You can also find more info in this thread about tipping FA's:

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...ght=tipping+fa

On most carriers�all of them I think�an employee that accepts a tip can be severely disciplined.

Decades ago, I worked as a flight attendant for TWA. We were told in training that accepting tips can be a firing offense. There was one exception: Charter flights. I flew the New York to Las Vegas junkets often. The charter organizer would pass the hat through the entire cabin, count the money in the galley and divide it equally among the FAs. Somehow a charter flight is a different beast.

Rental car bus driver seems strange to me... However, the shuttle for the parking lot can be a great place to tip if you're traveling frequently from the same airport. I've found that a buck here and there gets me to my car first -- but then again, so does just being polite.

1. Rental car van driver: No, but I could see giving him a dollar or two if he helped you with your luggage.
2. Checking bags curbside: Yes, a couple dollars per bag
3. Starbucks: Sometimes my loose change
4. RCC: $1 for alcoholic drinks, none for soda's
5. Taxi ride home: 20% or so

Its a pity these "how much would you tip in situation X" threads can't be consigned to a more US-centric forum (I suppose at least that's where it started). The practice, and the nit-picking detail about individual tipping policies seems odd to those who rarely go to the US.

Last night I got into a taxi - traffic was terrible. The fare came to about US$4.50. I gave no tip - just the exact amount on the meter as I usually do. The driver returned the 0.50 to me, saying he was sorry for the heavy traffic.

Nice to be in Taiwan sometimes.

1. Rental Car Van driver: Yes, $1-$2 if I am helped with bags. No otherwise.
2. Checking bags curbside. The only reason I would use this if I had a lot of bags, which means the skycap has to handle them. This being the case, yes, minimum of $5.
3. Starbucks--NO. The coffee is outrageously priced, and it's not table service. I resent the presence of the tip bucket most of the time. However, if I don't feel like dealing with loose change, I might drop that in the bucket.
4. RCC-Yes, if using a coupon or ordering a paid drink and sitting at the bar. NO if just asking them to pour me a coke. (IMHO, soft drinks should always be self-serve anyway)
5. Taxi-Yes, around 10%, or round to nearest conveninet bill denomination.
6. Flight attendants-Adament NO. Where does it end? I resent the guys who hand out chocolate, too; if the practice increases, then it will force the rest of us to do it, too. I read somewhere on another board that airlines thankfully prohibit FAs from accepting tips.

I wish someone would lead a tipping revolt in the U.S. The rest of the world doesn't do it to the extent we do. Now if we just all band together, we could put an end to it, too....

Actually, it's widely accepted that tipping originated in England/Europe and began in the middle ages, gaining popularity around the 16th century.

Actually I meant the thread rather than the habit... (not sure which way you read it)

Anyway, you are right.... Perhaps that's why Europeans are so sensitive about it's being re-exported back. (Saw my first Starbucks tips jar on my last trip back to London...)

Well, here is the former maid again, chiming in. It's not really that nasty of a job, and I don't feel that it is necessary to tip the maid unless you do something like throw up in the ice bucket, or leave a nastily clogged toilet (but in that case, let me tell you that it would be maintenence that would get called on that job, and I wouldnt touch it until that was done).

Granted, I only did it for a summer while I was a starving student, and it was years ago, but I can say with certainty that

a) It paid better than other non-tippable service jobs I looked at (like flipping burgers, data entry, being a clerk, cashiering, etc.)
b) It was less demanding work than waitering
c) I never once received nor expected a tip while on the job.
d) It doesn't take much to maintain a room to make it seem like it's clean. (Read into that what you will)

This may be true, but it seems that Americans have perfected it into a science -- or more like a religion.

IME, tipping has declined remarkably in Europe during the last 30 years or so. One less thing to worry about! ^

Btw. I pay almost everything with a credit card - no need to round up any sum anywhere.

I love to tip everyone I meet while traveling. It is sonice to see the big smiles on their faces when I give them a new $5 or $10 bill (NOTE: always tip with new bills and never with the old dirty ones).

MisterNice

Almost all the rental van drivers help with my luggage and I always try to tip $5 if I can. I usually travel heavy and really appreciate the help getting all the bags, stroller, car seat, etc. in and out of the van.

If they just drive, then no.
Or sometimes I've only got a $20, then I may or may not ask for change... that is a bit awkward. But I try to catch them on the return.