Generally speaking, no.

And in restaurants, with parties of six or more it's always good practice to check the bill to determine whether a service charge is included. Usually it is, and usually it will be 18%. It's not unusual to add a little extra to this IF the service has been exceptionally good.

In the UK, in establishments where gratuity is included, I'll also add a few extra pounds if the service is good.

Conversely, if the service is truly bad....on either side of the pond....I'll write N.A. or "Not Applicable" on the bill. I can count on the fingers of one hand the times I felt I've had to do this during the past five years. I've also requested....and gotten....an included gratuity reduced or removed. Again....very, very rare.

I generally go in to a full-service restaurant with the idea of leaving 20%, but I'm not shy at all about adjusting that down to the more conventional 15% if service or attitude issues crop up.

I must have been confused by this from your post:

Special circumstances? If a place offers takeout, then I consider it a viable option that is not going to be tipped for standard service. If they throw a piece of cheesecake because I'm so nice, or hand me a 20% discount coupon before they ring me up, they might get some change in the tip cup.

Otherwise, they get the same tip that the fine employees of In-N-Out, Chick-Fil-A, or Wendy's gets.

It depends on who the person filling the order is and what they do. I agree that, if all they're doing is putting in the order and taking my money, no tip is required. If, on the other hand, it is the counter man in a deli who carves the meat, makes my sandwich, assembles the sides, napkins, utensils, etc., I'll tip 10%.

Thank you so much for all the helpful answers!:)

I'd guess the counterman is not paid $2.31 an hour, or whatever the tippable minimum wage is. How is that different from the cook making your order and putting it into a bag? It's the same amount of labor, isn't it? Is it because you see the person doing it in front of you and feel guilty? Or afraid they'll hack a loogie in it, if they're not "taken care of"?

On the minimum wage issue... The employer can pay less than minimum wage if the employee receives enough in tips that the total of salary plus tips comes to at least the minimum wage. If the tips are insufficient to bring the employee up to the minimum then the employer has to make up the difference. What frequently happens is that the employees report only as much in tips as is necessary to have their total reach minimum wage. The rest they keep tax-free.

As an American, I think that this thread is making tipping a bit too complicated. When in doubt, tip 15%. Sometimes that'll be a little bit too much, sometimes a little bit low, but it'll be in the ballpark. Nobody will think poorly of you for tipping 15%.

True under federal law, although many states have a higher minimum wage, and of those states that do, only most recognizes the tip credit against the minimum wage. Several states do not, and most of the ones that do not (notably the 4 west coast states - remember that California is > 10% of the US population) require cash wages equal to or greater than the base federal minimum wage.

http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm

Quick question, and apologies if it's already been answered, I read the first couple and the last couple of pages of this thread and it wasn't there. Sorry if I missed it somewhere in the middle.

How much would you tip an airport porter/skycap to help with one suitcase and possible a small carry-on? Would more be expected if the person was willing (and allowed to?) carry the bag as far as the car pick-up area? How about airport check-in, would a tip be expected if someone from the airline or an airport employee helped with my bags, bumped me up in the line because I've got a baby or something? (Not sure that any of those things are going to happen, but if any of those people DO help, what kind of tip would be considered the bare minimum and what would be considered a "good" tip?)

I'm pretty clear on how much to tip on top of something that I'm already paying for (a meal or a taxi ride) but not so sure when it's a service that is technically available for "free."

I haven't used them in years, but would guess that the rule for airport porters and skycaps is the same as for hotel porters - $1-2/bag, so in the case of both I'd probably tip $3 - unless there was a posted fee. A lot of airports have replaced skycap service with curbside baggage check, which is run directly by the airlines and has a posted fee.

Normally, the service is from the kerb to the check-in counter, or from baggage claim to the kerb or shuttle-bug pickup (overy short compared to the hotel.) I don't know if more would be expected, or if they're allowed to go further - ie into short term parking.

Gate agents and airline employees who would be managing a line are not normally tipped, and offering a tip if you've been allowed to skip ahead in line (because of family check-in or an urgently departing flight) is not necessary and possibly inappropriate.

