Tipping line guys

[FloridaMan]

What's the standard on dealing with line guys? Do you guys tip? If so, how much? I know a lot of pilots that never tip. I never even knew it was expected until a friend said he always gave the first handler $10 -- then I felt like a dick for not doing so.

[BigTex]

I Generally tip them $5 when topping off my tanks. That way I don't feel guilty asking for help to push the plane into the hangar. I'd rather tip $5 to the line guy than $500 to my Chiropractor.

[201er]

I don't think it's standard. Just guys with a new paint job or a limited turn radius that want to make sure the line guys remember them and handle the airplane appropriately. I think the tipping is far from standard because in many remote airports I've been to, line guys were surprised to receive a tip and for certain weren't peddling for one. As for how much, that's really your call. Let's just agree not to give too much or when it isn't called for or before we know it, FBOs will be including a mandatory gratuity to our ramp fees. Don't go giving them any ideas.

[jetdriven]

I don't think it's standard. Just guys with a new paint job or a limited turn radius that want to make sure the line guys remember them and handle the airplane appropriately. I think the tipping is far from standard because in many remote airports I've been to, line guys were surprised to receive a tip and for certain weren't peddling for one. As for how much, that's really your call. Let's just agree not to give too much or when it isn't called for or before we know it, FBOs will be including a mandatory gratuity to our ramp fees. Don't go giving them any ideas.

I dont feel much like tipping when I just paid $7.00 a gallon for avfuel and then a 25$ per night ramp tiedown.

[rbridges]

I dont feel much like tipping when I just paid $7.00 a gallon for avfuel and then a 25$ per night ramp tiedown.

I have to concur.

[201er]

I dont feel much like tipping when I just paid $7.00 a gallon for avfuel and then a 25$ per night ramp tiedown.

So you think we should all pay higher taxes regardless if the govt is doing a good job or not but we shouldn't tip a helpful line guy who's been working his a$$ off helping us...

[1964-M20E]

I’ve tipped them on occasion when they have retrieved my bags and brought them to the plane or to the FBO for me. Generally the same as I would a bellhop at the hotel about $1 per bag. If they park me in OBFE and I have to tote my bags myself then no I do not tip.

[Hank]

I noticed on my weekend trip that the tie-down fee was $15/day, and what was waived for buying fuel was the $25 "Handling/Facility Fees -- Line"! I was tied down for 3 nights, paid the $15 fee for two of them. Guess there's an extra ten bucks for the line guy to show me where to park, drag the plane somewhere else and tie it down. I had a long walk to get back to the plane to leave, though.

Fuel there was $6.33318 per gallon, plus sales tax [calculated to be 5.8%, since it's not indicated], plus $1.10 "Airport Flowage Fee" for my 22 gallons. That comes to $6.75084/gallon versus $5.60/gallon at home, where I pull up and pump it myself. Bigger isn't always better.

On this visit, since I saw the lineman on arrival after dark, standing in the shadow of the fuel truck waving at me, and he hung around only long enough to ask how long I was staying [til Sunday], I had no chance to tip him. On departure, he waved us through the gate to unload luggage from the car, and I never saw him again. Mother-in-law drove to the plane, I went inside and paid, then walked several rows.

When the lineman actually helps me, I don't mind tipping, and I scale the tip to the help. When one nice fellow towed me to the hangars and loaned me a power cord to plug in engine heat when she wouldn't crank one cold December morning, I happily gave him $10; the nice guy in Savannah who gave my wife & I a ride to the plane in the golf cart instead of walking in the heat, I gave him $5 or $10, too, whatever I had. Help out, get a tip; don't help out, don't get a tip; I leave the choice to them.

[KSMooniac]

I worked line service in college, and tips were very rare, but welcome. Certainly not expected. I've tipped now and then as an owner and the recipient was always surprised, so I think it continues to be rare.

Last Friday night I flew to Oxford MS for our football weekend, and was prepared to tip my line guy after he parked us *way* out in the grass, and helped unload the bags onto a utility vehicle, and then take us to the front of the terminal to meet our ride. I went inside to leave my info and fuel order, and learned then (not disclosed on their website!) that there was a $30 "special event" fee in addition to their normal parking fees. That ate up the tip money in my mind, especially since it wasn't advertised anywhere.

[bd32322]

I called the airport and the line guy started my pre-heater without me having to go to the airport 8 hours before the flight. When I tried to tip him he refused jovially. I was new to the airport then. I later realized that he owns a mooney in the hangar right next to mine

He is retired and just likes being at the airport ... Quite awkward but funny in hindsight

But at other airports i tip for above and beyond service and also leave glowing reviews in foreflight comments section for that FBO - they deserve the business. I do not subscribe to the tip "just because" model.

[LT4BIRD]

Most FBO's don't make much if any on GA. The Turbine's pretty much pay for single engine guys even to exist. The small fee's that most charge is simply a means of survival.

[AlanA]

I flat out asked my line guy if he usually received tips and he told me very rarely. I will tip for extraordinary help but not for just topping off the tanks.

[bd32322]

Most FBO's don't make much if any on GA. The Turbine's pretty much pay for single engine guys even to exist. The small fee's that most charge is simply a means of survival.

Just wait till avgas reaches 12$ a gallon while jetA stays at 4 A fee of few dimes per gallon of avgas might cover the turbine's landing fee or whatever it is they pay