Tips for Towncar Drivers?

[Chicago526]

I just booked my airport/hotel transfer with Tiffany. They said to pay a manditory tip of no less than 20% to each driver. The total round-trip fare is $90 (after the coupon). Do I tip 20% based on the one way fare (or half the total) or the full amount? It's not that I mind tipping, but there is a limit to what I want to spend. A $9 tip seems resonable, an $18 tip does not.

 

[helenk]

I tip based on the full fare, not the discounted fare. But I pay based on each leg of the trip. So if the full fare were $95.00 without a coupon I would pay each driver $10.00 (because I would round up)
I always pay at each leg of the trip because you can not be sure you will have the same driver each way.
During our last trip we had 7 people and a lot of luggage, and the driver helped us with the luggage, so we gave him an extra $5 each way.

 

[goofy4tink]

We usually tip our drivers, each way $10. That way if we get a different driver for the return trip, we haven't overpaid the first one and then have to tip the second one. What I do find distasteful is the use of 'mandatory' tipping. This tends to make me want to tip the smallest amount I can get away with. THat really annoys me. Wouldn't it be better to up the pay they give the drivers instead of expecting us to foot that amount? I don't mind tipping, in fact I tend to be a pretty good tipper!! But, sheesh...don't tell me that the 'mandatory' amount is 20%.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I just made a ressie with Tiffany during a holiday weekend and nothing was said about a tip. I've spoken with the office twice.

I don't think it is mandatory.

Lori

 

[Chicago526]

According to the web site, it is manditory. I don't mind, I just wanted to make sure it was 20% total, not 20% per driver!

$10 (I agree, round up!) per driver each way sounds good to me, especially if it's good service. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't supposed to be $20 per driver! That's a bit much!

 

[Sunkissed]

Thanks for all the great answers! I was wondering the same thing, but hadn't been able to get a response from anyone. Thanks again!

 

[clkelley]

On our recent Disney trip, we tipped our van driver the following:

There were 6 of us with 3 ECVs and a grocery stop.

From MCO/Grocery Stop/All-Stars - $20.00

Roundtrip All-Stars Universal - $25.00 (He stopped by Hess on the way back from Universal for a soda run) ($2.50 per 12 pack of sodas at Hess stations!)

Roundtrip All-Stars Universal -$20.00

From All-Stars/MCO - $15.00

For a standard towncar, we would probably tip less.

Carol

 

[AccidentalRepublican]

I'm around airline aircrews frequently...

And I've heard two philosophies on this: 1)$1/bag, or 2)$1/person. For a group of people on vacation (with lots of bags) I would think $1/bag would be appropriate. My personal opinion: tip should be based on service, so rudeness and/or tardiness gets you doughnut, and above and beyond gets you extra, with deviation from expectations (good or bad) communicated to the driver.

My $.02.

 

[DebbieB]

The towncar service I used a couple weeks ago from home to the Pittsburgh airport automatically added 20% and charged it to my credit card in advance.