15% or 20% for tip?
Jan 16, 2011 | 12:31 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 13,144
When I have to tip in restaurants (restaurants with waiter/waitress service where service fee is excluded from the bill), it depends on the overall service. For basic, nothing extra ordinary I usually give 15%. If something impresses me then I'll go to 20% or more.
Jan 20, 2011 | 5:18 pm
#47
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC-SE MM
Posts: 1,251
+1^
Jan 20, 2011 | 5:21 pm
#48
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Miami
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Posts: 4,749
+2
Jan 23, 2011 | 9:44 am
#49
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA PLT/2MM, UA, Marriott PLT, Starwood
Posts: 221
We tip 20% almost all of the time, but DH will calculate it on the total before tax, and I use the total after tax - just a preference. I can see his point of view, but I still tend to do it on the after tax amount.
Jan 23, 2011 | 12:50 pm
#53
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
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Posts: 19,257
Hi,
I generally tip 15-17% ( rounded up to the nearest dollar)for service ( 20% for good service) I have not tipped less than that even if the service has been below what you might expect but have not had too many of those experiences.
If I only have a main course with a soft drink ( costing $20 or so ) I have tipped $5
What is the accepted wisdom at buffets- I generally give $2-3 per person ( maybe a $1 or 2 more if the waiter/waitress comes round often with coffee or oj refills without me having to grab their attention)- I do like orange juice in the morning.
I use the pre tax amount to base the tip on.
Regards
TBS
I generally tip 15-17% ( rounded up to the nearest dollar)for service ( 20% for good service) I have not tipped less than that even if the service has been below what you might expect but have not had too many of those experiences.
If I only have a main course with a soft drink ( costing $20 or so ) I have tipped $5
What is the accepted wisdom at buffets- I generally give $2-3 per person ( maybe a $1 or 2 more if the waiter/waitress comes round often with coffee or oj refills without me having to grab their attention)- I do like orange juice in the morning.
I use the pre tax amount to base the tip on.
Regards
TBS
Jan 23, 2011 | 1:15 pm
#54
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 2P, HHonors Silver
Posts: 99
20% is the norm now, 15% is considered somewhat stingy by restaurant folks. With that said, everyone is free to leave whatever tip they feel is appropriate. For me, that's 20% of the total amount.
Jan 23, 2011 | 1:51 pm
#55
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: South Jordan, Utah
Programs: Delta, American, Qantas, HAL, Starwood,
Posts: 151
15% is what the average service gets
20% is for better then average service, they go out of there way
25%+ is for them just being out of this world (maybe only once or twice a year)
20% is for better then average service, they go out of there way
25%+ is for them just being out of this world (maybe only once or twice a year)
Jan 26, 2011 | 3:52 pm
#57
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: ORD
Programs: AA Plat / HH Diamond
Posts: 192
I find myself overtipping at breakfast. Breakfasts are usually cheap and servers have to be quick (I order eggs and they get cold fast - and cold eggs are terrible): in addition, they make multiple trips to my table to refill coffee. Fifteen or 20% just isn't that much so I leave more.
Jan 26, 2011 | 5:08 pm
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: in the vicinity of SFO
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Posts: 19,784
Yeah, tipping high on very small bills whether for breakfast or not is my norm. The few places I eat where I can get table service well under $10 I will usually still tip $2, sometimes $3 if I keep the server busy with refills.
Jan 26, 2011 | 6:11 pm
#59
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Pittsburgh,PA
Programs: Priority Club, HiltonHonors, US Airways Dividend Miles, Airtran A+
Posts: 44
I usually tip in the 20% range. However, we recently went to dinner with neighbors the other night. I ordered surf/turf and my DW ordered a Filet. Our neighbors ordered meals that were significantly less expensive. Now, the waitress didn't do any more work for us than they did for the other couple. Why should my tip be so much more? Now, don't flame me. I did tip about 21% (I don't like odd totals hitting my bank account). It was just an interesting quesiton that my neighbor asked.