Tipping Rules

[TheRealTMA]

So you reduced it to zero?

It's actually a good reason to visit another country instead.

How much does one tip the pilots?

 

[jb747]

How much does one tip the pilots?

I've had a few people give me tips on how to land. Strangely they've not been pilots themselves.

 

[cove]

GarrettM the Langham in Melbourne is a great eating place but you need to be hungry. Their number is 038696888 and the pricing varies between lunch, dinner and weekend pricing. Then they do a surcharge on credit cards but it isn't a lot unless you take a crowd.
I would book one day or half a day ahead of time and don't try a walk in unless your phone is broken.
Because it is Australia tipping is up to you.

 

[DC3]

I've noticed similar tipping threads on AFF.

Maybe a Moderator could look at closing the old ones, or perhaps merging some of these, please:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/tipping-72505.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/tipping-in-usa-12904.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....insider-tips/usa-tipping-and-taxes-35116.html

Edit: A lot of the discussion ends up being for/against the tipping concept. They show as Similar Threads, below

 

[Hvr]

Apparently cows prefer you don't tip them.

 

[dajop]

One tip I got and give, when you see the menu at US restaurant, double the price of everything, and that's the rough price in AUD (or for that matter at the moment CAD or SGD or NZD). That accounts for exchange rate + tax + tip + 3% cc fee if paying by CC. In reality it's slightly less than that (at the moment) .. but the difference is a bonus.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Apparently cows prefer you don't tip them.

AFF is about first hand experience. Have you tried?

 

[JohnK]

I still remember getting the top taken off a Bud beer and the bar tender needing a tip....no cold glass, no nibbles....just the opened bottle.

Yeah right. They try the same trick in Thailand.

 

[drron]

US 7.25 is pretty ordinary by Australian standards but our countries are very different. Tipping in the US is necessary even though most Australians dislike the idea.

Although the federally mandated wage is $7.25 it can vary by state.
But the idea everyone in the USA is working for the minimum wage is baloney.At the end of 2015 the median wage in the USA was $17.09 per hour and the mean wage $22.71.

Now that's a tad harsh

As it turns out, there are quite a handful of countries that have tipping as a social convention. The application, amount and places where it is done varies from country to country.

The problem with that is many of those countries that now have tipping as a social convention did not have it before Americans began to travel in large numbers.In Australia in the 60s tipping was never discussed.Of course the average Australian never got to go to the most fancy restaurants.
In Thailand in the 70s and 80s again tipping was never an issue-now it is expected in many places.

So Americans really cant have it both ways-if they want Aussies and Brits to accept their tipping culture they should have respected other countries culture first.But I still tip in the USA.

There are now some high end restaurants that advertise tips included.I had a short talk with the Maitre'd of one who said everyone at the restaurant loved it.The wait staff because they knew that they already had a better wage but that most Americans would still tip and the owners because they were now assured of being able to hire the very best wait staff.The customers because the service was always very good.

 

[DC3]

Although the federally mandated wage is $7.25 it can vary by state.
But the idea everyone in the USA is working for the minimum wage is baloney. At the end of 2015 the median wage in the USA was $17.09 per hour and the mean wage $22.71 .....

That's not hospitality industry wages though, is it?. Most in the USA wouldn't be receiving tips. I can understand tipping in hospitality jobs based on their wages.

 

[YSSY]

I'm also of the belief that tipping is part of the US culture and if you visit the US you need to allow for it and embrace it, if you don't like it, find another country to do business/leisure.

However, I once got caught out by kerb side checkin at one US airport (can't recall which?). I stepped out of the taxi and thought, wow how civilised and clever, check in desks outside and no queues, fab idea! After checking, as I was about to walk away, I was very politely reminded of the $5 tip (the guy must be used to dealing with us foreigners). Still, $5 for that fantastic service, yes please.

 

[vetrade]

Does the Langham do walkups? Planning to launch into and annihilate as much food as possible there in a few weeks, after the Socceroos match the night before.

I see I can book ahead of time, but hoping it won't be necessary.

I suggest booking is advisable particularly for weekends or if there's some event in Melbourne that day. Obviously a couple would be easier to get a table for as a walk up than a group of 6 or more. We book about a week ahead because we have struck out a couple of times even when calling a day or two before. I think mid week you'd be OK not to book ahead.

 

[drron]

That's not hospitality industry wages though, is it?. Most in the USA wouldn't be receiving tips. I can understand tipping in hospitality jobs based on their wages.

Though read my second line-I didn't say it was.
But some make a lot more than you think particularly in New York City.Here is an article written at the end of 2011 describing hour dishwashers at a Central Park restaurant were getting $13.50 an hour,maids in hotels getting up to $25 an hour.Plus a banquet waiter at a top hotel with an income after tips in 6 figures-ie more than twice the average income of ordinary Americans.
A More Perfect Union

 

[JohnK]

One tip I got and give, when you see the menu at US restaurant, double the price of everything, and that's the rough price in AUD (or for that matter at the moment CAD or SGD or NZD). That accounts for exchange rate + tax + tip + 3% cc fee if paying by CC. In reality it's slightly less than that (at the moment) .. but the difference is a bonus.

I am seriously missing the point.

Wouldn't it be much easier for restaurant owners to do away with "expected" tipping, pay their staff more and increase prices to compensate?

 

[turtlemichael]

I am seriously missing the point.

Wouldn't it be much easier for restaurant owners to do away with "expected" tipping, pay their staff more and increase prices to compensate?

I haven't read the whole thread so may be repeating what has been said but there is a trend of sorts towards "no tipping". We ate at the restaurant mentioned in the article, Le Pigeon, two weeks ago and it seemed to work fine for us. There is some resistance though in many places trying this "revolutionary" concept from both waiters and customers. Other places trying no tipping have reverted to their old practice because of the resistance. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeand...taurants-no-tipping-policies-effects-portland

 

[Milefest]

I'm also of the belief that tipping is part of the US culture and if you visit the US you need to allow for it and embrace it, if you don't like it, find another country to do business/leisure.

Are you saying I should treat my partner as a second class citizen when passing through UAE? We've got to embrace their culture or don't visit right?

 

[BAM1748]

I have to admit that when I'm in the USA, I feel uncomfortable because I forget who to tip and how much to tip. It doesn't matter how many sets of rules I read. Then, I feel bad if I stiffed someone, and it's not got to do with that person not getting paid enough or whatever. How much someone is getting paid never comes into consideration when tipping.

You can't forget who to tip in the US, you need to tip everyone !

When in do as, just part of the holiday fun.

 

[BAM1748]

Are you saying I should treat my partner as a second class citizen when passing through UAE? We've got to embrace their culture or don't visit right?

Yes so I don't visit the UAE.

 

[YSSY]

Are you saying I should treat my partner as a second class citizen when passing through UAE? We've got to embrace their culture or don't visit right?

Is that how you think wives are treated in the UAE? Having lived in the Middle East and having several Arab families who I'd count as friends, I'd beg to differ...
But essentially, if you are a visitor in a country, you should accept the culture that is there. Consider how offended people get if a Chinese tourist doesn't queue properly or whatever in Australia, a very common Australian saying 'if you don't like it, @#$# off'...

I don't know how awful and pointless it would be to travel if you don't want to accept and respect the cultures of the countries you visit.

 

[drron]

Is that how you think wives are treated in the UAE? Having lived in the Middle East and having several Arab families who I'd count as friends, I'd beg to differ...
But essentially, if you are a visitor in a country, you should accept the culture that is there. Consider how offended people get if a Chinese tourist doesn't queue properly or whatever in Australia, a very common Australian saying 'if you don't like it, @#$# off'...

I don't know how awful and pointless it would be to travel if you don't want to accept and respect the cultures of the countries you visit.

Definitely which is why Americans shouldn't automatically tip in every country they visit.Especially in Japan where it just may be taken as an insult.