Do you (or anyone you know) tip the airport agent who pushes your wheelchair?

[monarchsfan16]

My grandfather always tips the people who push Grammy in a wheelchair through the airport. They're a huge help, meeting them at curbside, guiding them through security and right to the gate.

 

[nordkin]

DSMIL needed assistance to the gate once dropping off the luggage and through security. No wheelchair from gate to plane. She was ferried in a golf cart by an airline employee. I have never seen anyone tipped at the airport save a luggage porter and server in the bar or sit down eatery. If you request assistance from the airline due to a disability, no tip was expected as it's part of making the airport accessible.

I volunteer at a major DC area airport and I can say for certain the people pushing wheel chairs are not employees of the airlines and get paid a tip based wage. They do rely on tips. Another fact people do not realize is they have to wait for the last plane to arrive before they can leave for the night.

 

[dotfurio]

I've never had to use that service, but I had no idea it was a tipped position. It would never occur to me to tip someone for making a place accessible for those with mobility issues. Guess I know now if I need it in the future.

 

[BLAZEY]

I volunteer at a major DC area airport and I can say for certain the people pushing wheel chairs are not employees of the airlines and get paid a tip based wage. They do rely on tips. Another fact people do not realize is they have to wait for the last plane to arrive before they can leave for the night.

This was not in the US, but Canada and the UK. All were wearing AIRLINE Uniforms and airline employees.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We've tipped the volunteers in the hospitals if a wheelchair is required after having a procedure or a stay.

I would be surprised to see a volunteer at a hospital taking a tip for this.

I would tip at the airport.

 

[DeniseJH]

I've never had to use that service, but I had no idea it was a tipped position. It would never occur to me to tip someone for making a place accessible for those with mobility issues. Guess I know now if I need it in the future.

Airports are accessible, they are required to be. I don't think many people want to check a wheelchair, so they use this service to transfer at the airport. When I traveled with my mom we rented a wheelchair at WDW that was waiting for us at our resort.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Always tip!

 

[ols386]

I’ve never used that service, but if I did I’d probably tip $5.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

I flew back and forth all last year for surgery and chemo. Newark to Chicago. Of course we tipped.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Yes, we always tip if I’ve used a wheelchair.

 

[MrMiyagi]

My mother sometimes gets a wheelchair, when disembarking from long flights. I can't say I've ever seen her tip anyone, though she may have. I always assumed they were regular, full-time, airport staff.

I didn't know the agents relied on tips, before reading this article:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...ory.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.e3911301ad3e

Now, maybe wheelchair agents aren't paid in tips in every airport (it may be just a US or even Dulles practice), but I'll definitely let my mum know that she should at least offer a tip.

I've never had to use that service but if I did (either for me or someone else), I would absolutely tip them.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you request assistance from the airline due to a disability, no tip was expected as it's part of making the airport accessible.

The airport itself makes itself accessible. Traversing it is, reasonably, the responsibility of the passenger. Passengers availing themselves of this available but not mandatory service should reasonably expect to indicate gratitude for the help with, well, cash.

Victoria and Vancouver Canada and Gatwick, UK. It was Air Transat and Air Canada the times we dealt with it.

Would have been good information to have provided originally.

This was not in the US, but Canada and the UK. All were wearing AIRLINE Uniforms and airline employees.

At least in Boston, they wear airPORT uniforms. Not employed by the airlines.

 

[gotomu212]

Just checked into my hotel and after I saw this thread at the airport today I really watched people at the gate, then during my layover, and finally at curbside. I was clearly that weirdo people watching. Out of the two dozen people I saw wheeled to the gate, getting off the golf carts, and getting into cars I only saw 1 tip...although maybe some of these people tipped right when they sat down and started to be wheeled and I didn’t see that part (but the 2 people I saw get picked up at arrival didn’t tip either so who knows??).

The person I did see tip was middle aged and looked to have a temporary need (broken foot or leg)..all the other people were elderly. I do wonder if there’s a generational norm since elderly people might be on a more fixed income and just speaking of my own experience seem a little less free with tips (from my experience waitressing).

That’s my totally unscientific review from ATL and DFW....thanks for giving me something to occupy my time during travels!

 

[BLAZEY]

The airport itself makes itself accessible. Traversing it is, reasonably, the responsibility of the passenger. Passengers availing themselves of this available but not mandatory service should reasonably expect to indicate gratitude for the help with, well, cash.

Would have been good information to have provided originally.

At least in Boston, they wear airPORT uniforms. Not employed by the airlines.

Definitely AIRLINE uniforms as we waited for a cart from AIR TRANSAT, while watching a West Jet and Air Canada one pass, all the drivers had different uniforms on.

It seems that this is only the norm in the US, not the rest of the world. People should be paid a living wage for their work and not reduced to essentially begging for tips.

 

[ronandannette]

Which airport/country?

In Washington, Dulles, at least, the wheelchair agents are paid a tipped wage and count on the tips to bring their salary up to minimum (though they will be fired if they actually inform you of this). Golf cart drivers may be different, I don't know?

I've been Googling, and as far as I can tell, tipping wheelchair assistants is expected in the US, uncommon in the UK, and downright insulting in Asia.

Why didn't you add "unheard of in Canada"?

 

[DeniseJH]

People should be paid a living wage for their work and not reduced to essentially begging for tips.

Who said anything about anyone appearing to beg for a tip? It's a custom here - you don't have to like it, but there's no need to exaggerate.

 

[Magpie]

Why didn't you add "unheard of in Canada"?

Because I couldn't find anything on Google that says for sure it is "unheard of" in Canada. Just multiple sources saying they don't know what the practice is in Canada.

Just because I've never heard of it, doesn't mean it isn't happening somewhere here, too. Especially if workers aren't allowed to ask for tips.

Canada is a big country, and even though I've lived here most of my life, I'm frequently surprised by the things I don't know about it.

 

[SirDuff]

Because I couldn't find anything on Google that says for sure it is "unheard of" in Canada. Just multiple sources saying they don't know what the practice is in Canada.

Just because I've never heard of it, doesn't mean it isn't happening somewhere here, too. Especially if workers aren't allowed to ask for tips.

Canada is a big country, and even though I've lived here most of my life, I'm frequently surprised by the things I don't know about it.

This Canadian tips

 

[Magpie]

Who said anything about anyone appearing to beg for a tip? It's a custom here - you don't have to like it, but there's no need to exaggerate.

Besides, they'll get fired if they so much as indicate a tip is customary. So definitely no begging happening there!

 

[larissawbb]

This may get me flamed but I don’t see how everyone is supposed to know who to tip. Many people may unknowingly assume that they are airline employees that are being paid a wage. Plus, nobody knows who to tip anymore. I went to the farmers market this weekend and there were at least four booths that had put out tip jars. It’s confusing at best.