Question of the Day - 12 July 2020

 I usually check just one bag curbside. They print my boarding pass and I tip the handler $2.

So if the smallest bill I have is $10 and I only have 1 bag, I shouldn’t ask for $5 change?

Would it be better if I didn’t tip at all???

I flew from Baltimore to Tampa and back in June.  Curbside checkin was closed at both airports.

And yes I agree with the answer.  Never ask for change when tipping.  Also make sure you have singles for tipping.  And always tip with paper money not coins.

Absolutely true.  "If all you have is a $10, hand it over (and don't, for crying out loud, ask for change. This is Vegas)".  Before you leave for Vegas or leave Vegas for home, gather your tip money ($1's and $5's) first.  With the pandemic and all, I gather more $5's.

With a family of three it is standard for us to tip $5 when we have a bag each (3 total) and if we have 4 or 5 total, we toke $10.  We also tip the shuttle bus drivers to and from hotels and the car rental complex at least $5.

I get a pile of two dollar bills from my bank. 2's work better.

I've always wondered about tipping for your bags at the hotel.  I don't have a problem with the amount (in fact, I usually tip more than the "recommended" amount).  My question is, do I tip the guy at the curb who I give my bags to, or the guy who actually brings them to the room?  Or both?  (I usually do both -- if I've got 2 big suitcases and two smaller items like a computer bag or a small grocery bag, I usually tip $10 on each end.)

On my first trip to Las Vegas I read a travel book that said to bring at least $20 in singles (new bills take less room in a wallet), also more in $5's and $10's. Took care of tipping for the airport shuttle, buying a newspaper or drink right off the plane and at the hotel. Tipping the host at a show got me and my guest two front row seats. I still tip when the wait staff brings me water and I know it's only a dollar or two but it's appreciated. 

We are locals.  We go to the bank and ask for $100 in singles and $200 in $2 bills.  Before we go out, we check out wallets to make sure we have enough tipping money.  We tip cocktail waitresses with a $2 bill.  They remember you, also other folks who get tips do too. $2 bills are so unusual that most people like them.  Usually our branch has them, but if not, they order them for us and call when they're in.  Remember, if you've been tipping a cocktail waitress $1 for the last 20 years you should be tipping $2.

Dave Says "So if the smallest bill I have is $10 and I only have 1 bag, I shouldn’t ask for $5 change?"

That would be correct, for a gentleman to be a man!  The alternative is, stand in the line inside yourself and wait. Simple enough.

And then Dave said "Would it be better if I didn’t tip at all???"

ONLY if you want to look like an ass!  

Remember, these folks are doing YOU A FAVOR.  You should be appreciative of this SERVICE and not be a cheapskate.  

TRUE STORY...friends flying to an Africa Safari, and running late, used a curbside cap (which they never used before) to check in four large bags. They were flustered and never thought to tip.  They never saw there bags again..  United paid them $1000 and they never learned the fate of the skycap.  WAS IT AN ACCIDENT?

I always make sure I have 2 dollar bills before I leave or plenty of ones and 5. I hate going inside to check my bags and they deserve to be fairly compensated. If I do not have change that is on me

There's NOTHING WRONG with asking for change. It's the actual amount of the tip that makes you look cheap or not. If a typical tip is $2, and you provide a large bill asking for change so that the tip is $5, how is that bad??? You're actually doing the person a favor by removing some of his small bills.

I speak from experience. For about 10 years until C-19 hit, I worked 5-6 nights per week as a poker dealer is a bar league.

The players know that it's illegal for the dealers to get paid, so the players tip, typically $2-$5 per game. There's 3 games per night.

I learned the hard way to always carry change. In the beginning when I couldn't make change, players would say they'd get me next time, but more often than not, they would forget - and I believed it improper to remind them.

Now, I always have change. Usually a rubber band with a dozen or so packets of $20 - a ten, a five and five singles.

Always use curbside check-in when flying home from Vegas, me & a buddy one bag each always tip $10 (total for both of us) I'm not a big spender by any means but feel $5 would be my minimum to tip these guys.

Good point about the virus/shutdown having affecting curbside guys incomes too.  

This may not work now, but it did five years ago.  I was in Vegas for a meeting and had plenty of samples, files, etc. that I needed to pack back home.  My luggage was definitely over 50 lbs.  Checking the bag inside would have cost me $75.  I checked curbside and even mentioned it was "heavy".  Curbside porter winked and said he had it covered.  Gave him a $20 and considered it a huge discount.  Bags got home in perfect shape.

I always use curbside bag check when it's available because it makes the trip so much easier. I tip $5 for one bag or $10 for two bags. I am also friendly and smile a lot, which makes the transaction nicer for both of us. I also make sure the skycap knows that I appreciate the service he/she provides since I know it's a difficult job.