Tipping on Amtrak

[cirdan]

Aside from turning down the bed what else do you need the SCA for? Maybe meals and a wake up alert for your station but that's about it. If the SCA does the room in a reasonable and timely fashion I'm happy.

When I'm in a roomette or other type of room that I cannot lock from the outside, I am reliant on the SCA for keeping a vigilant eye on making sure there is nobody in the car who shouldn't be there. Obviously they are not a security guard and cannot watch everything 24/7, but I think their presence strengthens security.

 

[cassie225]

I don’t need them for conversation, I realize they are busy, but for basic needs, if I need you to help me an old lady to put my carry on up, to check on me from time to time,to bring water, to pick up my tray after I have eaten and not leave it outside my door for hours,I’m not needy,I’m not whiny, but do your job.

 

[nendee]

Ran into a bad situation on auto train last week - ATM at Sanford wasn’t working and I had no cash. I said so much to the SCA and of course he said no worries. Make it up next time!

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Tipping has become strange post-pandemic in general so I'm not surprised about the lack of tips, but I also struggle with tipping appropriately as everything is already paid for. Might be an interesting post for someone to write up and pin for a "new to Amtrak" piece.

If by strange you mean completely out of control I would have to agree. There is almost no service, no task, and no transaction too small to request a tip at this point. Even actions that amount to handing back a purchase a customer selected and brought to a register now count as a tipping event. It's crazy to me.

 

[Peterg]

Are you suppose to tip for meals in a Roomette? Was wondering this.

 

[allanorn]

I didn't think I'd cause such a consternation about tips, but I'll try to bring it back on-topic.

Now that we have explicit prices on meals: $20 for breakfast, $25 for lunch, $45 for dinner - how does everyone feel about 20% tips? That's $18/day for three meals to the LSAs, and not including tips to the SCAs.

I might argue newer riders don't tip because everything's included in the ticket process and perhaps Amtrak employees are Federal? Tipping/gifts gets weird for the postal service, so I can imagine the internal conflict around Amtrak employees.

If by strange you mean completely out of control I would have to agree. There is almost no service, no task, and no transaction too small to request a tip at this point. Even actions that amount to handing back a purchase a customer selected and brought to a register now count as a tipping event. It's crazy to me.

That's what I meant. I'm old enough to remember "general" tipping rules, even when the service industry was attempting to tweak at the margins and percentages. (First 15%, then 18%, then 20%, and maybe 18% with tax included, etc....) Now I get asked to tip my Italian grocer which is connected to a restaurant, and we have a good laugh about it.

I wouldn't mind paying higher bills pre-tip if the money went towards paying those who work living wages, and then (like Europe) rounding up or tipping up to 10%. The "pay for performing" aspect of tipping in its current scheme in the USA has made tipping feel somewhat contrived.

 

[pennyk]

Are you suppose to tip for meals in a Roomette? Was wondering this.

I will tip my attendant extra if a meal is delivered to my room. Tipping is optional.

 

[MARC Rider]

- how does everyone feel about 20% tips? That's $18/day for three meals to the LSAs, and not including tips to the SCAs.

I might argue newer riders don't tip because everything's included in the ticket process and perhaps Amtrak employees are Federal? Tipping/gifts gets weird for the postal service, so I can imagine the internal conflict around Amtrak employees.


That's what I meant. I'm old enough to remember "general" tipping rules, even when the service industry was attempting to tweak at the margins and percentages. (First 15%, then 18%, then 20%, and maybe 18% with tax included, etc....) Now I get asked to tip my Italian grocer which is connected to a restaurant, and we have a good laugh about it.

For years the tip rate for waiters was 15%. Then people realized that if they paid with a credit card, the bank was raking 3% off the top for everything. So then it was considered a good idea to tip 18% when paying with a credit card to ensure that the waiter got a 15% tip. Somehow this has morphed into a 20% tip. My current practice is to tip 18% if I'm paying with a credit card, 15% if paying with cash, but then for meals of less than $50 the difference isn't all that much, and I've got no problem with dropping a little extra cash on a relatively low-paid waiter, especially those who work at places where the dinner checks aren't so big.

