tipping for Napa hot-air balloon ride?
Aug 30th, 2005, 06:27 PM
#1
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tipping for Napa hot-air balloon ride?
I have what may seem a rather odd question and concern. I'm going to Napa soon and received an email confirmation for a hot-air balloon ride I reserved for me and my husband. The message mentioned our $400+ total but that gratuity was not included. Since I don't travel via hot-air balloon often (ever) I found this to be rather, shall I say, blunt and somewhat uncouth. We're paying all this money PLUS a decent service fee for a one-hour ride that includes pre-flight coffee/danish and post-flight brunch. Is expecting a gratuity acceptable? What would such a 'gratuity' equal in this case? And am I off-base in being surprised that after all that money I'm expected to tip the pilot? Remember, I'm not accustomed to this - so feedback from others (be kind) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! 
Aug 30th, 2005, 07:12 PM
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I tend to over-tip and even I think this is ridiculous. I took a biplane ride a few weeks ago, no tip, pilot didn't act like he expected it and even invited us to bring our dogs up to the airstrip to play.
That is so Napa...
That is so Napa...
Aug 30th, 2005, 07:17 PM
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Hi, Loki. Thanks for the reassurance! I, too, tend to overtip, but as I had never ridden a balloon before, I didn't want to appear out of line. My husband was outright shocked about the e-mail message. He said that if it hadn't said that, he would have been more likely to tip because it would NOT be expected. Odd, isn't it? I'd love to read more posts from others. Anyone?
Aug 30th, 2005, 07:26 PM
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I have to admit that when we did a Napa balloon ride, we were so entertained by our "pilot" and the ground crew who "chased" us, that we gladly gave him an extra $20, I think.
On the other hand in Albuquerque, our pilot said little or nothing, and when we landed (hard) on a bridge, we had to help struggle to get the balloon off the bridge so traffic could resume. We didn't tip.
I agree this mention of gratuity not included thing is out of line.
On the other hand in Albuquerque, our pilot said little or nothing, and when we landed (hard) on a bridge, we had to help struggle to get the balloon off the bridge so traffic could resume. We didn't tip.
I agree this mention of gratuity not included thing is out of line.
Aug 30th, 2005, 07:53 PM
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I can tell you our experience a couple of years ago. It was a pleasant ride and the ground "crew" was in constant contact via phone that we could all hear. I didn't think much about this exchange of conversation until right at the end near the landing when the pilot, over the phone, thanked the ground crew for the tips on getting them positioned to land. The ground folks then said something to the effect, "and I hope the passengers give you some good tips as well." That sort of spoiled it for us.
Aug 30th, 2005, 08:18 PM
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Ohmygoodness, je! They had a SCRIPT?! I'm laughing in utter disbelief. My hubby's jaw dropped when I read your post out loud to him. I wonder how common this practice is?
Patrick, I hope your hard landing wasn't too painful. I agree with how you handled each situation as far as tipping. I don't want to belabor a point, but I wanted to either avoid embarrassment and the appearance of bad social graces by getting an idea of what others like you all have thought and encountered.
If I hear a script like je did, though, it will take everything in me not to roll my eyes and laugh out loud!
Patrick, I hope your hard landing wasn't too painful. I agree with how you handled each situation as far as tipping. I don't want to belabor a point, but I wanted to either avoid embarrassment and the appearance of bad social graces by getting an idea of what others like you all have thought and encountered.
If I hear a script like je did, though, it will take everything in me not to roll my eyes and laugh out loud!
Aug 31st, 2005, 09:03 AM
#8
Ohmigosh -- I'm just ready to make a reservation in Sedona, probably on the phone, and I hadn't even thought of a tip. Hmmm, I'll have to keep all this in mind.... and probably tip the pilot (of course, that priceless thread comes to mind) if he's a nice guy.
Aug 31st, 2005, 12:11 PM
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I went on a hot-air balloon ride many years ago and did not leave a tip. I didn't realize gratuity was recommended in that industry. I wonder what tip amount they expect for a $400+ ride. Another 20% sounds like a lot to me. I suppose you'll have to ask them. Personally, I'd be upset, too.
