Any women travelers feel invisible?
#46
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,335
15% pretax is a minimum for good service. There is a good guide for tipping along with explanations found here:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...Etiquette.html
or here:
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/tipping/
Keep in mind even the IRS expects wait staff will be earning tips, see
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc761.html
Personally, I tip a minimum of 20% when the service is good.
Do you leave a tip for the housekeeper when you stay at hotels? That is one tip I find that most fellow travelers do not.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...Etiquette.html
or here:
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/tipping/
Keep in mind even the IRS expects wait staff will be earning tips, see
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc761.html
Personally, I tip a minimum of 20% when the service is good.
Do you leave a tip for the housekeeper when you stay at hotels? That is one tip I find that most fellow travelers do not.
I try to ask/follow educated sophisticated well-traveled locals rather than trust various tipping guides, some of which seem designed to induce dumb tourists to overtip waiters.
#47
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Berkeley, CA
Programs: United 1K, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 44
I am just catching up with all the responses to my original post. Thanks so much all for chiming in.
I'm no shrinking violet (come on, I'm a female executive, I didn't get here by being sweet) and if I'm being ignored I speak up. However, it does always surprise me to see male business travelers being fawned over. I don't necessarily want to be fawned over, but I'd like equal treatment, particularly in the case of IRROPs.
Just last week at the UA club in Newark the bartender ignored me, despite my waves and trying to catch her eye, but immediately came over to help a man next to me as soon as he sat down. Fortunately, the man was really a gentleman and pointed out that I hadn't been served yet.
And yes, I'm glad someone brought up tipping. Women have a bad reputation for tipping. I am a good tipper (those days of being a waitress in college have stuck with me!) but I notice when I dine out with a group of female friends, they always want to lowball the tip. I'm often the person throwing an extra $5 or $10 bill on the pile as we leave. 20% is the minimum for decent service. If there's something you didn't like about your food, it's not the waitperson's fault.
ABSOLUTELY tip housekeeping. They are the hardest workers at any hotel. I usually go $3 per day if alone, or $5 if with my family. I hoard my $1 bills always, and keep them in an inner pocket of my suitcase just for this purpose.
I have had a couple of good experiences recently with flight attendants, so it's not universal. I try to give them a shoutout, either on twitter to @united, or make the effort to do the follow up flight survey and mention them.
I'm no shrinking violet (come on, I'm a female executive, I didn't get here by being sweet) and if I'm being ignored I speak up. However, it does always surprise me to see male business travelers being fawned over. I don't necessarily want to be fawned over, but I'd like equal treatment, particularly in the case of IRROPs.
Just last week at the UA club in Newark the bartender ignored me, despite my waves and trying to catch her eye, but immediately came over to help a man next to me as soon as he sat down. Fortunately, the man was really a gentleman and pointed out that I hadn't been served yet.
And yes, I'm glad someone brought up tipping. Women have a bad reputation for tipping. I am a good tipper (those days of being a waitress in college have stuck with me!) but I notice when I dine out with a group of female friends, they always want to lowball the tip. I'm often the person throwing an extra $5 or $10 bill on the pile as we leave. 20% is the minimum for decent service. If there's something you didn't like about your food, it's not the waitperson's fault.
ABSOLUTELY tip housekeeping. They are the hardest workers at any hotel. I usually go $3 per day if alone, or $5 if with my family. I hoard my $1 bills always, and keep them in an inner pocket of my suitcase just for this purpose.
I have had a couple of good experiences recently with flight attendants, so it's not universal. I try to give them a shoutout, either on twitter to @united, or make the effort to do the follow up flight survey and mention them.
#48
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Dallas, TX, AA 3MM EXP, WN
Posts: 1,808
I was lurking this thread, mostly agreeing with the comments. What did strike me though as a man who is on the road in hotels weekly, was the tipping aspect. I do find men tip better and tend to overtip. I find it fascinating the several who emphasis on pre tax tipping in that the calculation is so precise. The difference in the dollar figure would fall into the 'who cares' zone. I typically calculate roughly 10% of total bill and double it rounding up to the next dollar. Would never consider "pre-tax". I would need to bring out the calculator. I think if my associates would find it would give off the perception of being cheap. Also I worked as a bartender in my past life and men tend to tip more/drink and drink more so that means better service. If you want better service at a bar tip heavily after your first cocktail and you won't have any issues. I find tipping the bartender in London where it's not custom will often get me better service.
For those that don't like eating alone in hotel, the hotel bar is your friend. Better service and not as awkward.
For those that don't like eating alone in hotel, the hotel bar is your friend. Better service and not as awkward.
#49
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: SW WA
Posts: 3,876
The one thing I've noticed recently is that AS gives out chocolate on some of its flights to MVP Gold members. When my husband and I travel together (we are both Gold), he gets a chocolate but I don't. I guess they assume I'm sitting in the exit row because of him, not because I am also gold.
#50
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MM, MVPGold100k, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,475
The one thing I've noticed recently is that AS gives out chocolate on some of its flights to MVP Gold members. When my husband and I travel together (we are both Gold), he gets a chocolate but I don't. I guess they assume I'm sitting in the exit row because of him, not because I am also gold.
#51
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Okanagan, BC (usually YLW)
Programs: WS Platinum 18K so far this year
Posts: 418
I think as an average traveler there's not much difference, in terms of getting the "perks" that women have earned with status I see a significant difference. I've been the highest tier of status with Air Canada and had airport staff go up to the man sitting next to me to ask "as a frequent flier would you like a spot on the earlier flight"? I asked if this was being offered to all superelites and she hemmed and hawed and said she'd check. When she left the man smiled sheepishly and admitted he wasn't even top tier. (He was very "executive looking", sharp suit etc. and I had changed into my travel clothes which although respectable didn't ooze corporate so that may have played in as well).
#52
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,335
I think as an average traveler there's not much difference, in terms of getting the "perks" that women have earned with status I see a significant difference. I've been the highest tier of status with Air Canada and had airport staff go up to the man sitting next to me to ask "as a frequent flier would you like a spot on the earlier flight"? I asked if this was being offered to all superelites and she hemmed and hawed and said she'd check. When she left the man smiled sheepishly and admitted he wasn't even top tier. (He was very "executive looking", sharp suit etc. and I had changed into my travel clothes which although respectable didn't ooze corporate so that may have played in as well).
#53
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Okanagan, BC (usually YLW)
Programs: WS Platinum 18K so far this year
Posts: 418
Oh no, I was on the flight . The staff member did find a seat for me (he was on the flight as well), but no announcement was ever made to other superelites. I've found that what folks wear may have more of an impact than gender as I'm normally a comfort traveler (leggings, boots and a sweater instead of my suit).
#54
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: GRR
Programs: Delta Plat & Million Miler
Posts: 1,372
Maybe
Oh no, I was on the flight . The staff member did find a seat for me (he was on the flight as well), but no announcement was ever made to other superelites. I've found that what folks wear may have more of an impact than gender as I'm normally a comfort traveler (leggings, boots and a sweater instead of my suit).