Airline Club tipping etiquette
Jun 1, 2013, 8:02 pm
#46
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE
Posts: 2,123
Hey OP, getting all the opinions you wanted? 
As you may have expected, there's quite a diversity of practices out there.
I usually tip $1 for a beer or wine. It's just pour and hand for those things. In real bars, I tip more for cocktails that actually require some effort to make properly. I'm not sure why anyone would try to tip 20% for a "premium" wine. It's just a simple act of pouring into a bottle.
As you may have expected, there's quite a diversity of practices out there. I usually tip $1 for a beer or wine. It's just pour and hand for those things. In real bars, I tip more for cocktails that actually require some effort to make properly. I'm not sure why anyone would try to tip 20% for a "premium" wine. It's just a simple act of pouring into a bottle.
Jun 1, 2013, 9:26 pm
#47
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K 3MM , Marriott Amb, Hyatt D, HH D, Hertz PC
Posts: 851
I only drink the soft stuff in the UC so I tip a dollar for the first soda and sometimes a second buck for another, especially if it's a bartender I know well (at ORD in particular).
Jun 1, 2013, 10:30 pm
#48
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Gold
Posts: 66
This is OP. Thanks for all the responses.
I think I'm going to continue with my normal practice that I see others follow too:
$1 tip for alcoholic drinks, no tip for sodas, unless I plan on getting several.
Thanks!
-Tom9984
I think I'm going to continue with my normal practice that I see others follow too:
$1 tip for alcoholic drinks, no tip for sodas, unless I plan on getting several.
Thanks!
-Tom9984
Jun 2, 2013, 7:20 am
#50
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 220
For what it's worth, I actually asked the UA/US lounge attendants while doing my first couple check-ins this year (my first as a status flier), and they both said tip $1 for alcohol, no tip necessary for juice/soft drinks. So that's what I follow.
Jun 2, 2013, 8:31 am
#51
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Jun 2, 2013, 10:50 am
#52
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LAX
Programs: Thai Gold, UA, AA, SWA
Posts: 362
If you have to tip in the club, do you tip the FAs during flights? UA chose to have a bartender so leaving a tip seems forced. Plus the last time I went throuag an UA lounge the drinks were not free. So if they want to run a regular for profit bar they should say so.
Jun 2, 2013, 10:51 am
#53
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 220
Well, to be fair I asked what the customary practice was at the lounge bars. They didn't tell me that if I refused to tip my body would be found in the East River some days later.
It strikes me that pretty much everyone on this forum gives tips at least for alcoholic beverages. Is there anyone who does not tip under any circumstances? If so, what type of hostile glare or comments result? Or, are there no consequences at all? I suppose it might make going back for a second drink risky...
It strikes me that pretty much everyone on this forum gives tips at least for alcoholic beverages. Is there anyone who does not tip under any circumstances? If so, what type of hostile glare or comments result? Or, are there no consequences at all? I suppose it might make going back for a second drink risky...
Jun 2, 2013, 10:55 am
#54
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 1,627
I agree, I tip nothing.
Jun 2, 2013, 10:57 am
#55
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland - ABZ
Programs: Qantas LTG, BA-Blue, KLM -Gold, SAS - Silver
Posts: 2,057
In the LH lounge at FRA you can serve yourself a lovely draught weißebier. I must remember to tip myself next time. I poured if superbly, even if I say so myself.
Jun 2, 2013, 12:38 pm
#56
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE
Posts: 2,123
Only some lounges. It seems that in the LH club in IAD, the local alcohol laws seem to preclude self-service, so you have to ask an attendant to get it for you. They certainly do not seem to expect a tip, and I've never seen anyone tip there.
Jun 2, 2013, 2:00 pm
#57
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
I do tip, but not until right before I leave the hive. Therefore, I receive drinks repeatedly without tipping. If anyone is looking askance at me, I have never noticed. And the service is just as prompt and friendly for me on non-tipped drink #3 as it was for the previous drinks. So, my answer to your question is: there's no consequence at all.
Jun 2, 2013, 5:02 pm
#58
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Join Date: Jul 2003
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Outside the US all the airline lounges I've visited are self-service alcoholic beverages--so NO tip (there is no one to tip
) for them.
Until about 18 months ago, AA Admiral Clubs had NO complimentary alcoholic beverages; now they are free (but only ordered at the bar.)--but (with certain exceptions) this only applies to "house" stuff.
AA has 4 Flagship lounges (mainly for Executive Plat. and fc intl.), these have self-service alcoholic beverages.
AA Platinum and higher flying intl. can get better than "house" complimentary, but how do you know the price if its free (assuming you order by pointing
), 20% of $0 is $0--so I would guess $2, for these would be fair.
) for them.Until about 18 months ago, AA Admiral Clubs had NO complimentary alcoholic beverages; now they are free (but only ordered at the bar.)--but (with certain exceptions) this only applies to "house" stuff.
AA has 4 Flagship lounges (mainly for Executive Plat. and fc intl.), these have self-service alcoholic beverages.
AA Platinum and higher flying intl. can get better than "house" complimentary, but how do you know the price if its free (assuming you order by pointing
), 20% of $0 is $0--so I would guess $2, for these would be fair.
Jun 2, 2013, 8:10 pm
#60
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169