Today, I read a post in one of my Facebook travel groups that shocked me. Basically, it said this:
Friendly reminder, if you’re using your Priority Pass credit at an airport restaurant or bar, make sure you tip your server on the full amount! Some people aren’t tipping at all, because Priority Pass reduces their bills to $0!
As someone with years of restaurant experience under my belt, I was happy to read a post from someone that gets it. Most people in the food industry don’t make millions of dollars, they’re just as happy to see you save some money as you are! So don’t shy away from using coupons, but be sure to tip on the full amount of the bill, before they applied your discount. Just imagine if we all stiffed the severs over at our favorite Timberline lounge!
A lovely burger and fries from the Timberline lounge, generously comped by Priority Pass.
As I’m sure many of you are, I’m a fan of Groupon. Whether in my hometown or traveling the world, I’ll often check Groupon for something interesting to do later that weekend. I noticed recently that the company added some language to their restaurant offers:
Kudos to you Groupon! Thanks for supporting the restaurants you do business with!
Think of it this way: the price you pay, is separate from the work it takes for your meal. That’s what we’re all about here at Points With a Crew, maximizing the value of our work. So we use coupons and discounts and miles (oh my!), to get the best value out of the work we put into all of our frequent flyer program, credit cards, and anything else we can use.
When you use your Priority Pass at one of their member restaurants, your bill is reduced. Does it reduce the time, energy, or materials put into your food? Is the server suddenly $27 less attentive to your table? No. I won’t tell you how much to tip, that’s ultimately up to you, but please, tip on the full amount of the meal, before your Priority Pass kicks in.
Let’s look at the big picture here guys…if servers are unhappy with us Priority Pass people, they talk to management. Management thinks Priority Pass people are more hassle than they’re worth. Restaurant leaves Priority Pass. Priority Pass people (us) have nowhere to stuff our faces when we travel!
Don’t push them out. Make it easy for restaurants to partner with Priority Pass, and take care of your server while you’re at it!
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
“Think of it this way: the price you pay, is separate from the work it takes for your meal.”
I agree with this quote, which makes it strange that tips are based on a percentage. It takes as much work to bring me a salad as it does filet mignon. But I’m supposed to tip more on the steak?
I would never leave a restaurant without leaving a tip… Restaurant staff have a difficult job and they deserve the recognition.
This tipping cultire in US is sick. All because greedy owners do not pay proper wages. And even worse American spread this “culture” to other countries.
Tipping is a scam that American restaurant owners use. They should properly compensate their staff with the right salary. Why is dining out cheaper in Japan and no tips needed yet better service and proper hourly salary? The ingredients are more expensive in Japan so is labor cost… Same in most European countries….
Ken while in the abstract I agree with you and it would be my preference that there was no expectation of tipping and everything was just included in the prices, that unfortunately is not the world we live in. Leaving no tip and a note on the receipt that says “Tell your employer that she should compensate you more” seems like not a great option and only hurts the server, who doesn’t make the rules. Similarly commenting on Internet posts does not seem to be a likely impetus for change. I actually spent a bit of time this afternoon after seeing your comment thinking about what I might do if I had absolute power and I think the “best” way forward might be just eliminating the exemption from paying minimum wage for occupations where tips are expected. Though I’m sure that’s been discussed and there are likely a ton of expected (and unexpected) consequences from that. Until that happens though, I will tip should I find myself in a sit-down restaurant, which is not particularly often
Just think twice every time you purchase a Groupon.
I recently purchased a Groupon and days later arrived to a padlocked restaurant. They had closed with no notice. The owner was outside and “offered to accept my Groupon at his other restaurant”. A month later groupon agreed to a refund but I am still out the cab fare and other expenses finding a replacement restaurant.
For those that do not like the ways things work in the US of A, head back to any country you like and do not complain the good ole US of A.
Every time I have dined with priority pass, I always ask about gratuity and they always tell me, it’s included automatically. Not to say that I wouldn’t add more, but according to every waiter/waitress I’ve had there, they always confirm it’s included already.
That goes against literally everything I’ve ever said and what’s on the PP website
No way that is policy.
As a different example, I pulled out my card to tip my server at a Sheraton breakfast buffet after using a voucher card. She said the tip was included. The voucher card literally has “Gratuity is not included” printed on it. Not sure what she was thinking or if she was embarrassed to process just a tip, but it made it awkward since I didn’t have any cash to leave. I really had no choice but to leave and head to our office.
In any case, if they are telling you that, they are shooting themselves in the foot. I tipped my server at the Timberline Grill in Denver just fine last time I passed through.
