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 20, 2018, 3:00 pm
#46
Moderator: United Airlines
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Another reminder, as previously posted, this thread is about tipping in the Polaris lounge. A generic discussion of tipping if for other forums.
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Dec 20, 2018, 3:07 pm
#47
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NYC, BLR, LHR, SIN and a few others
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UC/PL bar I d $2/3 on the first drink to make sure of prompt service for the rest of my stay, then $1 a drink (not seltzer), in the PL dinning room I have done $5-10 per person depending on how many course we have ordered. Onboard I usually take a bag Toblerome mini’s or ex EWR the large tub of Jersey Shore popcorn for the cabin crew. I guess you can’t call it a tip, because I give it upon boarding, but my aim is to encourage good service, and it mostly works. I do similar LH, but not on SQ and as both have self service bars I don’t tip there. I generally leave about $5 after a shower in a lounge for the cleaning staff.
Dec 20, 2018, 3:15 pm
#48
Join Date: Oct 2002
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If UA made it easy to tip via the United App, I might consider to tip in the PL lounge. Rare day to have anything other than $20s in my wallet when traveling internationally and I've yet to experience PL service that justifies a $20 tip.
Dec 20, 2018, 3:25 pm
#49
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
Unsure about everyone else but whenever I visit the UC I always tip. The tip I give them is, "Install some bloody showers in the lounge! I was on a plane for the last 13 hours" Unsurprisingly they're not appreciative of my tips #UnitedCares 
-James
-James
Dec 20, 2018, 3:37 pm
#50
Join Date: May 1999
Location: JFK, LGA, EWR
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i tip in the polaris restaurant; i tip the bartender at united clubs. i see many people who do; i see lots who don't. i have seen people leave a dollar. i've also seen five dollars and up per person. (the most common amount i've seen has been five dollars.)
Dec 20, 2018, 3:44 pm
#51
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
Let me just sum up this thread so we can truncate it:
(1) The position is listed as non-tipped
(2) Everything in the lounge is complementary, including sit-down meal service, because you bought an expensive ticket and this is part of it.
(3) United removed the tip jar
(4) You don't tip FAs who serve you food and drink, and this is kind of similar
(5) You see others not tip
but
(6) You might feel the workers are underpaid
(7) You just bought a $9k ticket so you can afford a few bucks to a poor service worker
(8) You're used to tipping in the U.S. for served drinks and food, so it feels weird not to
(9) You see others tipping.
Seems pretty straight forward to me: tip if you want to, don't feel like you "have" to the same way one "has" to at a U.S. restaurant, and of course you certainly don't have to.
(1) The position is listed as non-tipped
(2) Everything in the lounge is complementary, including sit-down meal service, because you bought an expensive ticket and this is part of it.
(3) United removed the tip jar
(4) You don't tip FAs who serve you food and drink, and this is kind of similar
(5) You see others not tip
but
(6) You might feel the workers are underpaid
(7) You just bought a $9k ticket so you can afford a few bucks to a poor service worker
(8) You're used to tipping in the U.S. for served drinks and food, so it feels weird not to
(9) You see others tipping.
Seems pretty straight forward to me: tip if you want to, don't feel like you "have" to the same way one "has" to at a U.S. restaurant, and of course you certainly don't have to.
Dec 20, 2018, 3:49 pm
#52
Join Date: May 1999
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Dec 20, 2018, 4:34 pm
#53
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: EWR
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I initially started to tip in the PL lounge, but as time has moved on, the fact that my service was still average, and the same as the majority that were not tipping, I have now concluded that I should stop tipping. It's not so much the money involved, but that it just doesn't make a difference clearly to them, nor me...
Dec 20, 2018, 5:37 pm
#55
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific
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I tip normally ($3-$5) at Polaris Lounge and United Lounge if I am served. On New Year's Day, Valentine's Day evening, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, and New Year's Eve, I tip $20-$50 (equivalent in LHR) depending on how generous I feel at the time. I've also tipped FA's and given them gifts. I am operating from the view is that I make significantly more money than the wait staff/bartenders who are, for the most part, low wage earners. In my 30+ years of travel, I have had the money returned to me because they were sure that I made a mistake, received effusive thanks, or silence.
It's all fine. Nobody is making anybody tip. Happy Christmas to all.
It's all fine. Nobody is making anybody tip. Happy Christmas to all.
Dec 20, 2018, 7:53 pm
#57
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I am all for tipping (on good services only), but if you don't drink, and the sit-down dining service is closed, would you still tip? If so, to whom?
Dec 21, 2018, 11:04 am
#59
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Dec 21, 2018, 11:54 am
#60
Join Date: Mar 2004
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And even when a bartender “buys” me a “free” drink I still give them a tip for that, normally a larger one than on a drink I pay for explicitly.