FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Do you tip the shuttle driver?
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Old Aug 26, 2010 | 3:41 pm
  #46  
planemechanic
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,439
Originally Posted by Tailgater
If anybody would care to see the biggest shuttle service joke, it's at McCarren int'l in Vegas. It runs between the int'l terminal 2 and the main terminal 1. You can WALK between the two in less than probably 5 mins. I suppose if you have a lot of luggage it's useful. I just had my first experience with it; I got in, the driver was standing outside while the motor was running. The interior was exceedingly hot, like a blast furnace. As I sat down, you couldn't miss a huge sign on the dash area that said something like: "TIPS, 50% of my income is from tips!" Well, already starting to sweat from the intense heat (the motor running contributed to that) and then seeing this sign, I exited and mentioned to the driver, "Whew, it's hot in there!" He then offered to turn on the A/C but I responded, "Nah, that's alright, I'll walk there." If you ask me, how rude, to display a BIG sign like that. And, what does that "50% income from tips" mean anyway? Does that mean that if he makes $3k a month that he gets another $3k a month on top of that in tips? I'll bet that most newcomers to LAS Terminal 2 don't even realize that they can WALK to the adjacent terminal 1 before the shuttle driver even starts out (once more passenger fill in) for the terminal 1. Hey driver: if you're reading this, why don't you try: "Tips appreciated" and not with a giant sign practically blocking one's view through the window?
The practice of tipping everyone has already lead to an entitlement mentality that is supported by those who feel good by giving to those who have less than they do. It's time for the practice to stop and for these people to be paid a living wage. If that means the prices go up, then they should go up.
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