Eugene

What is the usual "policy" on tipping shuttle bus drivers for off-site car rental companies (e.g. those not located in the terminal)?

Arch

Yes.

Tvlpro

I tip 1.00 a bag, if they assist.
If the rush me to the a/p which they usually do... I tip extra.

Christina

Ditto on Tvlpro's comments.

Tony

I never tip the shuttle bus drivers. I figure that they are employees of the car rental companies, not independent guys working basically for themselves like taxis. Further, none of these guys has ever assisted me with my bags, nor have they offered to. They just sit upfront and drive in circles all day.

Paul

There is a new place in Albuquerque that has indoor valet parking for 6 bucks a day. They will load and unload your bags for you when you depart and arrive. They even pull my truck up, and leave the door open for me. In this instance, you bet I tip.

x

Why would you tip the shuttle bus drivers? You are already being inconvenienced by having to go off site, and the rental company saves big bucks by not being on site. Therefore, it's the rental company that should pay the drivers (and they do). Do you tip ordinary bus drivers?

If the driver helps you load your stuff onto the bus, again, that's all necessary because the rental company was too cheap to pay for a premium location. Why should you be inconvenienced AND pay for the privilege?

Brad

Good question. I usually do NOT tip car rental shuttle people, but usually DO tip the parking garage shuttle guy who takes me from the terminal to the garage where I like to park my car at LAX.

Your question made me do a little self-examination about my behavior here, and I think I have a conclusion. Basically, I tip the garage shuttle guy because this garage's drivers always go out of their way to handle my luggage. I mean, they carry it from trunk to shuttlebus and from terminal to shuttlebus to trunk. Not only that, but lets face it, they know where my car is parked.

I DON'T tip the car rental shuttle guy because they usually do not touch my luggage. At most airports, they take you to the "car rental pavilion" or the front door of the agency office, but could care less about your luggage once out of 12 inch range of their bus. In other words, yes, they on rare occasion will portage my bags the three foot journey from curbside to bus luggage rack and vice versa, but no more.

I wouldn't tip a rental car driver unless they really went out of their way to help you. I mean, if they not only took your bags off the bus, but perhaps placed them on a cart for you (if heavy) or perhaps gave you some good advice on a nice dining spot or good place to find a shagmate if single. The way I figure it, it is the personal, go-out-of-your-way to unexpectedly help me on my trip feeling that inspires me to flow this fellow cash. The garage guy does it for me every trip, but unfortunately the rental car shuttle guys are usually mindless zombies who can't utter more out of their mikes that "welcome to <insert city here> the rental car pavilion is coming up, this company to the right, that company to the left, have a nice day and thank you for choosing blah blah."

Leslie

I so agree with Brad's line of thinking. Tips shouldn't always be perfunctury. If a shuttle bus driver's attitude/service inspires you to reward him, than great - both parties are happy. But, sadly, this isn't often the case.

Chicaga

I do not see many people tipping car rental shuttle bus drivers.

However, there is one shuttle bus driver in Chicago (I think it's National, not sure) who sings. He sings very well, acappella,, for a shuttle driver, less well for an actual entertainer (style=soul ballads). The first time we heard him, I was moved to tip him because I was alone in the van with him and it did brighten up my day. The second time I heard him, others tipped him, which I thought was nice. The third time I heard him, I was tired and would have tipped him not to sing.

Sammy

LOL - I guess it was too much of a good thing, Chicaga - perhaps he should take up yodeling for a change of pace!

Emily

I have been travelling for business for about 6 years now and I usually do about 6 segments a week. I always tip anyone who helps me with my baggage, bellman or shuttle driver or cabbie. Sometimes, I get a person who doesn't want to get out of the shuttle or cab to help me......then, I don't tip. I've had cabbies pop the trunk with 2 bags in it and never get out of the vehicle!

Dave

I tip $5 plus $1 a bag.

It irks me when I see people paying $300-500 a plane ticket and they are TOO CHEAP to help someone who is making minimum wage.

Those sort are cheap and complain the most.

miser

i wonder if our tipping practices are influenced by whether or not we'll be reimbursed by our employers, either on a per diem or actual basis.

Help me

Oh I am so confused! I really wish someone would post a thread on what is the correct tipping policy in all the world's situations.

Marilyn

But Dave, we can't tip EVERYONE who is making minimum wage that we come in contact with, now can we? I tend to agree with the "help me with my luggage, get a tip" philosophy. If my taxi driver just sits there, he gets a normal tip. If he loads and unloads my luggage I will give him a few bucks extra for the service. But somehow it all seems to be getting out of control. As the very funny thread on the Europe forum says, should we be tipping the pilot?