What are people thoughts about tipping drivers of airport shuttles? I am talking about rental car, hotel, and inter-terminal shuttles, not shared vans and the like.

Maybe this is a personal hang-up, but I hate having people grab my luggage. I just feel more comfortable if I handle it myself. But most of these shuttle service drivers are like mad men trying to lift the luggage onto the rack and then take it off. I think LAX is the worst about this. Some kind of golden touch "I touched your luggage now you owe me a tip". I have gotten to the point now if they do that I simply don't tip them, and let them get grumpy. I hate that entitlement attitude.

As soon as he stops the van or gets out to let you board and goes for your bags, tell him "Oh, I got my bags..." Make an excuse there is something fragile, etc in them.

You're going to get flamed for your post and so too is czarina...but ignore them. I get it. There are times when I want help and times when I don't want help. When I want help I am happy to have a pleasant shuttle driver help me and am happy to reward them for doing so. When I don't want help, I don't want a pleasant shuttle driver to help me and I don't want to pay for the unwanted help. And I never want an unpleasant person to help me no matter how much I need it, and I likely won't tip for unpleasantness.

I'm with you guys. I really dislike the whole "tip everybody and their grandmother" culture in the US.

I saw the same thing you mention at LAX recently, on various shuttle buses. I always said I was OK with my bags and the driver still practically wrestled them away from me to carry them five feet. I really don't see the point of tipping someone for that - so I didn't.

That's it, really. I have no problem tipping the airport limo driver - they actually do something. Even the hotel shuttles where they simply have a van and make sure you get to the right location and all. My problem is with the buses where all they do is grab the bag from you as you are about to get on the bus and then swing it around to put it on a rack. They barely even have to move. In LA, the hotel bus drivers grab your bag, stick it in a corner by them and tell everyone to move down to the end of the bus, then it's a game to see who can get to your bag first when your hotel comes up.

I'm with the OP - just say thanks and walk off. It's not a service you asked for, and not one you wanted - so why should you feel obliged to pay for it any more than you should pay the lout who wipes your windscreen with a greasy rag at the traffic lights?

LAX is definitely bad. I'm with Dingo, if I've packed light I don't tip. If It's a big trip or I don't feel like handling bags myself then I'll tip. Especially if they're polite about it.

I agree.. I don't blame them for trying, but usually I throw them response "I can carry my own bags from point A to point B, I'm looking forward to the days when I'm older though to have someone carry them." I usually get a laugh or a smile from the bag solicitor and I'm on my way.

I've wrestled with drivers/porters before and I always win. Makes for an awkward moment for a second but after that second we both have a mutual understanding of each other.

The same here

Y'all must frequent different airports than I do. It's rare that a shuttle driver gets up out of the driver's seat to offer me assistance. So rare, that I would usually have my luggage (one small carry-on) at least in hand, if not already on the bus well before the driver arrived to assist.

OTOH, if it is the rare occasion that I have a heavy suitcase or two, I greatly appreciate any assistance offered, and I tip accordingly.

I don't appreciate it when the hotel doorman wants to take my small rollaboard out of the trunk and then roll it to the front desk for me. If traveling with the family and a ton of stuff I have no problem tipping bell services.

I take the rental car shuttle frequently in Houston and the shuttle bus is not passenger friendly. The step up is tall and the driver never seems to be around to assist with the bags. I would say only about 25% of the time do they assist and I tip accordingly.

Hi,

Most of the time on the hotel shuttles to /from the airport the driver helps with the bags or puts it in the baggage area at the back of the van.

I generally give $1/$2 per trip ( a bit more if it is a longer drive or early in the morning) as a taxi fare would be a lot more ( for one person)

Regards

TBS

Like the Scot, I generally tip hotel shuttle drivers, especially for those "dawn launch" trips to the terminal. Parking/rental shuttles? No, unless they are the rare sort who pick me up at or delivers me to my car.

When my wife and I travel abroad out of DFW, we use a low cost hotel in Grapevine that in exchange for a night's stay before, after, or bookending a trip, lets me leave our car "free" while traveling. I appreciate the extra baggage handling and the service and tip the shuttle driver both ways. It's not that we travel "heavy", at most checking only a single big bag each for a 2 week trip, but burdened with carryons and the paraphernalia of int'l travel, the help is appreciated. The free parking and the chance to relax before leaving and wind down on return are well worth room costs which amount to little more (if any) than would be parking charges.

hotel shuttle drivers - if they sit on their butt, open the door and watch me board (with bag), no tip.

Get out, and put my bag in the back (and give it back to me), $1 a bag.

This is a tricky one.

Whilst I agree with most of the posters in this thread that I can handle my own bags, I do think that shuttle drivers who are pleasant and put a lot of effort into moving heavy cases for folks are actually working harder for their tips than a lot of the US-service industry, who seem to think that have a god-given right to be tipped.