Dining & accommodation cars, should you tip?

[Bob Dylan]

Most of the people I know that work in Customer Service Positions where Tipping is Part of the Compensation, tell me that the Best Tippers Generally are Americans and Aussies, especially Single Men, and the Worst are Europeans, mostly Germans! :unsure:

 

[user 6862]

Thanks all, there isn't a simpler answer to this, but it does appear as though excellent service should be rewarded, and 10 - 20% is generally the type of amount, is that about right?

What I wonder is, if you get really really bad service, do you ask the server to tip you?

 

[tricia]

Well, if you're in that situation you could ask. If you do, please let us know how it goes. ^_^

 

[ScottC4746]

As a non American tipping in the US is a mystery to me, on a train even more so.

When travelling long distance with accommodation, should you tip in the dining car and for accommodation services?... and if so how much?

Thanks

This always gets a variety of responses so here goes my policy.

Sleeper: $10 per night per person $15 if in a bedroom since the room is bigger and they have the shower/toilet in the room.

Diner: 10% - 20% of what I would have paid for what I consumed depending on service.

Lounge Car: I normally only tip on alcoholic purchases $1 - $2 per round depending on how much was purchased.

Yes Amtrak employees are well paid because of the union but the still offered service and I'm sticking with that.

 

[Rae]

Our tipping varied. When we boarded I introduced myself to the sleeper car attendant because I expected she'd be , you know, attending. The only time I saw her was out my window at stations having a smoke.

In the restaurant we tipped when our 3 kids made something of a mess or required extra things like cups with lids, etc.

The sleeper attendants never seemed to want to do snything. I asked for meals in our room one time, and the attendant was shocked. I told him my kids weren't feeling well and he said " you want HOW many meals? (4) I don't think I can remember all that."

Not too impressive. Did not inspire tipping at all.

 

[chakk]

We were told on the Southwest Chief that the dining and attendant crew works 6 days on and 6 days off. Is that a regulation or does it vary?

We take this into account when tipping.

On most Amtrak long-distance trains west of Chicago, the dining and attendant crew will work one train the full length of the journey in one direction, overnight in a hotel at the end of the line, then work the returning train to their starting point the next day. That usually amounts to 6 or so days on duty, followed by 6 or so days off duty.

 

[SarahZ]

Any time someone says a person who works for tips should "just get a better job" if they don't like being stiffed, I always wonder how annoyed they would be if all of those servers, taxi drivers, and redcaps DID go out and find new jobs.

They'd have to pick up their own pizza, make and serve their own food, take a bus/walk/buy a car, and haul their own bags to the train. ^_^ I don't think they really think about what they're saying when they say that.

 

[crescent2]

Sorcha, I so agree!

To the OP's question, while not required, in practice in the US tipping is customary in restaurants, to cab drivers, those who help with luggage, etc., and is expected unless your service was terrible. In sit-down restaurants, most people tip around 15% to 20% if service is reasonably good. 10% is considered on the low end for a tip in a full service restaurant.

When we traveled on Amtrak, we tipped in the dining car roughly based on the menu prices although our meals were included in the price of our sleeper. We also tipped the sleeping car attendant even though our travel (daylight hours only) did not require use of the bed. I don't remember how much, probably $5 to $10 depending on how often he or she checked in on us, helped with bags, etc. Probably even more the few times we had meals brought to our compartment.

Without considering any debate on whether this is fair/reasonable/logical, in the US it is usually considered stingy or being somewhat of a cheapskate if a tip is not given, unless the service was horrible. I consider it a way of thanking the worker for his or her attention and service. Not saying you must, of course, but just to make you aware of what is customary in this country. Best wishes for a great trip!

 

[jebr]

Actually, if the service really was horrible, a penny tip may be more appropriate in sending a signal that the service was atrocious. That way it's obvious that you didn't simply forget to tip, but that the service was so bad that it was unworthy of a real tip.

 

[GG-1]

Actually, if the service really was horrible, a penny tip may be more appropriate in sending a signal that the service was atrocious. That way it's obvious that you didn't simply forget to tip, but that the service was so bad that it was unworthy of a real tip.

Aloha
Once I was so upset with the service I placed a penny in an upside down glass of Water.

