True measure of your airline

[Lampshade]

The true measure of your airline is based on how well the crews tip the van drivers. Its interesting to share the van with other airlines and see how much and who tips. Does any airline recommend tipping or is it an unwritten rule? Anyone have any comments?

 

[Prop Trash]

It's probably safe to say that the hotel van drivers make more money than some of the crewmembers they transport. With that being said, tips are an unnecessary financial burden to many pilots. I, however, have always tipped even when I knew it was taking food off my table. To earn my tip though, I have some specific criteria:

• the van arrives on schedule
• the driver opens the door
• my luggage is loaded
• room keys are availible in the van (if policy permits)
• the driver drives safely
• the driver stops the van at the hotel entrance nearest my room
• the driver unloads my bags, attaches my flight case, and raises the handle

I'll tip a couple of bucks if all of the above is considered. If the driver is late (fault of his own), he gets $0.

 

[Diesel]

I'll tip 3 per crewmember. PIC tips outside the plane SIC tips inside the plane.

Of course I spend about 20 bucks a day in tips, but the company encourages tips and reemburses us for them.

If the guy does a good job and waits for us for a long time or goes out of his way to make sure we get picked up i'll make it worth his time.

Had a driver last night that waited for us while we screwed around with paperwork. i made sure that he could buy himself a couple of drinks when we were done.

 

[SF3CAP]

I usually only have $100's in my wallet, since I fly for Eagle, so they're outta luck. All kidding aside, I tip if they're on time and load/unload my bags. Our company says our whopping $1.35/hr per diem should be used for tipping. Uh, ok. Here's a tip: Don't tell me how to spend MY money!

 

[flint4xx]

I've never seen a crew member including flight attendents not give a buck to the van driver every single day. No sh1t.

 

[enigma]

Just call me Jet-trash

I'm with proptrash. I tip for good service. When the driver is good he/she gets a couple of bucks. If he is rude/unsafe/unfriendly/or it took three calls, he's SOL.
Some hotels seem to make it their objective to take care of crewmembers and their people get tipped. Some others seem to take the crewmembers for granted and the drivers that reflect that attitude get nothing.

In general, hotels around LaGarbagia stink.

regards

 

[skyboat]

I tip more times than not. I figure what the heck, at least it's tax deductible.

This is a true story. I noticed for awhile that new flight attendants were not tipping. At one point we were disembarking from the hotel van and as I gave my dollar, the flight attendnt was looking at me uneasy. I asked her about it (perhaps she thought I was a serial rapist, or something). She told me in training that the company had actually told them that the FO's were supposed to tip on her behalf. Needless to say I tripped over the curb and almost fell flat on my face while trying to explain to her the utter nonsense in that. You don't have to tip, that's your perogitive, but don't expect someone to tip on your behalf.

Another flight attendant told me she didn't tip because van drivers made more money than she did. I told her to go become a van driver then, but that was a stupid reason.

How many times has a van driver steered (no pun intended) to a good restaurant, bar, nightclub, etc.?

 

[FlyingSig]

Delta FA's are don't have to tip at many hotels as the company includes the tip with the van/limo contract.... no such luck for the pilots.

 

[pilotyip]

Tipping

Well, those who are tight on tipping are people who never worked for tips, having worked as a cap driver in college the driver can really form an option of his passengers based upon the tips, you do recognize those regulars who tip and try to make it pleasant as possible for them. Everyone should give at least a $1.00 per bag that the driver touches or attempts to touch. If the driver does something exceptional, increase the tip and tell them why you increased the tip. hw will tend to do the same in the future, like dropping yopu by the hotel room etc. Don't go negative on the driver there are so many things over which he has little control, and you can never tell he might be your boss someday when you are between jobs.

 

[ifly4food]

Delta FA's are don't have to tip at many hotels as the company includes the tip with the van/limo contract.... no such luck for the pilots.

WTFO?
It never ceases to amaze me when I hear some of the things Delta Airlines spends money on, but then turns around and asks the pilot groups for concessions and denies contract improvements (or furloughs illegally) based on "financial strain".

 

[TurboS7]

Our flight crews always tip a buck each. On the other hands our F/A's are real cheap, they have come up with this crazy idea of tip sharing, .50 cents each...cheap,cheap considering that they get the same per-diem that we do. I guess they figure that their looks make up for it.lol

 

[Jetsnake]

It has nothing to do with the true measure
of ones carrier, but perhaps the true measure
of ones character...

I'll even tip for the F/A's if they don't, and the ones
that don't; you'll find never bother to ask if you would
like anything. I know it's not there job to service the
pilots, but common sense and courtesy will more than
likely get a F/A's meal paid along with a few drinks
if the time permits.

Just remember, Dog don't eat at home, Dog gonna
eat somewhere!!!

Jetsnake

 

[TurboS7]

Our FA's would love you, they'd milk you dry in a couple of days. Then they would move on to the next guy without even a wink, in life some things never change. Of course if you didn't go thru PFT then you would have some extra to throw around....(I know your USMC.. ) I am just trying to tie all these threads together.LOL

 

[Bluto]

Lampshade exposed

Alright lampshade, admit it: You are actually a hotel van driver yourself. Aren't you? It's ok. I can't blame you. I was just getting ready to start a post suggesting that the true measure of an airline is how much their pilots tip local flight instructors...but you beat me to it.