If I handle the one bag I have myself, I don't tip - there's no other way to get from the parking lot to the airport, so its not like I've picked some luxury I should tip for.

I was going to make an exception to this when recently traveling on a holiday, as I know its a pain to have to work on a holiday, but forgot too.

Should I need assistance with bags and stuff, sure, tip...

I almost hate to admit it now, but I generally do not. I am of course always polite and courteous, but unless something special is provided by the driver I don't tend to. I have not had any hotel shuttle drivers in recent memory that I have tipped.

Funny, I do tip cab drivers anywhere depending on their courtesy, driving, etc. Maybe I need to rethink the shuttle driver tips now that I'm thinking about it. When I travel with my wife she always tends to tip, she is much more generous than I am.

Always tip.

I've never had so much luggage that I needed help from the driver. It's generally just my briefcase and an overnight bag. How is that cheap? I'm supposed to tip just for the "complimentary" ride in the hotel or rental car shuttle? Give me a break.

If anybody would care to see the biggest shuttle service joke, it's at McCarren int'l in Vegas. It runs between the int'l terminal 2 and the main terminal 1. You can WALK between the two in less than probably 5 mins. I suppose if you have a lot of luggage it's useful. I just had my first experience with it; I got in, the driver was standing outside while the motor was running. The interior was exceedingly hot, like a blast furnace. As I sat down, you couldn't miss a huge sign on the dash area that said something like: "TIPS, 50% of my income is from tips!" Well, already starting to sweat from the intense heat (the motor running contributed to that) and then seeing this sign, I exited and mentioned to the driver, "Whew, it's hot in there!" He then offered to turn on the A/C but I responded, "Nah, that's alright, I'll walk there." If you ask me, how rude, to display a BIG sign like that. And, what does that "50% income from tips" mean anyway? Does that mean that if he makes $3k a month that he gets another $3k a month on top of that in tips? I'll bet that most newcomers to LAS Terminal 2 don't even realize that they can WALK to the adjacent terminal 1 before the shuttle driver even starts out (once more passenger fill in) for the terminal 1. Hey driver: if you're reading this, why don't you try: "Tips appreciated" and not with a giant sign practically blocking one's view through the window?

The practice of tipping everyone has already lead to an entitlement mentality that is supported by those who feel good by giving to those who have less than they do. It's time for the practice to stop and for these people to be paid a living wage. If that means the prices go up, then they should go up.

I usually do.

Sometimes yes; sometimes no. If I tipped every parking shuttle driver and hotel maid like I would like to, it would make a big dent in my modest income. Flying just happens to be my commute to work every week. I do tip - and generously - for service beyond the norm. And I probably overtip food servers. When I am on a non-work trip, I tend to tip more for everything.

Never have, dont plan to start either

If it's like a free hotel shuttle absolutely, and I can tell you with certainty that it is expected that you do, every bit as much as a pizza delivery man. One or two dollars is customary. If you're not tipping the shuttle driver you're committing a faux pas.

You bet! When we drop off the car, we get a quick shuttle to the terminal. Upon return, the shuttle shows up within 5 minutes from when we call. They deserve it!

Hi,

I generally tip $2 for the shuttle driver ( I give an extra $ or two if it is a longer than normal trip from the hotel to the airport )

Regards

TBS

Depends. If it's an annoyingly mandatory shuttle for logistics reasons (dfw offsite rental cars, for example, or a shuttle between airport terminals, or a iad mobile lounge ;p) I typically do not tip unless they helped me with luggage at my request.

For shuttles to hotels or offsite rental car lots, I typically do tip a buck or two... I chose to use the shuttle in that case rather than being forced into it, and these offer additional opportunities for marginal good service (like taking me directly to my car) that i am glad to express my appreciation for.

Particularly, I always tip extremely generously for the parking spot shuttle drivers at the LAX Sepulveda location. Anyone else with me? :D:D:D:cool:

I had a thread on this some time back - too lazy to look it up now, though.

Personally, I usually dont tip. One of the things that really bothers me is that drivers jump down and practically grab teh bag out of your hand expecting that they are going to make a few extra bucks. I already find most shuttles overpriced where you pay, and annoying where they are not and you have no choice but to use them. It's a principal thing to me. If there is genuine intention to help, and I need the help, then yes, I tip. But don't grab my bags away from me just to hold them hostage until I give you a dollar.

In the U.S. the rule is: if it moves, tip it.

I always tip the shuttle driver at my local off-airport parking lots as they never fail to cheerfully assist with our luggage, strollers, etc.

I rarely tip hotel and car rental shuttle drivers unless they perform similar service.

Traveling alone for work, I only have a carry-on, which means that if the driver tries to help that only slows things down. For that I don't tip.

