rankourabu

follow up question - did you tip after receiving said bar of soap?

So let me get this straight (explain this to a non-american please)

Basic amenities missing from, again, a premium lounge - no tip
Basic amenities present in a premium lounge is what is considered above & beyond - requires a tip?

Whats next? Tips for the person who restocks the muffins?

How about instead of tipping someone who pours a glass of wine in a premium lounge, we tip the amazing people who do the rebookings in a snowstorm and deal with DYKWIAs all day long? Why do those agents not get a tip?

threeoh

In American culture, in some industries/contexts you only tip for "above and beyond", and in other industries/contexts (especially hospitality and especially certain kinds of food service) you tip for good/reasonably competent service. A premium airline lounge is an unusual case and is right on the border which is why everyone has disagreements in this thread and it's never going to be resolved.

Because they are not in the hospitality industry.

Look, we aren't inventing a tipping culture from scratch based on first principles, this thread is a discussion basically of whether Polaris Lounges fall into the pre-existing tipping or non-tipping bucket, not whether those buckets are rational or whether they are a good idea, and as I said it's right on the border.

Not tipping your Polaris Lounge server is acceptable compared to not tipping a restaurant server [in America], and tipping your Polaris Lounge server is more acceptable than tipping your gate agent. Obviously there's a lot of disagreement about where on that spectrum it falls exactly.

transportprof

Some FTers have very colorful imaginations! I always travel with my own bar of soap (Dove, if you're into brand names), and was able to deploy it without exposing myself to anybody else in the Polaris lounge.

I guess my point was that if the shower suite is fully stocked and well cleaned, I consider that above-average service. If it is less clean or missing items, then it is below average, in terms of the service that went into setting it up.

And I fully agree with threeoh about the Polaris Lounge being right on the line about whether it falls into the "tipping expected" zone of American hospitality culture or not. I am thus not trying to convince anyone else to follow my lead, just adding another few data points on how one FTer handles this gray area.

WineCountryUA

Just a reminder of previous reminders

canadiancow

A shower having soap is above average?

transportprof

No. But being well cleaned and having soap is above average - at least in the USA. In a Lufthansa Senator Lounge or an ANA Lounge at NRT, I would have different expectations, but the standards of airport cleanliness are lower across the board in the USA.

canadiancow

I've had worse shower experiences than missing soap (off topic, but MLL Shower Mishaps), so I get it.

But then I don't think "average" is worth tipping in that situation. I've tipped in UCs and at the Polaris bar. But there's a huge difference between "I did my job and refilled the soap" and "Hey, I remember you. Long time no see. Can I get you a rum and Coke Zero?" (the latter happened in SFO Polaris).

Remembering me and my drink is exceptional service, and I left a tip.

cfischer

ouch. clean and soap = above average in the US. That hurts. Honestly, these are just basic expectations which in a Polaris lounge IMO don't deserve a tip.

ikwia

I am shocked at the percentage of people tipping in the sit-down dining area....about half of the tables, I'd estimate, with those that are tipping generally leaving $5 per person

transportprof

Were you shocked at how few people left a tip, or at how many did so?

ikwia

transportprof

Interesting. Just like the PL tips, your posting is being moved around to draw attention. It worked!

I'm in the pro-tip camp, and was surprised to read how many people would stiff somebody who served them a multi-course meal.

nomad420

I always tip even at the bars in the UCs but definitely at the PL when I ear and order drinks. Maybe it's just me, but I have family in the FBI (Food and Beverage Industry).

chavala

Read the rest of the thread while you're here. The debate is quite fascinating.
I'm in the no-tip camp.

narvik

The tipping-the-waiter is a funny mess (in the USA).
My son worked at a place right out of high school as a waiter, where he had to hand in all the tips he received; he wasn't allowed to keep ANY!
The Polaris lounge is an odd place for many reasons. When I first started visiting, I would tip (out of habit) but have since mostly stopped tipping at the bar, and reduced the times I tip for the sit-down meal.