Aug 31st, 2005, 03:58 PM
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But how about gratuity, Underhill? This reminded me of a jetboat trip I was on up the Rogue River just last week. Towards the end of the ride, the boat driver stopped the boat near where our photo (just like Splash Mountain) had been taken earlier. He began this long tale about the photographer who would starve during the winter if we didn't buy the photo, and something about her blind dog that had four times saved her life. Then he finished with something like, "Of course, if buying the photo means you're short of having a gratuity for me, I think the photographer will survive."
I don't know if you can compare the two experiences, but I do know that I'd be more concerned about having an experienced balloon pilot than I was about the boat driver. Anyway, I ended up tipping him $20 for a tour that cost $162.
I don't know if you can compare the two experiences, but I do know that I'd be more concerned about having an experienced balloon pilot than I was about the boat driver. Anyway, I ended up tipping him $20 for a tour that cost $162.
Aug 31st, 2005, 04:10 PM
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If I had a dollar for everytime I overtipped!!!!!!! But tipping a pilot, a helicopter pilot, a ferry captain, or even a balloon ride pilot......I tip the underpaid, not the highly qualified, whom should already be wellpaid for their expertise. JMHP
Sep 1st, 2005, 04:31 AM
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My husband and I took a balloon trip in Napa two years ago. I think it was the same place that jazzychick is going because I remember reading about the tipping, too. It was very awkward... the trip ended in a small restaurant where the four of us who payed for the trip ate breakfast with the pilot of the balloon and his five "ground crew members."
The pilot paid for the trip...or WE paid for it in that $400...and when breakfast ended, I could see my husband was getting concerned. He had brought money to tip the pilot, but the pilot started talking about what great work the ground crew did for us and that they don't get paid...supposedly they VOLUNTEER to do this job and then get paid through our tips!
Well, we weren't prepared to tip the pilot and all those crewman! What was the $400 that we paid for? Anyway, we gave the pilot $50 and told him he could figure out a way to divide it between his helpers. What a bad taste in our mouths we had after that experience.
By the way, the trip is well worth every penny!
The pilot paid for the trip...or WE paid for it in that $400...and when breakfast ended, I could see my husband was getting concerned. He had brought money to tip the pilot, but the pilot started talking about what great work the ground crew did for us and that they don't get paid...supposedly they VOLUNTEER to do this job and then get paid through our tips!
Well, we weren't prepared to tip the pilot and all those crewman! What was the $400 that we paid for? Anyway, we gave the pilot $50 and told him he could figure out a way to divide it between his helpers. What a bad taste in our mouths we had after that experience.
By the way, the trip is well worth every penny!
Sep 1st, 2005, 08:44 PM
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Wow! I'm surprised at the number of responses I got to my post. The consensus seems to be that tipping, while a personal choice, is highly unusual and perhaps suspect for such a high-priced service as this. THANK YOU sharing your experiences and tipping suggestions.
Chelsea93, you're right: where DOES tipping end? It really is insane. And I loved gyppielou's comment about tipping the underpaid rather than the highly qualified who are already likely well paid. Personally, I think when tipping becomes an expectation, it loses its value.
My hubby and I have decided that it would take an extraordinary trip for us to give a gratuity on a $400+ balloon ride. I'll post again to this thread when we get back so I can share what happened.
The consensus seems to be that tipping, while a personal choice, is highly unusual and perhaps suspect for such a high-priced service as this. THANK YOU sharing your experiences and tipping suggestions.Chelsea93, you're right: where DOES tipping end? It really is insane. And I loved gyppielou's comment about tipping the underpaid rather than the highly qualified who are already likely well paid. Personally, I think when tipping becomes an expectation, it loses its value.
My hubby and I have decided that it would take an extraordinary trip for us to give a gratuity on a $400+ balloon ride. I'll post again to this thread when we get back so I can share what happened.
Sep 5th, 2005, 12:40 PM
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travlsolo references "that priceless thread" - probably one of the more memorable of my years on fodors! I sent it to a friend who flies for American, who also enjoyed it - here it is, to enjoy again or for the first time:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...=2&tid=1288831
truly: priceless!
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...=2&tid=1288831
truly: priceless!