I'm not sure whether for baggage handlers and others if they're normally tipped, but to be on the safe side if someone gave non-trivial assistance with moving or watching my bags, I'd tip on the same level as porters/skycaps.

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As an aside, and perhaps to undermine any attempt I've made to be a "know it all," what's the normal tip for an airport wheelchair attendant? I'd have not thought about it at all, but both my mom and aunt are now requiring them, and both insist on tipping.

I've given $5.

I don't believe that tipping on take-out food is a norm in the U.S. At least, it hasn't been in the parts of the U.S. where I've lived in the past 20-25 years.

If it's a "carside to go" setup - where you honk and a "runner" brings your food to you - I'll sometimes tip that guy a couple bucks. I have no real logic behind it and I guess I'm participating in setting a bad habit for this growing takeout delivery method. But since it feels a bit like delivery to me, the guy gets about what I'd give a pizza delivery guy.

For take-out (meaning I go and pick it up) I have never tippped

I do tip for delivery - but less than the 15% since there is no major service included.

99% of the time, I never leave anything in tip jars. Only if something special is done or they are especially friendly

I went to the US a few weeks ago and I didn’t give any tips. Reading this thread, I think perhaps I should. These are the situations I can remember – grateful if people can tell me how much I should have tipped.

a) a man stamped my passport
b) my luggage was lost; the NZ official offered to look for them
c) I got a hotel bus to the LAX Hilton
d) I checked in to LAX Hilton
e) I stayed the night at LAX Hilton
f) I had my breakfast bought by a man I met in the hotel
g) I checked out of the hotel
h) I left my luggage with the concierge
i) I asked the concierge about how to get on studio tours
j) I asked where to get a bus to Santa Monica
k) I got the bus to Santa Monica
l) I bought 3 postcards
m) I asked the postcard seller where to buy stamps
n) I tried to buy stamps at a stall and they didn’t have any – directed me instead to a shop
o) I bought stamps at a shop
p) I asked for directions to the post office at the shop
q) I asked for directions to the post office from a uniformed street helper
r) I bought a slice of pizza and a coke over the counter
s) I went to the Santa Monica Aquarium and bought a ticket
t) I asked someone at the aquarium whether they knew what type of gulls there were
u) I got the bus back to LAX Hilton
v) I retrieved my luggage
w) I got the hotel shuttle to LAX
x) I checked in
y) I went through security
z) I used the NX Koru Club lounge

Never, ever, try to tip a government employee (in the US; I do realize there are places where it's normal and expected.)

When I've had lost luggage delivered outside the airport, I've tipped a few dollars. I'm not sure if it's conventional or expected.

Some people would tip even if they handled your own bags, but it's not expected or universal.

As a general rule, a small ($1-$2, more if you had a ton of bags) is appropriate/expected if they help you with your luggage.

Leaving a small tip for the maid is conventional, although not universal.

Presumably, he left a tip. If he didn't, it's his bad not yours. In general, as a guest being paid for by someone else, it's not something you need to worry about.

Answering a question like this doesn't merit a tip, but if the concierge arranged the tickets for you, or did some other more involved service, a tip would be expected.

No tip needed, although some people would drop small change in the tip jar if paying cash, or add some small tip to the charge slip if there was a line for it.

Tipping the person who returned your luggage, around $1/bag, is conventional, and of the cases here, probably the closest to universal (although I suspect some folks here would put the hotel maid above it.)

A few people would attempt to "tip" front desk person, in an attempt to get an upgraded room or something like that. It's certainly not expected or necessary unless you're trying to get some specific perk, and reports vary highly on the efficacy of doing so if you are trying to get some specific perk.

If they have a bartender, a tip would probably be a good idea. I don't tip the guys at the Admiral's club when (as I usually do) I trade my drink coupons for a couple of bottles of water, but I do so (generally $1) when I get a "real drink."

I don't see any necessary or even terribly appropriate cases for tipping in the below: