What's a Good Tip for Comped Limo from the Airport to Downtown?

What's a good tip for limo service from the airport to downtown? I have transportation comped, but usually tip at least $40.

Based on your comped airport transportation, we assume you're talking about a casino-supplied limo.

For that, we'd say $40, in general, is a decent toke from the airport to downtown. Not George, but not stiff. Ourselves, we'd put the over/under at $50 and probably go over a bit. But we tend to overtip. It's just the way we dole.

Of course, a lot depends on circumstances. Did you request your regular limo driver? If so, what do you usually tip him or her? Limo drivers love their regulars, who almost always tip better than strangers. Or was it just the next driver up on the schedule? If you don't expect to see him or her again, $40, like we say, isn't bad.

Then, there could be other considerations.

If you get caught in a monumental traffic jam, it takes an hour to get to Fremont Street, and the driver is personable, patient, and playful, you'd probably want to tip more. Conversely, if your chauffeur is an aggressive driver, surly with you, drops you at the back door with his hand out, and spits gravel as he hurries away, you'd probably want to tip less. If he slams the trunk on your hand as you're pulling out your own luggage, you'd probably want to stiff him (then sue).

The return trip is also conjectural. Did you go on a monster run at the crap table and care to share the wealth a little? Sky's the limit. Did you take marker after marker and have to beg your host for 30 days to pay up? Even the greediest limo driver knows that in such a situation, he's not even a blip on the player's radar screen. If anything, he's a booby prize -- a free ride to the airport, out of town.

That's our brief take on it. What do the rest of youse say?

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salukidean Apr-04-2023

Don’t be cheap

I would say at least $100 to downtown (and $60 to the strip).   If you can’t afford that, take an Uber.

Sandra Ritter Apr-04-2023

What's the cost?

What is the normal cost of an Uber downtown?  A cab?

[email protected] Apr-04-2023

Cost

It does seem weird to tip more than the cost of a cab.  It really isn’t free then, is it?

David Apr-04-2023

Ridiculous

I used to regularly fly business/first class on Emirates. As such the airline would send a limo to my house to take me to LAX, which was nearly 100 miles away. The tip was $0. I was told by the limo drive that Emirates paid the limo company’s rate plus a gratuity. That, my friends, is how it supposed to be done.

Ray Apr-04-2023

Another 4/1 joke?

Seriously, like Sandra, I wonder what the cost of the ride is if you have to pay for it. That being said, if the questioner is a known high roller, certainly what I would consider exorbitant is truly tip money for him/her. I nearly fell over when you made the over/under line $50. And then when Dean says $100, my goodness. Are you the same people that bitch about casinos ripping you off when you are willing to piss away that much for a ride...that was comped? No wonder the casinos don't worry about losing customers.

[email protected] Apr-04-2023

Really?!?

If one was to tip as suggested and when you add the one who retrieves your bags when you arrive at the casino, then the one who shows you to your room (you're already close to a $100 by this time) then all the gratuities after you dine (more if it's room service) then tip your maid when you check out (seems to be the norm these days) then tip the one places your bags in the limo or cab or uber then tip when  you arrive at the airport...the total depends on the individual but the fact is that we as a consumer are paying for services which should  be paid by the casino...over 100 years ago when a generous thoughtful individual started leaving tips for dinner and the practice caught on the salaries for wait staff was average which was paid by the owner of the establishment... but it has since changed to where the owner reduces the cost of salary leaving it up to the customer to pay the difference...What a world we've created...

Gregory Apr-04-2023

A bit of math...

I normally tip 20%.  A cab ride from the airport to downtown is around $45, therefore the tip is $9.

Rideshares can run anywhere between $25-80 depending on surge pricing.  If the surge price is greater than $45, I will take a cab.  I once ran into a deal where the Lyft fare was only $13.  In that case, I tipped 100%+.

I have seen round trip champagne limo rides advertised for $160.  Tipping $40-50 for a comped ride probably valued at $80 seems excessive.  I would think all things being equal, the tip should be closer to $15-20.

David Miller Apr-04-2023

Unbelievable

 I wholeheartedly agree with Ray, Gregory, David, and trinity - all of the others here obviously have bought into the "tipping" madness mantra that is pushed by the casinos who are laughing all the way to the bank as people supplement the income of underpaid employees while casinos are raking in record profits.  Talk about brainwashed...

O2bnVegas Apr-04-2023

what my Host said

I asked my Host (at high end Strip place, comped limo even though I don't qualify for one by the books) what would be expected.  He said, and I quote, "They'll be very happy with twenty-five."  

That surprised me, since we'd previously tipped a lot more.  I forgot to ask whether that meant $25 for a couple, or $25 each person.  So, we each do $25, total of $50 for the trip.  Does the driver report back to the Hosts "Those people are cheapskates."?  Are they on salary?  Minimum wage or pretty good?

I tip everybody.  Housekeeping (of course), cocktailers, meal servers, slot attendants.  I tip a dollar at the cage.  They act like it is a million, like maybe they don't get tipped often.  I'd give more if they had to do a lot of transactions for me, like those folks I wait behind for 15-20 minutes...taking out a mortgage or something?  LOL.

Candy

Brent Apr-04-2023

Stop the tipping madness!

I could be wrong (I'm definitely not a high roller and I've never gotten a free limo ride from the casino), but aren't most of the limo drivers used by the casinos owner/operators? If that's true, they set their own rates with the casino. They are, in fact, business owners.

I don't really have an issue with tipping employees who provide personal service. After all, they are being screwed over by their employers (with assistance from the government).

But why would I tip a BUSINESS OWNER?!? They OWN THE BUSINESS!

CMU Apr-04-2023

Host

My host told me $20 would be plenty, so that's what I give each way.

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