For Amtrak waiters, who are paid decently, unless the service is abysmal I will pay a flat $5 for dinner and $3 for breakfast and lunch, unless I get some exceptional service. Of course this is conditional on my having remembered to stock up of small-denomination banknotes before the trip. It seems I'm carrying less and less cash as time goes on.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

For years the tip rate for waiters was 15%. Then people realized that if they paid with a credit card, the bank was raking 3% off the top for everything. So then it was considered a good idea to tip 18% when paying with a credit card to ensure that the waiter got a 15% tip. Somehow this has morphed into a 20% tip. My current practice is to tip 18% if I'm paying with a credit card, 15% if paying with cash, but then for meals of less than $50 the difference isn't all that much, and I've got no problem with dropping a little extra cash on a relatively low-paid waiter, especially those who work at places where the dinner checks aren't so big.

For Amtrak waiters, who are paid decently, unless the service is abysmal I will pay a flat $5 for dinner and $3 for breakfast and lunch, unless I get some exceptional service. Of course this is conditional on my having remembered to stock up of small-denomination banknotes before the trip. It seems I'm carrying less and less cash as time goes on.

In my travel notes I have a reminder to have tip money available. I usually go to the bank teller and make a withdrawal with a note as to how many of each denomination I want. I then put the money in a special container to put in my luggage. I have already done this for my upcoming trip.

 

[zephyr17]

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For Amtrak waiters, who are paid decently, unless the service is abysmal I will pay a flat $5 for dinner and $3 for breakfast and lunch, unless I get some exceptional service. Of course this is conditional on my having remembered to stock up of small-denomination banknotes before the trip. It seems I'm carrying less and less cash as time goes on.

That's pretty much what I do as well.

 

[Eric in East County]

For years the tip rate for waiters was 15%. Then people realized that if they paid with a credit card, the bank was raking 3% off the top for everything. So then it was considered a good idea to tip 18% when paying with a credit card to ensure that the waiter got a 15% tip. Somehow this has morphed into a 20% tip. My current practice is to tip 18% if I'm paying with a credit card, 15% if paying with cash, but then for meals of less than $50 the difference isn't all that much, and I've got no problem with dropping a little extra cash on a relatively low-paid waiter, especially those who work at places where the dinner checks aren't so big.

For Amtrak waiters, who are paid decently, unless the service is abysmal I will pay a flat $5 for dinner and $3 for breakfast and lunch, unless I get some exceptional service. Of course this is conditional on my having remembered to stock up of small-denomination banknotes before the trip. It seems I'm carrying less and less cash as time goes on.

We always tip the Red Cap cart drivers $5 to get us and our carry-on items from the Metropolitan Lounge to our sleeping car or coach.

Eric & Pat

 

[west point]

I despise the practice of some restaurants skimming the tips. So I Cr Card 10% or make total charge simple dollar and cash the rest personally it I can.. That way it gets most to waiter.

 

[zephyr17]

Thanks - I'll look out for them. As an aside, we don't do tipping in the UK (not for stuff like this anyway) and we don't usually carry cash. Will they be expecting a tip and if so, how much? I've barely used cash in London in the last 5 years or so.

$5 per bag is a pretty standard tip for Red Cap service.

 

[Rambling Robert]

My tip clip is for tips only. I wouldn’t normally spend it on other cash purchase like a soft drink,. Just tips.

A money clip, of course works but a big paper clip works fine also.

This is how much cash I carry. It worked on a 13 segment trip. Only two segments were in sleeper class.

TIP CLIP
20 each - one dollar bills
20 each - Five dollar bills
10 each - $10 bills

I keep the tip clip in the pants or shirt pocket so that I don’t have to show my wallet. This really works pretty good.

 

[joelkfla]

My tip clip is for tips only. I wouldn’t normally spend it on other cash purchase like a soft drink,. Just tips.

A money clip, of course works but a big paper clip works fine also.

This is how much cash I carry. It worked on a 13 segment trip. Only two segments were in sleeper class.

