Gratuities [pre-flight lounge dining]
Aug 29, 2019, 8:00 pm
#31
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: All the usual suspects
Posts: 342
I'm a good tipper when tipping is the done thing. It's not the done thing in the UK, in these circumstances, in my opinion.
Aug 29, 2019, 8:36 pm
#32
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I don’t tip on board but I have very occasionally brought chocolate on board around Christmas, except for the last one, which was on BA’s 100th birthday.
Aug 29, 2019, 11:59 pm
#34
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,927
I think the key here is the location of said lounges. As this is a BA forum, people will assume the lounges are in Britain, and that it is entirely culturally (and financially given minimum wage laws) appropriate that there is no expectation to tip. If the lounges under discussion were in N American, that might be different.
Aug 30, 2019, 12:05 am
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,536
The premise is already wrong. There are many countries where this is not customary at all, and even some where it is offensive to do so. The tipping culture varies enormously by country, and by context. In European lounges, it is certainly not customary to leave tips to waiting staff. It will not be offensive but slightly bizarre if you do. Unlike, say, a restaurant in the uk or France where tips are normal enough that internal arrangements are in place as to how they are shared between staff, in lounges, as they are not the norm at all, there would be no such pre-existing arrangement and thus I’d expect the person who picks it to keep the whole thing.
Aug 30, 2019, 12:46 am
#36
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,992
There are many countries where this is not customary at all, and even some where it is offensive to do so. The tipping culture varies enormously by country, and by context. In European lounges, it is certainly not customary to leave tips to waiting staff. It will not be offensive but slightly bizarre if you do.
But, back on topic... as far as I'm concerned, an airline lounge is a facility offered by airlines to its frequent, valued and/or high-spending customers, included in the cost of the ticket, and it should never be necessary to tip anyone who serves you there. I refuse to participate, when not in north America, in the rather embarrassing habit of showering money upon everyone who crosses your path during the course of a day.
Aug 30, 2019, 12:47 am
#37
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: British Airways Gold, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 128
Me and my partner where recently in CCR JFK and was not sure what to do, but in the end our waiter vanished and we could not find her so we didn’t tip.
thus if she had not of vanished we would have tipped 😐
thus if she had not of vanished we would have tipped 😐
Aug 30, 2019, 1:07 am
#38
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: RTW
Posts: 677
orbitmic: "In European lounges, it is certainly not customary to leave tips to waiting staff."
Quite so, and let's keep it that way. In too may countries, tipping has long since ceased to have any correlation with service quality and has become simply a way of converting the employer's fixed cost into a variable one, so "no customers, little or no wage cost." Hardly to the overall benefit of the work force?
Quite so, and let's keep it that way. In too may countries, tipping has long since ceased to have any correlation with service quality and has become simply a way of converting the employer's fixed cost into a variable one, so "no customers, little or no wage cost." Hardly to the overall benefit of the work force?
Aug 30, 2019, 1:33 am
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Same here. I'll only do that if I know the crew will be away over Christmas, and I'm not often travelling that close to Christmas Day. I know it's slightly counterintuitive, as many who are away over Christmas positively choose those trips. But some don't. And it being Christmas, it's always been appreciated.
Aug 30, 2019, 1:34 am
#40
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: OSL
Programs: BA Gold | SK Gold | A3 Gold
Posts: 4,553
Each to their own - I remember a thread years ago about people who take presents on board for the cabin crew and it just made me cringe. I'm not mean, far from it, but it's I just I find the whole thing ever so slightly odd... I mean, I'll thank them warmly if they've gone the extra mile, give out a Golden Ticket if I have one, or fill out the form online to ensure their amazing service is recognised... but I think that's where it ends. Turning up for a flight with a gift ready for the crew (before you've even decided if they're worth it) just doesn't sit well with me.
That said, I'm sure they'll appreciate having you as a passenger far more than me, if it went down well.
That said, I'm sure they'll appreciate having you as a passenger far more than me, if it went down well.
I think that chocolates (and unhealthy treats generally) in someone's work environment is borderline irresponsible. Of course they have a choice to not eat it, but I guess that is much harder stuck on a metal tube for several hours!
Aug 30, 2019, 1:40 am
#41
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,814
Personally I'm a "when in Rome" person, so I know not to give tips in Japan, and generally bias to giving hefty tips in the USA. But against a sign like that I would need not be dipping into my dollar bill stack.
Aug 30, 2019, 1:49 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
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Posts: 30,536
When we we go out, my friends and I don’t split bills. We invite each other more or less equitably over time. I would never let one of my friends tip when they are my guests as this is part of my invitation (obviously), and conversely, I wouldn’t tip when they are picking the tap. So conversely, if I’m ba’s guest I’d expect them to pay for the service.
Aug 30, 2019, 1:59 am
#43
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 2,334
I remember a few year ago I was in the AMEX Centurion lounge at SFO.
I did not have any dollars left as it was my flight back to LHR and I got several glasses of Champagne for me and my wife. Thinking of European lounges, and no on else was tipping despite a crowded lounge, I only said thank you.
Given that, despite the fact that I did the usual 20% in bars and restaurants I wasn't tipping and after the 3rd glass the bartender mentioned rather annoyed that 'it would be great to show my appreciation' and 'outside there's an ATM'.
Despite feeling bad me not applying what I've done in every other bar, I found his comments a bit too straight forward. Now I am tipping even in AC when I use my free vouchers
I did not have any dollars left as it was my flight back to LHR and I got several glasses of Champagne for me and my wife. Thinking of European lounges, and no on else was tipping despite a crowded lounge, I only said thank you.
Given that, despite the fact that I did the usual 20% in bars and restaurants I wasn't tipping and after the 3rd glass the bartender mentioned rather annoyed that 'it would be great to show my appreciation' and 'outside there's an ATM'.
Despite feeling bad me not applying what I've done in every other bar, I found his comments a bit too straight forward. Now I am tipping even in AC when I use my free vouchers
Aug 30, 2019, 2:02 am
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
I once saw the tourist in front of me as I walked into Harrods hand a £20 note to the doorman ....
Doubt they get £20 in a year from all the British customers put together.
Doubt they get £20 in a year from all the British customers put together.
Aug 30, 2019, 2:12 am
#45
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,927
I remember a few year ago I was in the AMEX Centurion lounge at SFO.
I did not have any dollars left as it was my flight back to LHR and I got several glasses of Champagne for me and my wife. Thinking of European lounges, and no on else was tipping despite a crowded lounge, I only said thank you.
Given that, despite the fact that I did the usual 20% in bars and restaurants I wasn't tipping and after the 3rd glass the bartender mentioned rather annoyed that 'it would be great to show my appreciation' and 'outside there's an ATM'.
Despite feeling bad me not applying what I've done in every other bar, I found his comments a bit too straight forward. Now I am tipping even in AC when I use my free vouchers
I did not have any dollars left as it was my flight back to LHR and I got several glasses of Champagne for me and my wife. Thinking of European lounges, and no on else was tipping despite a crowded lounge, I only said thank you.
Given that, despite the fact that I did the usual 20% in bars and restaurants I wasn't tipping and after the 3rd glass the bartender mentioned rather annoyed that 'it would be great to show my appreciation' and 'outside there's an ATM'.
Despite feeling bad me not applying what I've done in every other bar, I found his comments a bit too straight forward. Now I am tipping even in AC when I use my free vouchers