View Poll Results: Do you tip Centurion Lounge bartenders?
Always.
34
21.52%
Only for alcohol, including cocktails, beer and wine. Not for soft drinks.
65
41.14%
Only for cocktails. Not for beer, wine, soft drinks.
18
11.39%
Only for one round of drinks. Not for refills.
9
5.70%
Never.
32
20.25%
Voters: 158. You may not vote on this poll
Do you tip Centurion Lounge bartenders?
Jul 23, 2019, 8:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco, California
Programs: Amex Centurion, United Global Services
Posts: 847
Do you tip Centurion Lounge bartenders?
On a side note - do you folks tip the bartender at the SFO lounge? I've been tossing down a buck or two per drink but every time I take out cash everyone standing around me looks at me awkwardly and I realize nobody else is tipping. I keep a big stash of $1 bills in my bag just for situations like these. I've had some pretty good drinks there, leaving something behind seems appropriate. Maybe bartending my way through college makes this automatic.
Occasionally I'll see someone else leave some cash but it's definitely not the norm. For chrissake, you are getting free drinks!
What say you?
Occasionally I'll see someone else leave some cash but it's definitely not the norm. For chrissake, you are getting free drinks!
What say you?
Jul 23, 2019, 9:15 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 16,871
On a side note - do you folks tip the bartender at the SFO lounge? I've been tossing down a buck or two per drink but every time I take out cash everyone standing around me looks at me awkwardly and I realize nobody else is tipping. I keep a big stash of $1 bills in my bag just for situations like these. I've had some pretty good drinks there, leaving something behind seems appropriate. Maybe bartending my way through college makes this automatic.
Occasionally I'll see someone else leave some cash but it's definitely not the norm. For chrissake, you are getting free drinks!
What say you?
Occasionally I'll see someone else leave some cash but it's definitely not the norm. For chrissake, you are getting free drinks!
What say you?
That said, as one who also tended bar years ago I tip very well. For the average joe a buck or two per drink is appropriate and appreciated. Ex bartenders like us need to step up ^
Jul 23, 2019, 9:23 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: $9 Fare Club
Posts: 1,482
On a side note - do you folks tip the bartender at the SFO lounge? I've been tossing down a buck or two per drink but every time I take out cash everyone standing around me looks at me awkwardly and I realize nobody else is tipping. I keep a big stash of $1 bills in my bag just for situations like these. I've had some pretty good drinks there, leaving something behind seems appropriate. Maybe bartending my way through college makes this automatic.
Occasionally I'll see someone else leave some cash but it's definitely not the norm. For chrissake, you are getting free drinks!
What say you?
Occasionally I'll see someone else leave some cash but it's definitely not the norm. For chrissake, you are getting free drinks!
What say you?
You're in the US, that's the culture (rightly or wrongly).
Jul 23, 2019, 9:57 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,791
And I say this as a guy who tended bar in college during the summers. I think it would be crazy to receive a $1-2 tip for pouring a beer, I think it's equally crazy to pay that amount to somebody else.
Jul 23, 2019, 10:31 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 16,871
I generally don't tip lounge bartenders, Centurion or otherwise. But I'm also a low touch drinker, usually a draft beer or a simple liquor and mix. I'll leave some cash if I'm squatting at the bar for an inordinate amount of time, or if I'm ordering craft cocktails that actually take time and skill to make well. But tipping for something I could and would prefer to do myself? No. That's part of the reason I like the pm-NW SkyClubs that still have self-serve bars, I get to make my own drink!
And I say this as a guy who tended bar in college during the summers. I think it would be crazy to receive a $1-2 tip for pouring a beer, I think it's equally crazy to pay that amount to somebody else.
And I say this as a guy who tended bar in college during the summers. I think it would be crazy to receive a $1-2 tip for pouring a beer, I think it's equally crazy to pay that amount to somebody else.
Jul 24, 2019, 10:36 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,680
I don't, but I never order mixed drinks, only sodas. That literally doesn't take very long to pour, only about 3-5 seconds.
Jul 24, 2019, 11:18 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,234
But yes, I try to tip $1 if I have it on anything alcoholic, even a simple glass of wine.
Jul 24, 2019, 12:12 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,680
Exactly. There's a good reason (laws about drinking age, for one thing) that a bartender has to serve anything alcoholic. But it's really dumb that Amex pushes the task of serving Coca-Cola and 7-Up onto their bartenders when it could be done by a machine just like the coffee is served. So, I don't tip on non alcoholic beverages, because Amex could solve this problem with a soda fountain.
Jul 24, 2019, 12:15 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 398
Expectations in the tipping culture are out of control....and i used to bartend at club where the wait was 5 deep sometimes. i always thought it was funny when someone would order a bottled beer and leave no tip and fellow bartenders would complain about being stiffed....all you literally did was use a bottle opener and hand him a beer.
Now if you want more demanding service or a more time consuming drink like a mojito, then tip.
I drink whiskey neat. I have no problem not tipping for a single pour.
Jul 24, 2019, 12:25 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 81
Re: the soft-drink thing - I always feel weird tipping for a Coke. I also feel weird *not* tipping for a Coke. A $1 tip exceeds the value of the Coke, but then again, a tip is supposed to be for the service, right?
I feel like bartenders don't expect a tip for a soft drink (I know I didn't when I bartended), so I generally feel OK not tipping for those. But if I have, like, five Cokes over an extended layover, and the bartender was friendly vs. perfunctory, I will leave them a five-spot at the end before I leave. Illogical? Maybe.
I feel like bartenders don't expect a tip for a soft drink (I know I didn't when I bartended), so I generally feel OK not tipping for those. But if I have, like, five Cokes over an extended layover, and the bartender was friendly vs. perfunctory, I will leave them a five-spot at the end before I leave. Illogical? Maybe.
Jul 24, 2019, 12:33 pm
#13
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: 100,413
I would tip $1 for each cocktail, and I usually tip $1 for a glass of wine, assuming that the service is OK or better, but I might not tip for a second glass of wine. I woudln't tip for a soft drink.
Jul 24, 2019, 12:50 pm
#14
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Moderator action
I have added a poll. You can only choose one option. I regret if I have not exactly described your pattern. Please choose one that is close
Jul 24, 2019, 4:26 pm
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
The chances of a person having any USD cash quickly available on person keeps dropping. That has implications for tips at places where some complimentary drinks are being served.