Tipping charter pilot

[Hogpatrol]

For a few years before and after I retired, I flew air taxi in a company plane (C172) for customers of a maintenance and service facility. Longest one way flight was around an hour, sometimes late at night. Never received or thought about a tip. I got paid to do a job and that was it.

 

[Spearhead]

What's the difference between rewarding a service that goes above & beyond pre-paid expectations "vs" buying someones loyalty through Tips (for as long as you're physically present)?

This will be unpopular, but I will not pay for loyalty, nor will I pay for someone doing their job. And to add a layer of icing on this cake, it really turns me off to read ads that say "tips not included ". It's so expected now and almost demanded, that it sours the whole deal for me. I tip for great service. I do not need a damn reminder about it; it is at my discretion, not yours.

 

[Stetsonham]

Please don’t start
I loathe tipping

 

[Ridge Runner]

This will be unpopular, but I will not pay for loyalty, nor will I pay for someone doing their job. And to add a layer of icing on this cake, it really turns me off to read ads that say "tips not included ". It's so expected now and almost demanded, that it sours the whole deal for me. I tip for great service. I do not need a damn reminder about it; it is at my discretion, not yours.

What gets me is American clients are expected to tip. Whereas the acceptance that other foreign clients do not tip.

I can't say all outfitters, so I'll just say that what few outfitters I have vetted charge American clients slightly higher trophy fees and daily rates compared to other foreign clients.

Concerns have been mentioned about giving the outfitter the tip money for later distribution as opposed to the client directly handing the tips to the staff. Some if not all of those same outfitters ask rather blatantly for the tips be made in USD as opposed to Rand. And whether or not the tips are fully or only a percentage of the tip amounts are distributed to the intended staff members.

Most and I would further that to say very few if any of us who travel and stay in a hotel/motel here in the states have ever tip maid service. Rhetorical question: ref: Americans: who tips their laundry service or dry cleaner for doing their laundry? I don't. Only twice have I tipped a chef/cook for a meal and that was because they were exceptionally good meals. Yet American clients are expected to and do tip for these same services in Africa.

I'm not against tipping for services rendered as long as the tip is for exceptional service and not for the standard service.

I give myself a headache but I do the math. ie I look up the daily currency exchange rate; Example Only: $1.00USD Equals R17.38. The outfitter recommends $100.00USD per cook, maid, and laundress for the 5 to 10 day lodging.

Do the math ($100.00USD x R17.38) ÷ 10 = R1738.00 ÷ 10 = R173.80 per day or $10.00USD per day tip.

I was told by different individuals the legal minimum wage is +/- R100.00 per day or for sake of argument R1000.00 for the clients 10 day stay. R1738.00 - R1000.00 = R738 or 73.8%, roughly $42.46USD more than the employee's legal minimum wage.

FYI Going shopping at the local markets and restaurants are the best economic indicators to assist in what to, if any, tip by a client. These are some examples, prices are rounded up/down to nearest R1:

R15 for a 500ml / 16.9oz soft drink,
R19 for a sandwich and fries at a fast food joint,
R150 for: 1-3oz bar bath soap, 1- 20oz(?) bottle shampoo, 1-comb, 1- travel size tube toothpaste, and 1-travel size bottle Listerine mouth wash.

My points of this long winded rant are:

1. outfitters are paying wages via the daily rates they charge clients.
2. Clients' tips, If any, are meant as a gift for the above and beyond the normal service provided by the staff member and not as a substitute for employer wages.
3. American clients are over tipping considering tips in the US are recommended at 10%, 15%, and 20% of the tab. ie. 20% tip equates to R200 based on legal minimum wage of R100 per day for a 10 day safari.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I tip my Alaska bush pilots on the outgoing flight, (when initially being dropped off) . Not after the trip is over.

I want him to remember me when he has to fly in less than favorable weather, asked to land in too small of a river or lake, too rough tundra, too much meat weight, too much cross wind.

If there is a narrow flying window and he has 5 different groups to pickup. I want to be first to be picked up after 14 days in the bush.

I tip taxi cab and uber drivers. Why not a guy that can screw up in 1000s of ways and kill you.

