Tipping question at an HGI for free breakfast
#31
I would prefer putting the tip on the credit card rather than leave cash, and of course this is only possible if there is a bill.
#32
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,442
I am with you about a tip… In Europe usually a tip is for only extraordinary situations. In Japan no tip, especially elderly people in Japan may consider a tip as an insult. In the U.S. a tip on every single transaction. I think the establishments have to pay their workers accordingly, and customers should only need to pay the price which was given by the establishments, no more or less. But I do not stiff servers on a tip. I do not totally agree with the concept of a tip, but it is not a fault of servers that the system in the U.S. is like that.
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
I will add to the OP, what would you tip if you paid for the breakfast? It should be the same.
#34
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
First, I would not buy the breakfast for $15. The reason I eat there is because it is free. I get three eggs, a small bowl of fruit, a slice of toast and coffee from the urn in the lobby. I might get a banana on the way out. That is a $5 breakfast, tops. My $2 is thus very generous.
#35
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 581
I am with you about a tip… In Europe usually a tip is for only extraordinary situations. In Japan no tip, especially elderly people in Japan may consider a tip as an insult. In the U.S. a tip on every single transaction. I think the establishments have to pay their workers accordingly, and customers should only need to pay the price which was given by the establishments, no more or less. But I do not stiff servers on a tip. I do not totally agree with the concept of a tip, but it is not a fault of servers that the system in the U.S. is like that.
I don't tip taxi drivers anymore, nor a barber, nor any hotel staff, doesn't matter if its a bar tender serving drinks or a server working at the breakfast bar.
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
First, I would not buy the breakfast for $15. The reason I eat there is because it is free. I get three eggs, a small bowl of fruit, a slice of toast and coffee from the urn in the lobby. I might get a banana on the way out. That is a $5 breakfast, tops. My $2 is thus very generous.
And you don't tip based on what you think a meal is worth, you tip on what they would charge. And you can't even get what you say at Denny's for $5. So your tip of $2 is right on, not "very generous".
#37
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Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
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#38
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
Broadly, servers should take up the issue with HGI. Make the coupons inclusive of tip. That's the way Hyatt and Marriott do it with breakfast coupons.
#39
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
Yes. I can get three eggs toast and coffee all over the south for about $5. Maybe not at a hotel with a semi-captured audience, but I can get it many places. If something happens and I lose status at Hilton, I will eat breakfast elsewhere and pay about $5.
#40
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Amen
#41
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
Why will they rejoice that I would go elsewhere? Do you know something about me that I do not? I said I leave the $2 tip like many here have said. I do this without a lot of demands. I like the HGI and choose them when I can.
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
Most people with coupons wouldn't have paid to eat in the restaurant. So there was no tip to be made in the first place.
Broadly, servers should take up the issue with HGI. Make the coupons inclusive of tip. That's the way Hyatt and Marriott do it with breakfast coupons.
Broadly, servers should take up the issue with HGI. Make the coupons inclusive of tip. That's the way Hyatt and Marriott do it with breakfast coupons.
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
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Posts: 38,701
My bad. Sorry. The non-tippers were all blurring together.
#44
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
My rule is simple if Im handed a menu or theres a menu hanging and the server takes my order and brings me the food, a tip will be left. If all they bring is juice and coffee then no tip, if I have to get my own food buffet style then Im fully capable of getting my own juice and coffee.
They wont let me get my own drinks since that way they hope folks will tip, well thats Ok with me then take my order and bring me my food a swell
Lately Ive seen tip jars at Hamptons.
They wont let me get my own drinks since that way they hope folks will tip, well thats Ok with me then take my order and bring me my food a swell
Lately Ive seen tip jars at Hamptons.
#45
Join Date: May 2010
Location: FSD
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Posts: 1,884
I'll typically leave $2-3 depending on the service level at a particular HGI. $2 for a normal "Hi, welcome...any eggs? Sure!" service, $3 if the set-up includes them bringing tea/coffee.
The HGI set-up is a bit of a maelstrom of factors that discourages generosity. Bacon/sausage seems to have disappeared from the buffets, omelettes are made with carton egg product, and the fruit selection is very basic (ie just melon). The cherry on the top: breakfasts seem to be charged on par with your average Doubletree: $12-15 in my experience. At my last HGI stay, I asked for 2 poached eggs and some sausage. I got a single egg and two tiny links of breakfast sausage. As someone who runs/lifts in the morning before breakfast, that's...not going to inspire me to tip above my $2 minimum (because s/he doesn't deserve to be short on urban West Coast rent). To make a long story short, I am not a fan of the hybrid buffet/ordered-via-server set-up or the nominal price. Were I not a diamond, I wouldn't partake.
The HGI set-up is a bit of a maelstrom of factors that discourages generosity. Bacon/sausage seems to have disappeared from the buffets, omelettes are made with carton egg product, and the fruit selection is very basic (ie just melon). The cherry on the top: breakfasts seem to be charged on par with your average Doubletree: $12-15 in my experience. At my last HGI stay, I asked for 2 poached eggs and some sausage. I got a single egg and two tiny links of breakfast sausage. As someone who runs/lifts in the morning before breakfast, that's...not going to inspire me to tip above my $2 minimum (because s/he doesn't deserve to be short on urban West Coast rent). To make a long story short, I am not a fan of the hybrid buffet/ordered-via-server set-up or the nominal price. Were I not a diamond, I wouldn't partake.
Last edited by Amelorn; Jul 19, 2017 at 5:21 pm