Do you tip the shuttle driver?
#31


Join Date: May 2006
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 283
If a shuttle driver gets off his butt and helps anyone with their bag they get $1. As for cabbies most all lease the cab for a set amount and they pocket all tips. If either keep gabbing on their cellphones they get a big zero tip (usually I give one (1) warning to stop gabbing).
MisterNice
MisterNice
#33
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,154
Shuttle drivers will generally get a couple bucks from me if they help with the bags, and generally nothing if they don't. I did have one stop for me and let me on the bus the other day, and even though I had no bags that day I gave him a couple bucks.
I did have a rental car shuttle driver in Galveston that went out of his way, after his official hours were over that day to help me (we'd returned the car after the office was closed, and were standing waiting for a cab to the port to get us, which was running much later than it should have been. Shuttle driver was returning to park for the day and offered us a ride over to the port. It was after a long series of flight problems and lost bags, and we were genuinely concerned about actually making it to the ship before it left that day. He got a $20 for that, and my undying appreciation (which probably doesn't really mean a whole lot to him)).
I did have a rental car shuttle driver in Galveston that went out of his way, after his official hours were over that day to help me (we'd returned the car after the office was closed, and were standing waiting for a cab to the port to get us, which was running much later than it should have been. Shuttle driver was returning to park for the day and offered us a ride over to the port. It was after a long series of flight problems and lost bags, and we were genuinely concerned about actually making it to the ship before it left that day. He got a $20 for that, and my undying appreciation (which probably doesn't really mean a whole lot to him)).
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Marriott or Hilton hot tub with a big drink <glub> Beverage: To-Go Bag DYKWIA:SSSS /rolleyes ☈ Date Night:Costco
Programs: Sea Shell Lounge Platinum, TSA Pre✓ Refusnik Diamond, PWP Gold, FT subset of the subset
Posts: 12,523
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Bryn Mawr PA & Wailea HI
Posts: 15,726
MisterNice
#39




Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,567
Why is that? Because you're afraid you'll have dchristiva as your passenger and not get a gratuity...or because 1 person in an entire county admits to not tipping you have made the assumption that the other 953,942 in Westchester will do the same?
#41
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 736
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 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...
#42




Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: ANC
Programs: AS 100K, UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 331
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.
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.
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Formerly HPN, but then DCA and IAD for a while, and now back to HPN!
Programs: Honestly, I've been out of the travel game so long that I'm not even sure. Maybe Marriott Gold?
Posts: 10,677
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.
#45


Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SMF
Posts: 1,268
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?