With my 2 1/2 year old daughter (+ car seat, stroller, extra suitcase, usually my wife's suitcase too)....I move my butt to get the bags in & out of the shuttle as fast as possible, and if the driver helps (which they almost always do) then I make sure to tip $5-10, say thank you, and have my daughter say thank you too.

For the sign which says, "Tips Appreciated", maybe we riders should have a sticker that we can past onto that sign, sticker which says, "Quality service/help appreciated". That should get the message across.

Yes, usually $1. Not much of a difference to me, but will make the driver happier - so why not?

No, you are just not consenting to an economic model that you disagree with and forced bribery that does not result in consistently good service.


Pay the driver a living wage, if that means the shuttle is not free then so be it.

I also usually tip off-site airport parking $1/bag. Sometimes I will add an extra dollar if it's very early or very late at night. Somehow I feel like it's more of a "special" trip since it's an on-call typ eof thing. But the drivers are typically very cheerful and nice so early/late.

I also don't tip hotel or rental car shuttles. Not sure why. Shouldn't be any different but I don't think of it like I do at home going to/from airport on shuttle.

Did they assist me? Then I'll tip. I did not tip the driver who, instead of helping me and my wife and 2 young kids with our bags, car seats, and stroller, decided to help the middle-aged couple with their 2 carryon-sized suitcases. I got everything onto and off of the shuttle myself, with the exception of one car seat he took off. If I receive sub-par service at a restaurant, I'll also leave a sub-par tip. Sorry, but you don't get a tip just for showing up and doing the bare minimum. And yes, I have worked jobs for which I received a voluntary tip, which is why I always tried to be as pleasant, friendly, and helpful as possible while trying not to be fake and in-your-face.

How much should I tip?
 

I am taking a shuttle from one destination to the other which is costing me $130 return. There will be 2 of us with 2 large suitcases and 1 carry on. I am prepaying my fare but the operator has advised I can tip in advance. How much should I tip?

I always tip $1 for shuttle bus/van drivers, especially if they help me with my rollaboard (as they usually are eager to do).

Drivers are service workers, so tipping is customary/expected, much like bartenders, room attendants, porters, curbside check-in guys, etc.

Usually a couple of bucks.

If I have a bag and the driver is helpful, yes.
Even if I don't have a bag but I see the driver works hard to help others, yes.
As a fellow driver, I reckon it's all good karma...

I tip if I have more than a carry on AND if the driver is polite and quiet!! Of course, after my travel, I like peaceful and no noisy shuttle, dont you?

Thanks to everyone for your help!:cool:

I was thinking whether or not I should tip the shuttle driver, who didn't help at all with my suitcase and bag and just had me struggle to get it into the shuttle (there is also a trunk, which he didn't offer to open for me either). On the one hand, I feel bad he makes so little money. The company probably doesn't pay him much, with the rates it is charging for the shuttle. But should I compensate for the fact businesses are cutthroat and rates are so low? I feel I should, because I support paying all employees more.
In the end, however, given he pulled over without announcing my airline (I knew I was in the right terminal) and goes to the back to help the other customer retrieve his bag from the trunk, I just walked away.

Ah, back in America with American problems.

(regarding the old thread, a flyertalk search didn't reveal anything newer)

Why? No one put a gun to his head demanding he take that job. It's his bed, he made it.

I tip $1 a bag if the driver helps me and my wife.

How about if the shuttle is not FREE?

I don't parse these details. $1 if it's just driving, $2 if I have a bag. Makes little difference to me. Makes a big difference to the driver (likely).

We always have bags, so yes we do tip the shuttle driver. I don't believe we have ever had one that didn't help with bags.

Australia no..elsewhere yes.

I tip shuttle drivers who are especially helpful with bags or friendly or responsive to my needs. I don't tip for the minimum service of simply driving the van on a predetermined route and schedule.

To be clear, this applies to travel in the US and other countries where tipping is common. Though even in the US it's debatable whether driving a shuttle is a traditionally tipped job. And in more and more states employers are required to pay the full minimum wage before tips -- see https://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm.

If this is a shared-ride door-to-door service like SuperShuttle, then most likely, the driver is not an employee. Rather, he is the owner/operator of his own business, and pays the company a fee in return for using their dispatch system to get passengers.

I don't know how the pay works out for them, especially after factoring in for gas and vehicle maintenance. However I am generally against the tipping system, and would tip a shuttle driver only for service that goes above and beyond expectations, like lifting heavy bags.

I do my best to handle my own bags, so as to avoid the perceived "need" to tip the driver.

I'm perfectly capable and willing to move my bags from A to B and don't wish to pay anybody else to do it for me. So in general, no, I don't tip parking shuttle drivers.

I have on some occasions tipped a shuttle driver.

Usually it's for getting really good info when I have a chat with them on a longer ride to offsite rental car center.

I tip the shuttle driver $1, even though I rarely have more than a carry-on. I know most of the drivers at least by sight and they're always very nice.