In the diner I usually tip 15% or so based on the value of the meal and adjust upward the better the service, as I would in any restaurant. But I see a lot of travelers who fail in this basic courtesy.

The standard for a sleeping car attendant is $5 per night, but I know these guys and gals work very hard, so I tend to give more.

I also like to tip coach attendants a dollar or two. They rarely get tips, and their faces really light up when they get a "note" of appreciation.

------------------
Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy

But let's not forget that Amtrak employees are infinitely better paid than, say, the guy behind the counter at your local Starbucks. Tipping on trains is strictly voluntary. You should never feel it's "required."

I try to be as generous as possible when someone does a good job. But some crew members simply don't merit a reward.

When a dining car server is rude, lazy, or totally incompetent? Or when a sleeping car attendant does a two day disappearing act?

$5 is the more common figure I've heard (and use). OTOH I rarely need car attendants, maybe twice a day to make up or fold up the bed, that's all. If they were bringing you food, especially from the diner, then that is a different matter.

BTW how are the tips divided in the diner? I've had an extremely surly head waiter but my actual server was brilliant. When I left a tip for her, he actually collected it. I'd be extremely annoyed if he pocketed it.

I have to believe that most people do not realize the work that is being done by the train crew while the passengers are doing other things (sleeping, dining, etc.)

I tend to take short day trips and only go to the cafe if the car is not crowded. I give the cafe attendant a tip but honestly never though to give the coach attendant a tip.

An attendant would have to fail to make my bunk, leave used bedding about for unreasonable time in the morning, stack luggage in the shower stall of a Viewliner in the hope that I and others would "do without", and in general "get lost".

Then that might be cause for a stiff, along with adverse communication to Amtrak.

My "schedule'

To TA/S
$5 per person/night
(minimum $10 for Deluxe)
$3 for each gofer in excess of one per day.
$10 for any meal brought to room.

Tipping the folks in the dinning car and bar got me treated like a VIP. It really is a no brainer and works both ways. but it seems I am preaching to the choir:!!!

Actually. . .

I've not only "traveled" with car attendants who've pulled ALL of the above, I've encountered one weasel (on the Empire Builder) who suggested I was perfectly capable of making up my own bed before turning in for the night. This, after I'd overheard him say the same thing to the passengers in the room next door.

When I declined to do his job for him, he pulled an attitude, literally threw the bed together. . . and then promptly disappeared until nearly noon the next day.

I guess he must have had amnesia. He tried to pull the same routine all over again the following night.

P.S. During the entire 2210 mile trip, the clown never once put out coffee, soft drinks, or bottled water (he kept the plastic-sealed boxes stacked in an empty compartment with the door closed).

And whenever a paper towel or toilet paper dispenser in one of the rest rooms ran out? You guessed it. It stayed empty.

Actually, I did contact customer service.

They thanked me very much for blowing the whistle. But I received zilch (and I'm a Guest Rewards member, too).

quote:

---

Originally posted by CK:
Dilly,....You have a reasonable chance of obtaining a voucher for future travel. It has worked for me in the past....

---

Amtrak dropped its unconditional satisfaction guarantee, so what worked in the past won't work anymore. I think travel vouchers are long gone, except perhaps for the most extreme service problems. Some minor compensation, such as a 10% discount coupon, might be in order, though.

------------------
Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy

I probably didn't sound outraged enough. The attendant was such a blatant scam artist that I found him more amusing than irritating.

When do you actually tip the cabin attendants? Do you tip daily at the end of each day? If so, do they always come by a certain time in the evening? Or do you just tip them at the end of the trip?

I've never had an attendant carry my bags, bring a meal to me, balance my checkbook, perform open heart surgery, or do anything beyond simply putting down my bed at night and folding it up while I'm at breakfast.

quote:

---

Originally posted by dilly:
I've never had an attendant carry my bags, bring a meal to me, balance my checkbook, perform open heart surgery, or do anything beyond simply putting down my bed at night and folding it up while I'm at breakfast.

---

But don't forget that the attendant refreshes the room between riders with fresh soap, towels, bedding, etc. They also clean the toilets, haul heavy boxes of ice, sodas and juice through the train to the beverage stand and bring in a stack of newspapers in the morning. You benefit from all of this work whether or not the service is provided to your room directly.

I had one attendant stay up all night nursing a failing air conditioner on the California Zephyr, and when it died completely she spent the next day arranging partial refunds for everyone in the car. She was extremely dedicated.

The attendant's "shift" covers a complete round trip, so they do all of these things 24/7 for several days straight. Except for the night the train is turned, they get about four or five hours of sleep, which is interrupted by middle of the night station stops.

So I have nothing but admiration for these people, and I tend to cut them a little slack if they don't always perform to perfection. Unless they screw up completely, a tip is definitely in order.

------------------
Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy

The Del Monte Club Car

I've encountered some excellent attendants. But also some total deadbeats, like the aforementioned guy on the Empire Builder and another clown I once rode with on the Lake Shore Limited.

At this point of the thread, we're talking about multiple tipping (at various times during the trip) as extra insurance that they'll give you more "personal service" and treat you right while on route.

But that hinges on whether you have extra tasks that you hope to entice him into doing (haul your twelve steamer trunks, bring you nonstop meals and snacks, clean up the room after your kid has an accident).

If all you require of him is to assemble and disassemble your bed, I doubt that slipping him an extra five spot, in mid-trip, will spur any otherwise lazy attendant into keeping the public shower cleaner or an empty communal coffee pot filled.

quote:

---

Originally posted by dilly:
If all you require of him is to assemble and disassemble your bed, I doubt that slipping him an extra five spot, in mid-trip, will spur any otherwise lazy attendant into keeping the public shower cleaner or an empty communal coffee pot filled.

---

Yes, I misunderstood. You are correct in that regard.

------------------
Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy