Accepting Cash Tips

[Freebird17]

I've only been tipped once (as a Ground Handler) but I've seen anything from £10 to £60 being handed over to Pilots following a private charter. Do companies generally have policies on the acceptance of cash, or is it ignored?

Maybe it doesn't happen so much in the fixed wing world but it's commonplace after helicopter charters.

If a Pilot Assistant (CPL, not- type-rated, not logging the hours and just there to assist) accepted money, might there be any legal implications?

All thoughts welcome.

[leonbrumsack]

Not sure what the official line is, and am not a pilot myself, but I believe some people can get highly offended if you don't accept a tip, and may even see it as an insult. Ultimately, if someone doesn't want to tip, they won't. I don't see why it shouldn't be allowed, personally.

[haamdhanimaid]

There is the odd company that prefers its employees not to accept tips - cash or otherwise, and sometimes it can be written into the employees contract. There can be a fine line between a tip and a bribe.

However, Leonbrumsack is right - sometimes not accepting a tip can seriously be insulting to the tipper.

Either way, tips nowadays are appearing less and less...

[Northern_Driver]

Good post!

Practically our customers used to give tips on a regular bases to both crew and groundcrew-standard procedure. Biggest tip for the crew was around 2000USD divided by three ofcourse.

We never had any problems accepting them-or felt bad about it:D

N_D

[180 Too Fower]

I personally and my crew work hard and bend over backwards for our pax and there comfort, however, I don't ever feel I deserve or expect a tip, but when it's offered I will accept gladly. I wince when I hear people say "...oh honestly you don't have too" just be polite and accept.

Over the years I've found that the "Horse Racing" fraternity are the biggest tippers with tips up to and over 100 quid.:E

Anyway, it's not that often so I don't bother putting them down on my tax return. (Just to incriminate myself)!

[NZLeardriver]

I got them sometimes. Best was $200 for the 15 minute flight form Nassau to West Palm. Got $400 for West Palm to NY once. Had no problem accepting.

[Mzee]

The nicest one we had crew told to go serious shopping (Geneva) for xmas presents and show the boss on the way back and he stumped up, totalled around 2000SF if I remember.

[Daifly]

Well, that's money laundering for you!

[Aslak]

The tipping is very very unusual, at least with the customers I work with.

I have been given a tip twice.
Once 100 USD and then the other one was something completely different.
We were on a 2 1/2 week tour all over places and customers plans, routes and schedules were changing all the time. However, that is NORMAL in this business...

In any case, sometime in the middle of the tour our C/A came to cockpit with strange look on her face.
Captain received 2500 USD and both F/O and C/A got 1500 USD.
That was very nice and allthough I felt a bit embarrassed about it for some reason, I had no problem taking it.

But I believe there is a difference who you commonly tip. I have seen chaffeurs driving the pax to the plane and getting tips all the time, but for most of the people in west it is not customary to tip the pilots.
Our C/As do receive 50-100 usd/EUR tips every now and then, but pilots do not.
Thats fine. I don't need the tips, but give me a bigger pay!!!;)

[ivor lobbon]

have had the odd tip but more often see the baggage handler get a tip whilst i am doing all the work! a word of thanks would often be appreciated but some cultures dont appear to have it in their vocabulary or they must of forgotton the english word when they studied the language, if not i speak a few european tungs so can translate merci bucoop!

[leonbrumsack]

Again, not a pilot myself, but sometimes it's nice to actually get a thank you rather than having a load of notes shoved into your hand. Then again, it depends on how many notes :E

Being given a pound coin and a fifty pence piece (without a thank you!), however, is taking the mickey...

[haamdhanimaid]

Had a trip once where the passenger actually went out and bought small presents for the hostie and the pilots - thought that was actually MUCH nicer than cash - really makes you feel appreciated when someone has put some thought into something for you.

having said that though, cash donations always welcome!!:)

[Astra driver]

I used to fly a very generous lady who would always tip the crew 100 or 200 usd a piece. Then on one trip we flew in empty to pick her up and our nose steering broke so we waited for about an hour with the client while waiting for the replacement aircraft and then helped load the bags and made sure they got off okay. About a week later I ran into the crew that covered the trip for us and they handed me an envelope from the client, inside was $400 !