Tipping in the Clubhouse?

Its ok, if you didn't do the right thing before, just do it in the future.

Oh well, now you've said so, that's really put me in my place and I must crave your forgiveness for not doing "the right thing" in the past ii) ii) ii) Despite your instruction, I won't be doing what you think is "the right thing" in the future either.

IMHO, anything provided free of charge in the CH is included in the price paid for an UC ticket (or the price & loyalty paid gaining status) and no tipping is required.

If you want to tip, equate it as "doing the right thing" and believe it gets you further up the altruistic path, then that's entirely your right and opinion. All I would say is don't try and force that opinion as definitively correct and the way that everyone should be.

Presenting your view as you have and dismissing replies as "twaddle" isn't going to gain you any points in the "How to win friends and influence people" stakes.

Cheers
Michael

I couldn't have put it better myself and I agree with you 100% Michael.

Last year I stayed in a hotel on a Bed, breakfast and dinner deal.

I tipped the waitress for the dinner service, as did other people - despite the fact there was no bill preented at the end of the meal. Yet when it came to breakfast NO ONE tipped the staff even though it was still a full 'at seat' service involving many of the same staff. Should we have tipped the staff for breakfast?

Should I tip at the local greasy spoon - again I have been waited upon and presented with a bill.

I leave a tip for the housekeeper when I stay in US Hotels - equivalent of a couple $$ per day but not when I stay in a hotel in the UK. Does that make me a bad person? I don't think so because I know the US has a different economic and service culture.

Do you tip the delivery person who brings you your on-line shopping? Window Cleaner? Cleaner? Plumber??

Why is it acceptable to collect a tip on a coach tip for the guide but not the driver? My dad was on a trip once and challenged why the 'tip collector' was not proposing anything for the driver - the response was that the driver was 'simply doing his job'. In that case what was the guide doing? My dad insisted that the tip be divided equally to both.

As to this comment

5: You are doing well - you are getting a free multi-course meal, endless wine/champagne, and in most cases about to have a luxury long haul flight, with every whim catered for. Give those less well off a hand with a few pounds left on the table.

Just because someone is flying UC does not automatically make them rich. Not everyone in UC is flying on a business paid for trip and many people scrimp and save and do without other things for years to be able to afford it as a special treat.

BTW insulting people who post their sincere views on an issue is not acceptable and a sign that you have lost the argument.

Plus it's not exactly good karma or sharing the love is it?

[Decker]

Elements of this thread remind me of this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD9d0ZrBnLE

Elements of this thread remind me of this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD9d0ZrBnLE

"Ahhh - Smug mode"
I just love Red Dwarf

And there is of course the classic' Two Soups' and the classic ending

'No Tip? BASTARDS'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6aYLOf8CUQ

From talking to the staff at the lhr Clubhouse a while ago, I was told that they aren't allowed to accept tips or gifts. It's very common for service offering companies to not let their staff accept tips, apart from the obvious, like restaurants etc.
So I don't find it rude to not tip in the Clubhouses

Edit: I have also seen staff in the SFO Cluhouse refusing a tip, saying they weren't allowed to accept them.

Having paid the premium to fly Upper Class, I consider the benefit of the clubhouse, just that, a benefit. I do not consider it a need to tip the staff whilst I am there, as I've already paid for the service as part of my UC fare.

[Decker]

FWIW I tip for treatments, leave a couple of quid if I have my shoes cleaned and if I have change will sometimes leave a few quid in the bistro. I don't worry if I don't there, but the other two I woulld for some reason.

I have been a lurker on this list for a while, but felt moved to contribute a post in this issue.

I always tip in the London and USA clubhouse restaurants, and am very surprised by the denunciation of this by many here. If I have the good fortune to be traveling in Upper, whether its paid for or a miles flight, I feel it correct to tip those who wait and serve my meal at a sit down dining experience in the Clubhouse restaurant, (not buffet) just as I would in any restaurant in London.

It does not need to be 10/12% but something showing gratitude and magnanimity is called for, again, in my opinion. I would not do it in Dubai or Tokyo, as restaurant tipping is not normal there, but it definitely is in London and USA, so that is how I behave there. I do not think saying "My ticket is expensive enough, I've paid" is a reasoned argument, any more than I would think an expensive restaurant meal excused me the requirement to tip there.

The reaction here is very surprising to me.

As Lucretius said "quod ali cibus est aliis fuat acre venenum."
|:)

Welcome to V-Flyer Dorothy.

One of the positive features of this site is the ability for people to express oppositional views without resort to the type of flaming you might see elsewhere.

I have to say that I'm against the OPs general premise. Tipping in the UK is not a moral or ethical issue, full stop. I think the didactic tone and the implication that it is a moral issue has brought out a greater strength of feeling against the OPs point of view. Otherwise a great topic to get people's views. Now don't mention children in upper ):

Regards
R3dV

I would not do it in Dubai or Tokyo, as restaurant tipping is not normal there, but it definitely is in London and USA, so that is how I behave there.

Yet the people in Dubai will be much lower paid and almost always funding family back in their home country too! Just seems a little confusing to me.

I do not think saying "My ticket is expensive enough, I've paid" is a reasoned argument, any more than I would think an expensive restaurant meal excused me the requirement to tip there.

But, that is exactly the point though isn't it. You've already paid thousands for your ticket which includes access to the CH and all that entitles you to. Why should you have to pay twice? Going to an expensive restaurant is not the same at all.

[Darren Wheeler]

Ultimately, tipping is all about individual choice.

No-one should ever be expected to tip or expect to receive one, even in countries where it is the norm.

looks like the same topic is being discussed elsewhere

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileat ... -heathrow/

also pics of the CH & review, and current CH menus there too

looks like the same topic is being discussed elsewhere

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileat ... -heathrow/

also pics of the CH & review, and current CH menus there too

That's a pretty darn good report! Maybe we should recuit him onto here. Major failing though - he didn't drink any champers !

looks like the same topic is being discussed elsewhere

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileat ... -heathrow/

also pics of the CH & review, and current CH menus there too

Great review and pics too!

The CH menu is different to the one I had on 30th March though and different from website too.

Luke

looks like the same topic is being discussed elsewhere

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileat ... -heathrow/

also pics of the CH & review, and current CH menus there too

That's a pretty darn good report! Maybe we should recuit him onto here. Major failing though - he didn't drink any champers !

Perhaps, his champers consumption will improve when he reaches a legal age to drink in his home country I do believe he is American and under 21. So it doesn't necessarily occur to someone that they can/will be served in the UK.

[honey lamb]

looks like the same topic is being discussed elsewhere

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileat ... -heathrow/

Started by the OP

Well - I thought my first post here may be on an important subject....but I can't help but post on this thread to say what a lot of rubbish this whole idea of tipping in the ClubHouse is!

You do not need to tip there, nor should you feel obliged to either!

Just because one or 2 very odd people think it's right does not make it right.

There is no moral high-ground here, so don't let anyone tell you there is. It's just pure nonsense! I don't need to spell out the reasons why we all know this is nonsense - they've been spelt out here before.

Honestly; some people think they have all the right answers in life - Funny how they are always the fools!

Yeah Adey welcome and jump right in! LOL.

[Neil]

Welcome Adey - please do remember we allow and encourage, open and friendly debate on V-Flyer, so please bear this in mind.

Thanks,
Neil

[Decker]

From a recent job ad...

Salary: £7,156 basic per annum plus shift allowance of £948

Contract Type: Permanent, Part Time

Working Hours: Based on 15.75hrs per week. Working Friday/Saturday/Sunday or Saturday/Sunday/Monday between 0900-2215hrs (please specify which days you prefer when applying)

Location: Heathrow Clubhouse

Closing date for applications: 31st March 2011

From a recent job ad...

Salary: £7,156 basic per annum plus shift allowance of £948

Contract Type: Permanent, Part Time

Working Hours: Based on 15.75hrs per week. Working Friday/Saturday/Sunday or Saturday/Sunday/Monday between 0900-2215hrs (please specify which days you prefer when applying)

Location: Heathrow Clubhouse

Closing date for applications: 31st March 2011

I work that out to roughly £9.89 p/h - £19k ish based on 37.5 hour week if FT - Not bad at all for a customer service role.

The contact centre roles at Swansea only pay £15-16k at best.

Luke

I have been amused and entertained by this thread - it's amazing how it has turned out to be such a hot topic. I expect it would have been much less heated if the OP had simply phrased his piece in the Shakesperian manner: "To tip or not to tip in the Clubhouse? - That is the question". There would have then been a 45:3 vote against with 2 in treatment and 1 abstention. (There's always one )

So what have we learned:

1) V-Flyers clearly have their own opinions and don't like being told what to do.

2) Brits generally don't subscribe to (or really understand) the American tipping culture.

3) Working in the CH would appear to be not too badly paid (thanks Decker) at an annual full-time equivalent of £19.5K. So no accusations of slave labour there.

4) Most people think its part of the ticket price, like the drinks on board or the amenity kit.

5) The cabin crew, pilot and second officer do a great job, but the only cash handed round on the aircraft is Change for Children.

6) Its not about morals or ethics (thanks RedVee) its personal choice.

7) Some "poor souls" are only in there because they are FC AU members and they have 11 hours in Y to deal with. [I often have to include myself in this category].

8) Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, just don't expect everybody else to agree. Healthy debate - long may it continue.

Cheers

Martin

PS - I don't tip in the clubhouse.

------------------
Next weeks topic:
You must only have one drink in the Cluhouse and one on the flight. Any more is bad for you and you should feel sorry for those people in the world who can't get to a bar.