Complimentary Sedan Service Tipping
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Germany
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, AA Platinum, UA Premier Executive
Posts: 143
Complimentary Sedan Service Tipping
What do people that use this service normally tip?
Obviously above and beyond the price of a normal cab and tip but how much above and beyond?
For a $10 cab ride maybe $20 in the sedan?
How about a 5 minute ride (15 min walk) that would only be $5.00 plus tip? Still $20?
I'm thinking $20 is the minimum but just curious.
Obviously above and beyond the price of a normal cab and tip but how much above and beyond?
For a $10 cab ride maybe $20 in the sedan?
How about a 5 minute ride (15 min walk) that would only be $5.00 plus tip? Still $20?
I'm thinking $20 is the minimum but just curious.
#3
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: MR-Amb, Hyatt-Globalist, AA-EXP
Posts: 1,744
I usually tip $5 unless I'm with a large group of people or have an unusual request (like stopping by a store or something). I look at it as a service the hotel provides for free and then I tip a little extra.
Maybe I'm just cheap, but I don't agree with your statement regarding obviously tipping more than the cab fare. When the hotel presses two shirts for free, I wouldn't tip the delivery person the regular cost of pressing two shirts plus an additional tip. If I did, basically all the complimentary services a hotel provides wouldn't be complimentary at all.
Maybe I'm just cheap, but I don't agree with your statement regarding obviously tipping more than the cab fare. When the hotel presses two shirts for free, I wouldn't tip the delivery person the regular cost of pressing two shirts plus an additional tip. If I did, basically all the complimentary services a hotel provides wouldn't be complimentary at all.
#4
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
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I used to work a Front Desk Agent and Chauffeur for a business hotel that had a complimentary car service and was never tipped that much for a short drive. Considering most of our guests were business travelers, I was never tipped much since they weren’t reimbursed for it. At most, I might have gotten $5 for a twenty-minute drive.
#5
Used to be bulldoggolfer05
Join Date: May 2007
Location: São Paulo, BR/Miami Beach, FL/NYC/DXB
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You are welcome to tip as much as you'd like, but tipping above and beyond the cost of cab for a complimentary car service certainly is not the norm, or expected. As previously mentioned, if this were the case, then it would defeat the purpose of offering such a service as there would be no added value in it.
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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IMO in most USA locations, either $5 or 20% of estimated cab fare but not less than a couple dollars would seem reasonable for standard service, more of course if you take the hotel's car service for multiple stops, have the driver wait for you, or the driver helps with luggage or packages.
There are some countries where tipping is not appropriate and not expected. I probably would not tip if the hotel charges a flat 10-15% service charge on room rates (and everything else).
There are some countries where tipping is not appropriate and not expected. I probably would not tip if the hotel charges a flat 10-15% service charge on room rates (and everything else).
Last edited by MSPeconomist; Mar 25, 2014 at 11:14 pm Reason: typo
#8
Moderator: GLBT Travelers & Hyatt Gold Passport
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: CVG
Posts: 15,300
IMO in most USA locations, either $5 or 20% of estimated cab fare but not less than a couple dollars would seem reasonable for standard service, more of course if you take the hotel's car service for multiple stops, have the driver wait for you, or the driver helps with luggage or packages.
There are some countries where tipping is not appropriate and not expected. I probably would not tip if the hotel charges a flat 10-15% service charges on room rates (and everything else).
There are some countries where tipping is not appropriate and not expected. I probably would not tip if the hotel charges a flat 10-15% service charges on room rates (and everything else).