Tips for help at airports.
 

While I have travelled a great deal in years past, deteriorating health and age has taken its toll. I am flying to Scotland in September, and my doctor strongly recommends that I make use of the aid airports offer to handicapped travellers.

Never having done so before, my question is, what is an appropriate tip for a person that has to push me in a wheelchair?

It depends on how far and/or how long he/she wheels you around. I recently used the services of a wheelchair and tipped the attendant $5US for a ride from the check-in counter to the gate. On my return, I had to clear customs and immigration plus go to a connecting flight and for that I gave the attebdant $10US.

Before she passed away my elderly mother use to tip the attendant $5.

Lastly, on another recent flight I tried to give the attendant a tip but it was refused.

We use the services for my elderly mother. I too tip $5 for the counter to gate, or gate to baggage area. On one flight (Domestic), the attendant was nice enough to take her all the way to the car through the parking garage. I tipped $10 for that one.

Sorry this probably stupid, but you tip the person who wheels or drives a car taking a handicapped traveller from check in to gate? When here in the UK I did this with my mother I considered it part of the service provided at the airports, as I do check in and security, and I don't tip them. Is this me being British, or sorry English. Surely these people are paid to do this, why tip?

<B>tipsygus:</B> Tipping culture is totally different on the two side of the Atlantic. Then, there's the issue that at some airports - tips are not allowed for those types of services. Americans tend to waaaay over-tip by British standards.

<B>HollydaleK:</B> At your Stateside airport - try offering $5 but don't press the issue if s/he declines. At the Scotland end, I wouldn't tip airport staff.

Thank you all very much for your input. I really appreciate it. I have a far better idea now of what to do and what not to.

Surely these people are paid to do this, why tip?

It's not only the tipping culture as janisj referenced, actually it is an issue of pay. I had the opportunity to talk to a couple of people who have this job at one airport who said that their hourly rate is actually lower (just like restaurant waitstaff) because the expectation is the tips will make up the difference. They were employed through a contract with the City who ran the airport - they were not airline employees.

I only used a wheelchair one trip, when I was walking with a cane (pre knee surgery) the person at the ticket counter just called one for me, I hadn't even thought to ask or use that service. I also didn't know tipping would be appropriate in the situation, didn't occur to me (and I'm an ex-waitress) until I read this thread.

If you want to tip, then by all means do so. I don't think you should feel that you HAVE to though since you may need assistance. The airlines are obligated to provide such services to ensure that they are accessible.

Maybe it is the idea that I really don't like to be pushed around in a wheelchair? LOL
I think I'll feel better to at least tip the person.

<I really don't like to be pushed around in a wheelchair?>

Don't knock it if you haven't tried it :-) that was about the only good part of my knee surgery, getting the red carpet treatment thru the airport!

Suze, you may have a point there. LOL. It just might take the pain out of negotiating the Amsterdam airport. I remember endless walking, and comparatively little time between flights. Being pushed by somebody who does know exactly where to go, might be an advantage after all. :-)

<The airlines are obligated to provide such services to ensure that they are accessible>

I don't know where you're from misterfuss, but in the U.S. at every airport where we have questioned the people who provide this service, they don't work for the airlines and some are not paid (DFW: LAX) and work for tips only. These people (usually young women) have been a Godsend for us many times. My husband has been using a wheelchair for sometime now and I used to walk along. It finally got very difficult for me to keep up (I thought I was going to die in Mexico City, despite my repeated "mas despacio por favor"), which lasted a few steps and then back to speed, plus ours was the last gate. I often now use a wheelchair too, unless I know the airport and the distance won't be too great. We tip similarly to those who posted above.

I'm fairly independent HollydaleK, but honestly in some instances it has been a real blessing to sit in that chair and leave the pushing and navigating to someone else. Let us know what you think after your trip, and have a wonderful time!

maybe they have a special treat for you... But if you cannot take it just dont go on.. just take time for your safety..

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I never used the service, and reading about long check-in lines at FLL seriously thinking of it... Will it mean I'll have to use it at the layover and upon arrival? Or only at FLL if I ask at check-in?

As far as I know, you can use the service whenever you wish. Sometimes we've had a chair waiting for us when we land, other times not. On occasion if a chair wasn't there and there was going to be a long wait, we'd go ahead and walk, as long as the walk wasn't too far or too difficult for my husband.

Every time we get off a plane, there are wheelchairs waiting for passengers, so I assumed, they are always there. WOW! That would be a bad thing if one depends on a wheelchair to get to the next plane in short time!