For those who believe restaurants should pay more to eliminate the need to tip, here’s what I’ve done for the past 5 years. If service is as expected, I leave a 20% tip on the full amount, before any discounts or “freebies.” Any fraction gets rounded up to the next $. My view is, if I can afford a $50 tab, I also can afford the extra $2.50 to go from 15% to 20%. Above 20% if the service exceeds expectations. One time, I saw a party leave and when the servers cleared the table, they found a measly $2 tip on a $80 meal. The same server handled my table. In addition to my own tip, I gave them a $20 bill and apologized on behalf of the neanderthals who had just left across the aisle.
And instead of “command and control” so favored by some segments of society, keep tipping voluntary. I urge all who dine to adopt my practice to render irrelevant the argument that “wages are too low.”
I regularly feel pressure to tip my servers in a manner that makes their hourly wage higher than mine is as a software developer.
I agree that tipping is mandatory, but 20% being the norm really needs to be re-thought.
DO YOU TIP THE POSTAL WORKER WHO BRINGS YOUR MAIL?
Nobody gives better service and for about $.50 they will bring you a letter.
DO YOU TIP THE GROCERY STORE CLERK?
They handle every piece of food you buy.
DO YOU TIP THE JEWELRY STORE CLERK?
Not all are on commission you know.
INSTEAD OF 20% WHY NOT JUST DOUBLE THE BILL AND LEAVE THAT?
Since it really is only a bit more and 20% is just some made up amount anyway, do the right think and double the bill!
Byron – DO YOU REALLY THINK WE ARE THE ONLY SMART PEOPLE IN THE WORLD?
Wouldn’t it be a bunch better if employees got paid a fair wage for doing a good job and didn’t have to beg for tips.
My 2 cents – regardless of your opinion on tipping policy or culture, not tipping your servers probably isn’t the way to fix it. If you were boycotting the whole restaurant scene, sure, take your dollars elsewhere. But by stiffing the servers, the only person hurt is that server. The chefs still get a wage, the managers still get a wage, and most importantly, the owners still get the profits.
When you don’t tip, the server is the only person not getting paid. Starve out the owners’ profits though, and you might actually see some change in the industry.
Cam – Not tipping your server is the BEST way to fix it.
Servers who ultimately do not make enough will demand higher wages or move on to a different job forcing the business to pay fair wages.
With a less than 4% unemployment rate better jobs are available so why subsidize business with low pay ranges. If that business can’t survive by paying fair wages they should consider changing their business plan.
Bob, I think I disagree here. Your method would probably lead to change after some time, but there would be higher ‘casualties’ so to speak. If people just boycotted restaurants altogether, I feel as though the change would be faster, as the people who are in charge (managers, owners) feel the pain faster. I’m a big fan of taking things straight to the source of the problem. If the business is the problem, let’s tackle it there, and not drag down the server’s standard of life along the way.
Cam – I am all for resolving the issue but not showing up or boycotting a restaurant will not leave an obvious explanation for the silent boycott.
And no I just don’t care enough to stage sit ins and demonstrations with placards decrying the sleazy way business owners put the burden on service workers.
Leaving tips further enables the business to continue this practice of silently requiring workers to essentially beg for outside payment.
I think the most effective way is through tough love. No tips will encourage good service workers to seek fair wages at a better business and better the business will see the true value in paying fair wages for good service workers.
People should stop blaming restaurant owners. It is not like they all got together and came up with this plan. It is a culture thing, plain and simple. There are a FEW restaurants that have raised the pay for the staff, and then of course, raised the price of the meals to compensate which make sense to anyone that has managed ANY kind of business. (but does not make sense to those that are naive)
gary – Yes it is just like that. Restaurants all got together and came up with this plan. Not with conscious collusion but rather a collective understanding that if there were 10 unemployed service workers 5 of them will take lower wages rather than not work.
This is the economics of business.
Business owners will never change unless there is a financial incentive, that is the nature of business.
If I were a service worker I would work for the business that paid the best. Of course I would have to be great at my job if I wanted top pay. That is what I would strive for. Excellent performance that demanded top pay.
That way I wouldn’t have to beg customers for money to supplement my under paid salary.
I’m a bit confused. All the lounges I’ve been to have some sort of buffet/lunch counter set-up. Are there places that serve you at a table like in a restaurant? Granted, I’ve only had a chance to see the cheaper Pri Pass versions 🙂
If you are talking about the self-serve versions, who do you tip? 7x out of 10 no one clears my table while I’m there, and if I see a person w/a cart or tray, I’ll wait til they’re not busy & then walk my coffee cup/bowl over to them.
Am I being a bad customer or am I just hitting the low end lounges?
Anna – most of the lounges are what you described. In some airports, there aren’t actual Priority Pass lounges and so in those airports (like Denver), your Priority Pass card gives you a set amount (usually $28) towards a meal at a particular restaurant. In those restaurants it is customary to tip