Tipping the person that pushes the wheelchair
Nov 10, 2011, 9:39 pm
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2000
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Tipping the person that pushes the wheelchair
I had foot surgery last week. When I boarded my flight, I arranged to have a wheelchair meet me at the jetway to transfer me between gates at Denver.
I tippped the person $5.00. It was a 12 minute walk. Did I overtip? Undertip?
Should I not have tipped?
Edit. I should have known better. I just searched and found a couple of threads on this topic.
I tippped the person $5.00. It was a 12 minute walk. Did I overtip? Undertip?
Should I not have tipped?
Edit. I should have known better. I just searched and found a couple of threads on this topic.
Last edited by dhammer53; Nov 10, 2011 at 9:44 pm
Nov 10, 2011, 9:45 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2011
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Of course u should tip, its no diff than a skycap or a bellboy. How much to tip depends on ur means, $5 is completely normal for the average person
Nov 10, 2011, 9:46 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2011
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Definitely tip of you can
There are wheelchair attendants staffed at airports who are not Airline Employees, but are independent contractors, who rely on tips.
If it was me, I would have tipped 10 bucks.
There are wheelchair attendants staffed at airports who are not Airline Employees, but are independent contractors, who rely on tips.
If it was me, I would have tipped 10 bucks.
Nov 10, 2011, 9:49 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Maui OGG Hoity-Toityville
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Posts: 579
Definitely tip
Its worth the price
Some airports have contracted out wheelchair service.
These people do not work for the airlines and rely on Tips
If it was me I would have tipped 10
Its worth the price
Some airports have contracted out wheelchair service.
These people do not work for the airlines and rely on Tips
If it was me I would have tipped 10
Nov 11, 2011, 7:07 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: IAD
Programs: United MP
Posts: 7,822
You do not have to tip, but there's nothing wrong with giving them a tip if you felt you wanted to. I am opposed to the idea that tipping is required for this, but I am not opposed to tipping if you feel like it. The airports should be paying a fairer wage for this required service and stop trying to force the costs on to those who can't afford it. They can make up the difference in costs some other way.
Nov 11, 2011, 9:02 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 107
We generally tip my wheelchair "pusher" if we have one (usually my spouse does that duty) 
about the same amount. The one time we tipped more, was at ORD when the pusher managed to get our bags, get us through customs and make it to the last connecting flight of the evening which was waiting for us in about 20 minutes. We gave him twenty bucks and it was worth every penny to not have to spend the night.
In Mexico, the guys who push the wheelchairs in the airports are paid only in tips. They also facilitate the process of going through customs at the airport and getting the luggage as well as a cab. We generally tip them around 70 pesos which is roughly five bucks.
about the same amount. The one time we tipped more, was at ORD when the pusher managed to get our bags, get us through customs and make it to the last connecting flight of the evening which was waiting for us in about 20 minutes. We gave him twenty bucks and it was worth every penny to not have to spend the night.In Mexico, the guys who push the wheelchairs in the airports are paid only in tips. They also facilitate the process of going through customs at the airport and getting the luggage as well as a cab. We generally tip them around 70 pesos which is roughly five bucks.
Nov 16, 2011, 10:18 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2010
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It is unfortunate that these hard-working people have to rely on tips, but in most cases it is true and I always tip, $5 is usual for a short trip and we increase it to $10 for distance/service and kindness. Air Canada BTW, has its own agents doing this service and no tipping is expected (though I doubt their wages are all that good either).
Jan 20, 2012, 7:20 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Delta, American, United
Posts: 217
I had foot surgery last week. When I boarded my flight, I arranged to have a wheelchair meet me at the jetway to transfer me between gates at Denver.
I tippped the person $5.00. It was a 12 minute walk. Did I overtip? Undertip?
Should I not have tipped?
Edit. I should have known better. I just searched and found a couple of threads on this topic.
I tippped the person $5.00. It was a 12 minute walk. Did I overtip? Undertip?
Should I not have tipped?
Edit. I should have known better. I just searched and found a couple of threads on this topic.
If you're rich, then $10 would be great, but $5 is fine.
It is a nice thought is all. Just because you are "disabled" with needing a wheel chair shouldn't mean you have to pay more money out of pocket because of it!
My elderly mom uses a wheel chair sometimes at the airport. She comes from a generation of non-tippers. I am the one tip for her. Depending on the airport and amount of hilly terminals, $5 is the min I give...
Jan 20, 2012, 7:26 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Delta, American, United
Posts: 217
It is unfortunate that these hard-working people have to rely on tips, but in most cases it is true and I always tip, $5 is usual for a short trip and we increase it to $10 for distance/service and kindness. Air Canada BTW, has its own agents doing this service and no tipping is expected (though I doubt their wages are all that good either).
I'm not asking snarky, but seriously.
Are the people checking you in at the front counter making more than the wheel chair pushers!? Are the people throwing our bags out the shoot making more too!?
Perhaps I am missing a union covering those types of people as apposed to the wheel chair pushers!?
I am actually very curious about this.
I know waitresses make sometime below minimum wage, or they used to, because of the tipping, but I'm un-aware of the wheel chair pushers.
