mritchie

Seriously. These guys aren't like waitresses, who are paid a pittance wage with the expectation of tips. Then again, I'm sure it's easier for them to pay attention to the fate of the bags of big tippers. What's the acceptable range? Does it vary with airport (e.g., more expensive city)? Please end my ignorance on this subject. Thanks.

Beckles

For just handling luggage, I'd say $1/bag.

When I was in a wheel chair (broken ankle and not nearly enough stamina on crutches to make it through an airport!) and had to have a SkyCap assist me it was more like $5-$10, depending on how long I needed them for.

JustinCredible

In a "Seinfeld" episode they had this conversation.

Elaine said $1 a bag while Jerry said $2.

Elaine disagreed and her bags ended up in Hawaii when she only tipped $1 a bag.

MRLIMO

One dollar a bag should be sufficient for most basic curbside handling that does not involve any special services. If any special handling or service is involved, more is always appreciated and sometimes necessary. Should you arrive curbside near departure time and your bags require any sort of special or expedited handling to make your flight, alert the SkyCap of your flight, ask him/her if they can personally assure you that your lugguage will make your flight, and if they can, perhaps an extra five or ten dollars may just make the difference!

For direct, (as in non-stop) wheelchair assistance, point-to-point between curbside and the gate (either direction), five to ten dollars is usually appropriate in an airport that does not require more than five or ten minutes of their time. Should you require additional time, services or assistance, additional gratuity is certainly appropriate.

SkyCaps would much rather remain curbside and "turn" luggage than the requirement of being called away to handle "specials"

And, of course, it goes without saying, never, ever stiff (as in not tip) a SkyCap, waiter/waitress or chauffeur, etc! Even if it means writing a personal check.

From the LAX area,
MRLIMO


[This message has been edited by MRLIMO (edited 07-10-1999).]

MisterNice

ustinCredible- hmmmmmmm......i wonder if i give the ticket counter person a really hard time, then do i get mis-routed to hawaii too?

seriously, a buck a bag certainly is enough. their TOTAL income is quite substancial. as i remember a few years back, some of them REFUSED to join the baggage handlers union as they did not want to take a cut in pay. definate tax advantages too in a total cash business so i have heard.

JustinCredible

MisterNice: Try being a jerk at the ticket counter and see where they re-route you by "accident". Most likely, it would probably be to the "Disney Land of the Middle East" -- Kuwait or somewhere like that.

I agree with the $1 a bag-- just quoting a Seinfeld episode. I usually go with the $1 a bag or the $5 for 3 bags rule when traveling with a group...

Aubie

I believe that the customary tipping recomendations for sky caps is $1(USD) plus $.50 for each additional bag.

Rudi

find all you want to know (or you already know) about tipping:
http://www.tipping.org/tipping/tipping.html

Aubie

Read the site on tipping...argg!!! if I tipped everyone for everything on there, I don't think I would have any money left to actually buy something. Why can't businesses just charge a fair price to begin with and pay their employees a decent wage? Now if something is done as a "personal favor" for me, which is what tipping should be for anyway, then I don't mind showing my gratitude, but all this tipping...as I posted last year, it is almost to the point of being a scam. For instance, the tipping site above recomends tips at casinos but in the U.S. the employees must pool the tips and the devide them...well, this isn't a tip, it's a wage. What can be done to end it????

baobab

(OMNI) Aubie, good to see you on the threads...

ON-topic: Rudi - didn't you start a thread in the Buzz about tipping some time ago?

baobab

http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/000277.html

(Rudi's thread...)

doc

Maybe I'm way out in left field but the guys at Philadelphia Internatioanl were kind of looking for, if not expecting $5.00 and this was almost 20 years ago! Could be I tip too much and maybe I'm imagining their countenence/gestures etc!

Rudi

thank you baobab - I guess I know why you remember so well: I did start the thread and you did most of the posting afterwards. Hey Aubie you were very activ then too!

great memories come back - even a "certain" merry flyer was posting then ...

shouldn't we start a thread "a year ago" and, may be weekly, bring back memories of a special theme that started a year ago here on Flyertalk?

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 07-13-1999).]

Hammertoad

I just finished reading the 'old' tipping thread. Good stuff!

A couple of points were raised that didn't quite get answered, though:

What about when hotels add 17-20% to the room service bill, plus a $2-3 delivery charge? I don't add any additional tip in these cases and don't think I should. If I order a pizza, I'll tip 2-3 bux and call it good. And the pizza delivery guy has to drive through the muck & mud to get it to me. In a hotel, I don't think the runners are doing anything 'extra' that would entitle them to the same tipping criteria that I would use in the dining room.

Also, what about 'wine tipping' at restaurants? If I buy a $75 bottle of wine (figure it's marked up 100-200%); I don't feel like I should include that amount in the 'tippable' amount. Do I just tip the sommelier when he brings, opens & pours and leave it at that?

Here in Orlando, many/most of the establishments downtown have a 'restroom attendant' on duty from 8PM til close. I will usually tip $1 the first time I go in. They keep the facilties clean, stocked & also usually have an 'emergency tray' with gum, smokes, mouthwash, deoderant, cologne, etc. Tip again if I take anything from the tray.

Also, again an Orlando thing because of the tourists, I've noticed a lot of barmaids get down-right mean and nasty with some of the foreign tourists that don't tip for drinks (goes for restaurants, too). True, it isn't necessary most places in Europe, but in the states, waiters/waitresses are payed $2.01 per hour. They are expected to make up the rest in tips. Bartenders are somewhat better compensated (minimum wage) but still depend on getting that .40 cents change from the $2.60 drink you paid for with $3.00.

Cheers,

'toad

james

Is true about tipping Bar staff in Europe 'toad. If a barman has done well in England you offer him a drink when you buy your round. I remeber drinking in a pub with an American friend on her first visit to the UK - the barman literally couldn't believe it when she told him to keep the change. Make of that what you will.

You are also right about the staff getting surly with tourists who don't tip in Orlando - it doesn't exactly encourage you to tip the next time round though!