, say, a Signature, paying 325.00 for a handling fee (double it if you have to return there) and having one line guy come out and half-a$$ park you and then pull a Houdini. This seems to happen more than it doesn't and it can be a pain when you're in a hurry. No help.....no tip. But they always manage to come running out when they see you walking to the plane with the pax.........funny. I think MDW could be one of the worst.

But most other places are pretty good, and the guys usually get some scratch from us.

 

[G100driver]

Go to any bank and you can get crisp $2 bills. People think they are out of circulation but they are not. I think they make a great tipping bill.

Here you go my lad ... a nice shinny new nickle .... now go ask the soda jerk to give you and your sweatheart a vanilla flavored coke

SMITHERS, you fool do not waste those Thomas Jeffersons on them... why in my day it would purchase a full tank of petrol.

 

[murfdawg998]

We always tip when someone takes care of the $hitter, usually a tenspot.

There have been times when niether of us had more than a dollar in our pocket, so the poor guy gets a couple bags of chips, candy bars, and a few sodas to keep cool with. Not much but better than nothing. Even threw in a few beers one night as the guy told us he was about to punch out.

However........there is the dilemma of going to, say, a Signature, paying 325.00 for a handling fee (double it if you have to return there) and having one line guy come out and half-a$$ park you and then pull a Houdini. This seems to happen more than it doesn't and it can be a pain when you're in a hurry. No help.....no tip. But they always manage to come running out when they see you walking to the plane with the pax.........funny. I think MDW could be one of the worst.

But most other places are pretty good, and the guys usually get some scratch from us.

Regarding Signatures...I think LAS is one of the worst. That doesn't mean I don't like going there

 

[da90drivr]

G100

Where do you park at TEB? I am frequently passing cash where we park and can't get half the service you are provided.

 

[G100driver]

Jet. We used to park at Million Air and got jack squat.

 

[sleepy]

It is a trend that I have been observing for some time now, everybody wants a tip for just doing their job. I guess we pay about $150 at Jet Aviation in TEB to have 2.5 gallons of blue water drained and replaced. You expect a tip for this, and a tip for the girl that brings us the coffee, papers, ice and catering (I guess we pay around $200 for this, plus another $500 for the overpriced catering). And you all want a tip to boot, just for doing your jobs? Come on now, doesn't Jet Aviation pay you more than the $2.00 dollars an hour that a waiter gets?

 

[Gearmunky]

Regarding Signatures...I think LAS is one of the worst. That doesn't mean I don't like going there

MIA gets my vote, always paying a whole lot for nothing and the prices of catering are legendary like the $200 shrimp tray which included six shrimp and some nasty mass produced cocktail sauce. Must have been the lettuce

 

[English]

SFO Signature gets my vote...The guys are nice but the service leaves alot to be desired.