Jan 31, 2019, 10:44 am
Last edit by: davie355
Tips are not expected in Polaris lounges, but employees are allowed to accept them.
Tipping in Polaris lounge
Dec 19, 2018, 9:36 pm
#16
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Bloomfield, NJ
Programs: UA Gold, Million Miler, Marriott platinum, lifetime platinum
Posts: 974
Absolutely tip. It's like Uber, most people think you don't have to tip the Uber drive, but you always tip the cab. Tip. They work for nothing. If you can afford to travel in business class, you can give a dollar or two to a lounge worker. Geez.
Dec 19, 2018, 9:55 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
If they pour me a drinks I tend to leave a few bucks. At the SFO Polaris Lounge in November they bartender was really hustling but remained calm, friendly and remembered what people were drinking or what they had commented on wanting to try. For that I left a larger tip and she was very grateful.
Dec 19, 2018, 10:51 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Portland OR
Programs: United 1K 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 560
I thought I’d read on here that the Polaris Lounge bartenders were being paid a premium wage so that they don’t need to accept tips. I also recall reading that UA had been recruiting (and poaching) the best bartenders not just from the UC’s but other airline lounges and concessions, with the lure of the (relatively speaking) much better wages.
Please correct me if I’m wrong because I haven’t tipped in the PL for that reason, and I’m usually a high tipper. And I’ll be in the SFO Polaris Lounge tomorrow.
Please correct me if I’m wrong because I haven’t tipped in the PL for that reason, and I’m usually a high tipper. And I’ll be in the SFO Polaris Lounge tomorrow.
Dec 19, 2018, 11:12 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,000
We tip in the Polaris lounges if we get good service. This truly is a personal choice, but rewarding conscientious, hard work is a good thing-especially around the holiday season.
Dec 19, 2018, 11:13 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 2,506
There was a waiter in the ORD PL (I don't think he's there anymore or else I just haven't run into him lately) who had his rehearsed speech every time he got a new table: "Everything is complimentary, the only thing is if you want to leave something for the service."
Dec 20, 2018, 3:43 am
#23
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,926
Dec 20, 2018, 6:55 am
#24
Join Date: May 2008
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, Hyatt Lifetime Glob, Marriott Titanium/Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 1,272
Most of my flights are overnight EWR to Europe. I need to sleep as much as I can on those flights as I typically need to go directly to a meeting. I mention this because my MO for years has been to eat dinner in the terminal, and then visit the UC for a couple of drinks to get me sleepy. Now, with the Polaris Lounge, I can have a sit-down dinner without shelling out extra $ in the airport. I tip $10 after dinner, $20 if I am traveling with someone. I typically leave $5 for the bartender.
Dec 20, 2018, 7:11 am
#27
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Maybe the very nice bartender left because he was not getting tips.
Dec 20, 2018, 7:21 am
#28
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,454
FWIW, the Sodexo job postings for the Polaris Lounges were listed as "non-tipped".
At Polaris, I usually will tip a few dollars per drink at the end of my session at the bar (same as I would for any open bar) and at least $5-10 for table service if just myself or a party of two. That said, I don't feel compelled to tip to the same degree I would at a restaurant where gratuity is an essential component of service staff compensation.
Without naming names, I disagree, especially at SFO and (believe it or not) EWR.
At Polaris, I usually will tip a few dollars per drink at the end of my session at the bar (same as I would for any open bar) and at least $5-10 for table service if just myself or a party of two. That said, I don't feel compelled to tip to the same degree I would at a restaurant where gratuity is an essential component of service staff compensation.
Without naming names, I disagree, especially at SFO and (believe it or not) EWR.
Dec 20, 2018, 7:26 am
#30
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
Whenever I fly via EWR or ORD, I always like to sit down @ the A-la-carte section and I tend to stay for about 1.5 hours or so. I order cocktails (Smoky Negroni, Cloudcover)... drink lots of sparking water, have an appetizer and an entree. Usually I'll watch some netflix on my iPad. Anyway, as I occupy the table for quite a while and I feel I'm getting good service, I always leave a $20 on the table when I'm done.
If I go to the bar (which is rare for me @ polaris)... then I tip $1 / drink just as I do @ the regular United Club.
As for Sherrod Brown... this is one of the many reasons I'd rather write in "Mickey Mouse" come election time than fill in the oval next to his name.
If I go to the bar (which is rare for me @ polaris)... then I tip $1 / drink just as I do @ the regular United Club.
As for Sherrod Brown... this is one of the many reasons I'd rather write in "Mickey Mouse" come election time than fill in the oval next to his name.