TIP CLIP
20 each - one dollar bills
20 each - Five dollar bills
10 each - $10 bills

I keep the tip clip in the pants or shirt pocket so that I don’t have to show my wallet. This really works pretty good.

I calculate how much I'll need before a trip, and go to the bank to get it. Here;s a recent trip with Flex dining:

 

[zephyr17]

I calculate how much I'll need before a trip, and go to the bank to get it. Here;s a recent trip with Flex dining:
View attachment 32584

Boy, you certainly have methodical approach .

I just stop in at my bank and get $20 in singles. $5s, $10s and $20s usually take care of themselves

 

[flitcraft]

Tipping even at restaurants is confusing these days. But on Amtrak, for me it is simple--10 dollars per person per night in a sleeper to the SCA, less is service was perfunctory, more if above-and beyond; and if surly or begruding, nada--like when our SCA on the Empire Builder informed me that if we wanted our beds made up, he'd do it at 6 pm--otherwise we'd have to fend for ourselves. I do a standard 3 dollar per person breakfast tip, 5 per person for lunch and 10 per person for dinner, again with more for above-and-beyond service, and none for rude service. As has been emphasized here, tipping is optional, but this is my preference.

Biggest problem is having enough actual cash on hand--I better get to the bank while I'm thinking about our upcoming trip and stock up now!

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

Tipping even at restaurants is confusing these days. But on Amtrak, for me it is simple--10 dollars per person per night in a sleeper to the SCA, less is service was perfunctory, more if above-and beyond; and if surly or begruding, nada--like when our SCA on the Empire Builder informed me that if we wanted our beds made up, he'd do it at 6 pm--otherwise we'd have to fend for ourselves. I do a standard 3 dollar per person breakfast tip, 5 per person for lunch and 10 per person for dinner, again with more for above-and-beyond service, and none for rude service. As has been emphasized here, tipping is optional, but this is my preference.

Biggest problem is having enough actual cash on hand--I better get to the bank while I'm thinking about our upcoming trip and stock up now!

My tipping on the train matches yours exactly!

I find fives go fastest so I take 20 of them and 20 ones out of the bank before a trip. If I’m running low on either, whatever hotel I’m at can usually change a $20.

I give $5 to redcaps and leave $5 for housekeeping each time I have my room cleaned.

I base tips for others (taxi drivers, restaurant waiters, etc.) on performance and attitude.

 

[joelkfla]

Boy, you certainly have methodical approach .

I just stop in at my bank and get $20 in singles. $5s, $10s and $20s usually take care of themselves

It's my IT background. Plus, I've run out of tip money on past trips. Action was required!

 

[zephyr17]

It's my IT background. Plus, I've run out of tip money on past trips. Action was required!

Hey, I'm IT, too! My method is to reserve the SCA tips ahead of time, and a pile of singles.

 

[user 14106]

I do $20 per night for car attendants. Usually $5 - $10 for dining car.

 

[basketmaker]

My tipping on the train matches yours exactly!

I find fives go fastest so I take 20 of them and 20 ones out of the bank before a trip. If I’m running low on either, whatever hotel I’m at can usually change a $20.

I give $5 to redcaps and leave $5 for housekeeping each time I have my room cleaned.

I base tips for others (taxi drivers, restaurant waiters, etc.) on performance and attitude.

I have also found that $2.00 bills are great for tipping for a quick request. Only problem is getting them. Banks (at least mine) has a limited number on hand. I usually tip the SCA $10.00 when boarding then $10-20.00 at the end depending. After all "TIPS" means to insure prompt service. And 99% of the time it works well. Being raised by tips (mom only made $1.85/hour as a bartender) I know their importance. And I learned from a very nice blind couple and their service dog that I assisted boarding a small chartered plane offered me $20.00 (in 1972). I said no and the husband got perturbed and told me that I should never refuse a tip as it is offensive to the person offering it.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Tipping even at restaurants is confusing these days.

How so?

 

[user 32753]

What is an SCA?

 

[Cal]

What is an SCA?

Sleeping car attendant.