I also tipped my Harare bush pilots for my wife and I. I had two hard rifle cases, a woman’s 2 weeks worth of luggage and my bags. He loaded and unloaded his plane. And flew it. And played tour guide answering excited tourist questions during the flight to camp.

 

[ACM]

My charter pilot met me and helped me get through a 3rd-world airport, it was a great bit of comfort just seeing him there and knowing I had help. He greatly assisted in getting my guns and luggage cleared. His personality and work ethic were top notch. I tipped him when we landed at camp and was happy to do so.

My advice: If you feel as though you want to tip because the service was exceptional, tip. If you don’t feel inclined or feel that the pilot just minimally did their job, don’t tip.

I will say, in the USA, this asking for tips everywhere, for everything, has gotten way out of hand (not pilot related).

 

[ACM]

I have tipped my Alaskan bush pilots as well. Bad weather and flying in Alaska is a whole different thing!

 

[Beck]

I have only looked at chartering a plane once, they wanted 19 grand which was way too much for me. The idea of tipping a pilot seems crazy to me, what's next are we going to start tipping surgeons? I always tip the PH and Crew handsomely, but this seems extreme.

 

[ACM]

I have only looked at chartering a plane once, they wanted 19 grand which was way too much for me. The idea of tipping a pilot seems crazy to me, what's next are we going to start tipping surgeons? I always tip 10% to the PH and Crew, but this seems extreme.

Beck, there are many charter/bush plane scenarios that are WAY less expensive than what you mentioned. Many about 10-20% of that cost (many much less). I would not compare them all to that one experience. That sounds like a chartered jet. And no, I wouldn’t tip in that scenario, but then again someone who could afford the $19k charter could probably afford to happily tip the pilot!

 

[spike.t]

What gets me is American clients are expected to tip. Whereas the acceptance that other foreign clients do not tip.

I can't say all outfitters, so I'll just say that what few outfitters I have vetted charge American clients slightly higher trophy fees and daily rates compared to other foreign clients.

Concerns have been mentioned about giving the outfitter the tip money for later distribution as opposed to the client directly handing the tips to the staff. Some if not all of those same outfitters ask rather blatantly for the tips be made in USD as opposed to Rand. And whether or not the tips are fully or only a percentage of the tip amounts are distributed to the intended staff members.

Most and I would further that to say very few if any of us who travel and stay in a hotel/motel here in the states have ever tip maid service. Rhetorical question: ref: Americans: who tips their laundry service or dry cleaner for doing their laundry? I don't. Only twice have I tipped a chef/cook for a meal and that was because they were exceptionally good meals. Yet American clients are expected to and do tip for these same services in Africa.

I'm not against tipping for services rendered as long as the tip is for exceptional service and not for the standard service.

I give myself a headache but I do the math. ie I look up the daily currency exchange rate; Example Only: $1.00USD Equals R17.38. The outfitter recommends $100.00USD per cook, maid, and laundress for the 5 to 10 day lodging.

Do the math ($100.00USD x R17.38) ÷ 10 = R1738.00 ÷ 10 = R173.80 per day or $10.00USD per day tip.

I was told by different individuals the legal minimum wage is +/- R100.00 per day or for sake of argument R1000.00 for the clients 10 day stay. R1738.00 - R1000.00 = R738 or 73.8%, roughly $42.46USD more than the employee's legal minimum wage.

FYI Going shopping at the local markets and restaurants are the best economic indicators to assist in what to, if any, tip by a client. These are some examples, prices are rounded up/down to nearest R1:

R15 for a 500ml / 16.9oz soft drink,
R19 for a sandwich and fries at a fast food joint,
R150 for: 1-3oz bar bath soap, 1- 20oz(?) bottle shampoo, 1-comb, 1- travel size tube toothpaste, and 1-travel size bottle Listerine mouth wash.

My points of this long winded rant are:

1. outfitters are paying wages via the daily rates they charge clients.
2. Clients' tips, If any, are meant as a gift for the above and beyond the normal service provided by the staff member and not as a substitute for employer wages.
3. American clients are over tipping considering tips in the US are recommended at 10%, 15%, and 20% of the tab. ie. 20% tip equates to R200 based on legal minimum wage of R100 per day for a 10 day safari.

Interesting about the charging usa clients higher trophy fees/day rates...hadn't heard of that before....must say am kinda shocked..and with chamber maids in hotels I always leave them something.....but only the ones who service the room each day...not impressed with the new trend I found after the virus with hotels in usa when have been to sci only servicing the room every few days, or only when you ask....

 

[Altitude sickness]

 

[Altitude sickness]

I agree that tipping has gotten out of hand.
Now if you don’t tip your considered cheap


Heck, you will be asked to tip the cook and maids. I think the pilot is slightly more critical to the overall equation.

 

[Beck]

Beck, there are many charter/bush plane scenarios that are WAY less expensive than what you mentioned. Many about 10-20% of that cost (many much less). I would not compare them all to that one experience. That sounds like a chartered jet. And no, I wouldn’t tip in that scenario, but then again someone who could afford the $19k charter could probably afford to happily tip the pilot!

That is interesting... It's funny when they quoted the price, I thought wow this must be a really nice plane. One of their selling points was "everyone get's a window seat", it was basically a four seater Cessna. You could probably buy used four seater Cessna for 19k.

 

[Andrew62]

I have only looked at chartering a plane once, they wanted 19 grand which was way too much for me. The idea of tipping a pilot seems crazy to me, what's next are we going to start tipping surgeons? I always tip the PH and Crew handsomely, but this seems extreme.

I flew on an air charter into the rain forest in 1998 and 2000. My portion of the air charter was 25%,
in 1998 I paid 3500.00, in 2000 I paid 5000.00, again, these prices represent 25% of the air charter fee. This was 1 hour 15 minutes each way. These are 25 and 27 year old prices.

 

[Roger Cox]

Be sure to tip your airline pilots that get you safely from the USA and Europe to your African destination.

 

[wesheltonj]

If I am going to "tip" anyone on a plane its the FA that bring me drinks, especially the one's that ask me if I want another drink. The great one's know the answer and just bring it.

I had the best FA ever on my last flight from DOH to IAH. Drop dead gorgeous, and kept the drinks coming the entire flight.

 

[Betterinthebush]

Only my bush pilots in Alaska. The guy that owns the plane isn’t always the one flying it. The pilots work hard loading and unloading camp and carcasses. I make sure I let them know I appreciate them.

Africa? I have no charter/bush pilot experience. I doubt I would. That’s the outfitter/PH’s responsibility, not mine, that’s the way I see things.

 

[Russ16]

This will be unpopular, but I will not pay for loyalty, nor will I pay for someone doing their job. And to add a layer of icing on this cake, it really turns me off to read ads that say "tips not included ". It's so expected now and almost demanded, that it sours the whole deal for me. I tip for great service. I do not need a damn reminder about it; it is at my discretion, not yours.

I loathe tipping and donut when necessary.

However I do tip for loyalty. The bar tender at my regular local bar gets a more generous tip than one at a random place or place I rarely go. I don’t do it to benefit them but to benefit me. It gets me served first and faster and often a seat at the bar held if it is crowded. Everyone is motivated by making a few bucks.

 

[Hogpatrol]

OT, Yes, tipping is out of hand. I did a Walmart home delivery and the checkout had multiple suggested percentage driver tips to check off. So far, Amazon is not on that train. Other than that, I take care of my flight attendants with Starbucks gift cards. Dealing with the public on an airplane takes a special kind of person.

 

[pilar]

OT, Yes, tipping is out of hand. I did a Walmart home delivery and the checkout had multiple suggested percentage driver tips to check off. So far, Amazon is not on that train. Other than that, I take care of my flight attendants with Starbucks gift cards. Dealing with the public on an airplane takes a special kind of person.

Hell I got my invoice for our home bottle water and they had a place to add a tip for the trucks driver, it’s getting out of hand
I didn’t even know that tipping a person to get your safely from point A to point B
Was a debate, as a boat captain I get paid for the charter, now the deck hand deserves a big tip