Mile High Manners: Sensible Solutions to Tipping Bellboys and Cutting Security Queues
Miles P. Flysalot May 27, 2015
Traveling can be a tricky business, one that’s often complicated by unexpected, misery-inducing difficulties. You’ve got tightened airport security to deal with, not to mention delayed flights, discourteous strangers and maybe even a screaming child to top it all off. Sometimes it feels like the whole ordeal isn’t worth the hassle, but fear not! Mile High Manners is here to lend a helping hand and guide you through the polite “do’s and don’ts” of flight etiquette, regardless of the class you’re seated in and situations you come up against.
Have you ever faced an in-flight encounter or unexpected situation at the airport which you were unsure of how to handle properly? Send your dilemmas to us at [email protected] and check back every Wednesday as we endeavor make the travel experience more enjoyable for everyone.
Q: Quick question: Tipping the bellboy? He was really great, but I didn’t have any cash on me, and I didn’t see any of the other guests doing so. Is this a common practice? Should I tip in the future? Thanks in advance!
A: When it comes to tipping I think it depends on the country or city that you are visiting. A lot of big cities like New York have a strong tipping culture and it would be wise to adhere to this if you don’t want to end up in any awkward situations. Many waiters in New York live or die by the tips they get. In others places, like the UK, tipping isn’t as a big deal and particularly not in hotels so there isn’t the same expectation. It’s certainly expected in restaurants but can be more ambiguous in hotels. Do I tip the receptionist as well as the bellboy, etc?
To be prepared, I recommend doing a little research on where it is that you are flying to and see what their stance on such things as tipping is. I guarantee you there’ll be dozens of blogs and online articles devoted to these kinds of queries for each destination. Luck favors the prepared and all.
In your situation, dear reader, it’s obviously annoying when you want to acknowledge the great bellboy with a tip but your pockets happen to be empty. The fact that no one else was doing it means it probably wasn’t noticed. But that doesn’t mean the next time you see the same bellboy you can’t slip a note into his hands as a thanks for the last time. You’ll feel good and it might make his day too.
Q: I often find myself running late. I don’t know that it’s entirely my fault as I’m a frequent business traveler, but I feel as though I’m constantly running to catch connecting flights or racing through security/lines as quickly as I can. Last week, I found myself in one of these situations, and I only made my flight because I asked the people in front of me at the security checkpoint if I could skip them. They were (for the most part) courteous and understanding, but I definitely caught several dirty looks on my way to the front of the line. Was this rude of me?
A: There are two very opposing viewpoints when it comes to your dilemma, dear reader. One is that it is your own fault for running late and you shouldn’t make other passengers suffer by jumping the queue just because you have terrible time keeping skills. The other side is more understanding, accepting that traveling and airports are a nightmare and sometimes, through no fault of your own, you find yourself running to catch your flight. You’ll most likely find both types in the same queue, as it sounds like you did yourself.
It really does depend on the people in the line whether you manage to make your flight on time. Personally speaking, I have no problem letting someone jump ahead of me if they are clearly on a mad dash run to catch their plane. But there are definitely others out there who would have no qualms about telling you where to go.
So, in conclusion, no I don’t think it was rude of you to ask to jump ahead. But also bear in mind that there may well be people in your same position who are in front of you or maybe are just having a stressful day and don’t feel like extending the olive branch. So be warned.
[Photo: iStock]
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I have often been rushed to catch my flight, but I rarely cut the queue. Then I encounter people who wish to cut me and I refuse stating I'm also catching my flight. Then they try to cut anyways, so why ask in the first place? If you're going to cut, just cut. If you ask, you may be refused.
The 'often' gives the clue. It's one thing to be on a plane delayed 1 hour and be in a mad rush to catch a connection and ask for exceptional short cut, but it is entirely different to arrive at the airport later than you really should and expect other better organised passengers to let you play by different rules than everyone else to bail you out. The former typically happens 'once', the latter more likely 'often'. It would be rude of Dear Reader to ask to queue jump as a result, it is rude and frankly in poor taste to do so whilst clearly denying any responsibility for chronic lateness and making it sound like bad luck and something he/she bears no responsibility for.
Most "frequent business travelers" know better and plan better. Transfer security lines, more than likely there will be a little more sympathy due to delayed planes, etc. If not in a transfer security line, there will be dirty looks and that is warranted.
I always grant peoples' requests to cut in line unless I am also running late. If I am on time for my flight, I personally gain absolutely nothing by causing others to miss their flight.
I don't think I have ever said no, but half the people in line already are in a hurry, so I do think it is selfish to ask, and have no problem if other people say no. I have never asked to jump the line, but if I did, I'd tell an airline employee the reason I needed it, and ask them to help. And unless the airline created the problem, I would not expect them to help. People wonder why some people make such an effort to get status, upgrade or otherwise get into the premier lanes, and avoiding these situations and other hassles, often created by fellow travelers, is one of the reasons.