Please let me know! Thanks
Jan 24, 2012, 6:22 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: IAD
Programs: United MP
Posts: 7,822
Do they really reply on tips!?
I'm not asking snarky, but seriously.
Are the people checking you in at the front counter making more than the wheel chair pushers!? Are the people throwing our bags out the shoot making more too!?
Perhaps I am missing a union covering those types of people as apposed to the wheel chair pushers!?
I am actually very curious about this.
I know waitresses make sometime below minimum wage, or they used to, because of the tipping, but I'm un-aware of the wheel chair pushers.
Please let me know! Thanks
I'm not asking snarky, but seriously.
Are the people checking you in at the front counter making more than the wheel chair pushers!? Are the people throwing our bags out the shoot making more too!?
Perhaps I am missing a union covering those types of people as apposed to the wheel chair pushers!?
I am actually very curious about this.
I know waitresses make sometime below minimum wage, or they used to, because of the tipping, but I'm un-aware of the wheel chair pushers.
Please let me know! Thanks
Jan 26, 2012, 11:56 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC*E
Posts: 66
It still kinda blows my mind that tipping is expected (in the USA anyways). As a full time wheelchair user who doesn't make use of the "pushers" (I'm an active paraplegic), I was always confused as to why the pushers show up at my gate and then often insist on chasing me through the airport only to seem really disgruntled when I would arrive at my destination and carry on my way. I suppose if they were expecting tips (for what, I don't know), this makes sense.
That being said, I take pretty big issue with the idea that tipping for services assisting the disabled is expected (again, I've only felt this in the USA). If an airport authority has so poorly designed their airport that some people can navigate it only with physical assistance, it shouldn't be the end user bearing that cost. Additionally, if an airline changes a gate and the distance suddenly becomes great, it shouldn't be the end user bearing that cost.
I realize this puts the 'pushers' in a bad spot: it's shameful that their society would put so little value on the job of those who assist those folks who need it most, but at the same time, I don't think it is up to those who need assistance to "top up" the difference.
On a side note, I'm pretty darn lucky to be Canadian as I've never felt the unspoken pressure to tip and in certain airports (YVR, YYJ), they have dedicated teams to assist with loading/unloading so I don't have to explain to some poor teenager how best to push the aisle chair.
That being said, I take pretty big issue with the idea that tipping for services assisting the disabled is expected (again, I've only felt this in the USA). If an airport authority has so poorly designed their airport that some people can navigate it only with physical assistance, it shouldn't be the end user bearing that cost. Additionally, if an airline changes a gate and the distance suddenly becomes great, it shouldn't be the end user bearing that cost.
I realize this puts the 'pushers' in a bad spot: it's shameful that their society would put so little value on the job of those who assist those folks who need it most, but at the same time, I don't think it is up to those who need assistance to "top up" the difference.
On a side note, I'm pretty darn lucky to be Canadian as I've never felt the unspoken pressure to tip and in certain airports (YVR, YYJ), they have dedicated teams to assist with loading/unloading so I don't have to explain to some poor teenager how best to push the aisle chair.
Jan 29, 2012, 8:47 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 4
It still kinda blows my mind that tipping is expected (in the USA anyways). As a full time wheelchair user who doesn't make use of the "pushers" (I'm an active paraplegic), I was always confused as to why the pushers show up at my gate and then often insist on chasing me through the airport only to seem really disgruntled when I would arrive at my destination and carry on my way. I suppose if they were expecting tips (for what, I don't know), this makes sense.
That being said, I take pretty big issue with the idea that tipping for services assisting the disabled is expected (again, I've only felt this in the USA). If an airport authority has so poorly designed their airport that some people can navigate it only with physical assistance, it shouldn't be the end user bearing that cost. Additionally, if an airline changes a gate and the distance suddenly becomes great, it shouldn't be the end user bearing that cost.
I realize this puts the 'pushers' in a bad spot: it's shameful that their society would put so little value on the job of those who assist those folks who need it most, but at the same time, I don't think it is up to those who need assistance to "top up" the difference.
On a side note, I'm pretty darn lucky to be Canadian as I've never felt the unspoken pressure to tip and in certain airports (YVR, YYJ), they have dedicated teams to assist with loading/unloading so I don't have to explain to some poor teenager how best to push the aisle chair.
That being said, I take pretty big issue with the idea that tipping for services assisting the disabled is expected (again, I've only felt this in the USA). If an airport authority has so poorly designed their airport that some people can navigate it only with physical assistance, it shouldn't be the end user bearing that cost. Additionally, if an airline changes a gate and the distance suddenly becomes great, it shouldn't be the end user bearing that cost.
I realize this puts the 'pushers' in a bad spot: it's shameful that their society would put so little value on the job of those who assist those folks who need it most, but at the same time, I don't think it is up to those who need assistance to "top up" the difference.
On a side note, I'm pretty darn lucky to be Canadian as I've never felt the unspoken pressure to tip and in certain airports (YVR, YYJ), they have dedicated teams to assist with loading/unloading so I don't have to explain to some poor teenager how best to push the aisle chair.