 

[user 6862]

Actually, if the service really was horrible, a penny tip may be more appropriate in sending a signal that the service was atrocious. That way it's obvious that you didn't simply forget to tip, but that the service was so bad that it was unworthy of a real tip.

That's so subtle...

In general tipping isn't a big part of Europeans life, so knowing how to get it right as an alien in the US is important to show respect to your culture. Also it's important to remember that the US is far more service orientated than Europe, so I guess you pay more attention to the server.

As a note. During previous trips to the US we sometimes found the attention we were given by servers a little too much, just not used to it and sometimes just wanted to be left alone to enjoy our meal or whatever. Different cultures.

Thanks

 

[City of Miami]

It is interesting how petty & critical & intolerant we become when this topic comes up.

 

[Dan O]

I would assume one would leave the tip in the dining car on the table. For a sleeper, do you hand it directly to the attendant or leave it in your room? Never been in a sleeper so not sure if it would be possible to leave the train w/o seeing the attendant.

Dan

 

[pennyk]

I would assume one would leave the tip in the dining car on the table. For a sleeper, do you hand it directly to the attendant or leave it in your room? Never been in a sleeper so not sure if it would be possible to leave the train w/o seeing the attendant.

Dan

I hand the SCA's tip directly to him or her either as I leave the train or as I am getting ready to leave. (sometimes the amount of the tip depends on whether the attendant helps me with my luggage as I am departing - especially if I am upstairs on a superliner). I leave dining car tips on the table as I would in a restaurant.

 

[calwatch]

For sleeping car attendants the good ones will usually come to the room and ask how the trip was, at which point I generally tip. Some sleeping car attendants, in the closing announcement, do remind people that tipping is appreciated. Like the practice of writing down the comped value of sleeping car meals, this can be polarizing.

 

[roadman3313]

William, the PPC attendant always announces over the IC his thanks for your visiting... And a special thanks to those who showed appreciation for the service provided. He says it without fail every time I've been on the train he is on (about 6 times in the last year now).

I just tipped the dining car attendant and she was very appreciative. I guess some on board haven't tipped at all. Whether they did or didn't though Linda was very nice throughout.

All and all out there we have the good, the bad, and the ugly. Hopefully by showing appreciation for good service it will reinforce that good service does not go unnoticed.

 

[AlanB]

Like the practice of writing down the comped value of sleeping car meals, this can be polarizing.

Actually the LSA is required to give you that receipt with the amount that would have otherwise been charged had you not been in a sleeper. Most LSA's fail to do that, but it is explicitly stated in the manual that they must do that. It's not something that they chose to do on their own in an effort to help increase tips.

 

[roadman3313]

Can't say I've ever had a single LSA do that so it's an interesting fact. Can't say I've really seen many employees follow the book to the letter either though. But maybe I'm of the frame of mind that rules are more guidelines and employees have some leverage in terms of providing service to the customer. Thats how a lot of jobs teach these days to the younger generations. People will be people no matter what the rules state. So let them apply those rules to how they work.

 

[pennyk]

Like the practice of writing down the comped value of sleeping car meals, this can be polarizing.

Actually the LSA is required to give you that receipt with the amount that would have otherwise been charged had you not been in a sleeper. Most LSA's fail to do that, but it is explicitly stated in the manual that they must do that. It's not something that they chose to do on their own in an effort to help increase tips.

Probably for the last couple of years, the LSAs on the Silvers have been providing receipts.

 

[the_traveler]

Even if they don't, the prices are in the menu. And 99.99% of the time, the menus are in one of 2 places:

1. Behind your head between the booths, or
   
2. Next to the window.
   

I have never seen an Amtrak server collect the menus, and then take them somewhere out of your sight, like they do at land based restaurants.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

Even if they don't, the prices are in the menu. And 99.99% of the time, the menus are in one of 2 places:

1. Behind your head between the booths, or
   
2. Next to the window.
   

I have never seen an Amtrak server collect the menus, and then take them somewhere out of your sight, like they do at land based restaurants.

And if you are like me and collect Railroad Menus, if you politely ask the LSA for a clean one he or she will usually comply. I even had one throw in a set of dishes (the plastic ones) as a bonus-I felt like I had hit the jackpot at the gas station or from Dish Night at the Theater :lol: