Tipping on Amtrak

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Aside from turning down the bed what else do you need the SCA for? Maybe meals and a wake up alert for your station but that's about it. If the SCA does the room in a reasonable and timely fashion I'm happy.
When I'm in a roomette or other type of room that I cannot lock from the outside, I am reliant on the SCA for keeping a vigilant eye on making sure there is nobody in the car who shouldn't be there. Obviously they are not a security guard and cannot watch everything 24/7, but I think their presence strengthens security.
 
I don’t need them for conversation, I realize they are busy, but for basic needs, if I need you to help me an old lady to put my carry on up, to check on me from time to time,to bring water, to pick up my tray after I have eaten and not leave it outside my door for hours,I’m not needy,I’m not whiny, but do your job.
 
Tipping has become strange post-pandemic in general so I'm not surprised about the lack of tips, but I also struggle with tipping appropriately as everything is already paid for. Might be an interesting post for someone to write up and pin for a "new to Amtrak" piece.
If by strange you mean completely out of control I would have to agree. There is almost no service, no task, and no transaction too small to request a tip at this point. Even actions that amount to handing back a purchase a customer selected and brought to a register now count as a tipping event. It's crazy to me.
 
I didn't think I'd cause such a consternation about tips, but I'll try to bring it back on-topic.

Now that we have explicit prices on meals: $20 for breakfast, $25 for lunch, $45 for dinner - how does everyone feel about 20% tips? That's $18/day for three meals to the LSAs, and not including tips to the SCAs.

I might argue newer riders don't tip because everything's included in the ticket process and perhaps Amtrak employees are Federal? Tipping/gifts gets weird for the postal service, so I can imagine the internal conflict around Amtrak employees.

If by strange you mean completely out of control I would have to agree. There is almost no service, no task, and no transaction too small to request a tip at this point. Even actions that amount to handing back a purchase a customer selected and brought to a register now count as a tipping event. It's crazy to me.
That's what I meant. I'm old enough to remember "general" tipping rules, even when the service industry was attempting to tweak at the margins and percentages. (First 15%, then 18%, then 20%, and maybe 18% with tax included, etc....) Now I get asked to tip my Italian grocer which is connected to a restaurant, and we have a good laugh about it.

I wouldn't mind paying higher bills pre-tip if the money went towards paying those who work living wages, and then (like Europe) rounding up or tipping up to 10%. The "pay for performing" aspect of tipping in its current scheme in the USA has made tipping feel somewhat contrived.
 
- how does everyone feel about 20% tips? That's $18/day for three meals to the LSAs, and not including tips to the SCAs.

I might argue newer riders don't tip because everything's included in the ticket process and perhaps Amtrak employees are Federal? Tipping/gifts gets weird for the postal service, so I can imagine the internal conflict around Amtrak employees.


That's what I meant. I'm old enough to remember "general" tipping rules, even when the service industry was attempting to tweak at the margins and percentages. (First 15%, then 18%, then 20%, and maybe 18% with tax included, etc....) Now I get asked to tip my Italian grocer which is connected to a restaurant, and we have a good laugh about it.
For years the tip rate for waiters was 15%. Then people realized that if they paid with a credit card, the bank was raking 3% off the top for everything. So then it was considered a good idea to tip 18% when paying with a credit card to ensure that the waiter got a 15% tip. Somehow this has morphed into a 20% tip. My current practice is to tip 18% if I'm paying with a credit card, 15% if paying with cash, but then for meals of less than $50 the difference isn't all that much, and I've got no problem with dropping a little extra cash on a relatively low-paid waiter, especially those who work at places where the dinner checks aren't so big.

For Amtrak waiters, who are paid decently, unless the service is abysmal I will pay a flat $5 for dinner and $3 for breakfast and lunch, unless I get some exceptional service. Of course this is conditional on my having remembered to stock up of small-denomination banknotes before the trip. It seems I'm carrying less and less cash as time goes on.
 
For years the tip rate for waiters was 15%. Then people realized that if they paid with a credit card, the bank was raking 3% off the top for everything. So then it was considered a good idea to tip 18% when paying with a credit card to ensure that the waiter got a 15% tip. Somehow this has morphed into a 20% tip. My current practice is to tip 18% if I'm paying with a credit card, 15% if paying with cash, but then for meals of less than $50 the difference isn't all that much, and I've got no problem with dropping a little extra cash on a relatively low-paid waiter, especially those who work at places where the dinner checks aren't so big.

For Amtrak waiters, who are paid decently, unless the service is abysmal I will pay a flat $5 for dinner and $3 for breakfast and lunch, unless I get some exceptional service. Of course this is conditional on my having remembered to stock up of small-denomination banknotes before the trip. It seems I'm carrying less and less cash as time goes on.
In my travel notes I have a reminder to have tip money available. I usually go to the bank teller :eek: and make a withdrawal with a note as to how many of each denomination I want. I then put the money in a special container to put in my luggage. I have already done this for my upcoming trip.
 
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For Amtrak waiters, who are paid decently, unless the service is abysmal I will pay a flat $5 for dinner and $3 for breakfast and lunch, unless I get some exceptional service. Of course this is conditional on my having remembered to stock up of small-denomination banknotes before the trip. It seems I'm carrying less and less cash as time goes on.
That's pretty much what I do as well.
 
For years the tip rate for waiters was 15%. Then people realized that if they paid with a credit card, the bank was raking 3% off the top for everything. So then it was considered a good idea to tip 18% when paying with a credit card to ensure that the waiter got a 15% tip. Somehow this has morphed into a 20% tip. My current practice is to tip 18% if I'm paying with a credit card, 15% if paying with cash, but then for meals of less than $50 the difference isn't all that much, and I've got no problem with dropping a little extra cash on a relatively low-paid waiter, especially those who work at places where the dinner checks aren't so big.

For Amtrak waiters, who are paid decently, unless the service is abysmal I will pay a flat $5 for dinner and $3 for breakfast and lunch, unless I get some exceptional service. Of course this is conditional on my having remembered to stock up of small-denomination banknotes before the trip. It seems I'm carrying less and less cash as time goes on.
We always tip the Red Cap cart drivers $5 to get us and our carry-on items from the Metropolitan Lounge to our sleeping car or coach.

Eric & Pat
 
I despise the practice of some restaurants skimming the tips. So I Cr Card 10% or make total charge simple dollar and cash the rest personally it I can.. That way it gets most to waiter.
 
My tip clip is for tips only. I wouldn’t normally spend it on other cash purchase like a soft drink,. Just tips.

A money clip, of course works but a big paper clip works fine also.

This is how much cash I carry. It worked on a 13 segment trip. Only two segments were in sleeper class.

TIP CLIP
20 each - one dollar bills
20 each - Five dollar bills
10 each - $10 bills

I keep the tip clip in the pants or shirt pocket so that I don’t have to show my wallet. This really works pretty good.
 
My tip clip is for tips only. I wouldn’t normally spend it on other cash purchase like a soft drink,. Just tips.

A money clip, of course works but a big paper clip works fine also.

This is how much cash I carry. It worked on a 13 segment trip. Only two segments were in sleeper class.

TIP CLIP
20 each - one dollar bills
20 each - Five dollar bills
10 each - $10 bills

I keep the tip clip in the pants or shirt pocket so that I don’t have to show my wallet. This really works pretty good.
I calculate how much I'll need before a trip, and go to the bank to get it. Here;s a recent trip with Flex dining:
1684943653875.png
 
I calculate how much I'll need before a trip, and go to the bank to get it. Here;s a recent trip with Flex dining:
View attachment 32584
Boy, you certainly have methodical approach 👏.

I just stop in at my bank and get $20 in singles. $5s, $10s and $20s usually take care of themselves😉
 
Tipping even at restaurants is confusing these days. But on Amtrak, for me it is simple--10 dollars per person per night in a sleeper to the SCA, less is service was perfunctory, more if above-and beyond; and if surly or begruding, nada--like when our SCA on the Empire Builder informed me that if we wanted our beds made up, he'd do it at 6 pm--otherwise we'd have to fend for ourselves. I do a standard 3 dollar per person breakfast tip, 5 per person for lunch and 10 per person for dinner, again with more for above-and-beyond service, and none for rude service. As has been emphasized here, tipping is optional, but this is my preference.

Biggest problem is having enough actual cash on hand--I better get to the bank while I'm thinking about our upcoming trip and stock up now!
 
Tipping even at restaurants is confusing these days. But on Amtrak, for me it is simple--10 dollars per person per night in a sleeper to the SCA, less is service was perfunctory, more if above-and beyond; and if surly or begruding, nada--like when our SCA on the Empire Builder informed me that if we wanted our beds made up, he'd do it at 6 pm--otherwise we'd have to fend for ourselves. I do a standard 3 dollar per person breakfast tip, 5 per person for lunch and 10 per person for dinner, again with more for above-and-beyond service, and none for rude service. As has been emphasized here, tipping is optional, but this is my preference.

Biggest problem is having enough actual cash on hand--I better get to the bank while I'm thinking about our upcoming trip and stock up now!

My tipping on the train matches yours exactly!

I find fives go fastest so I take 20 of them and 20 ones out of the bank before a trip. If I’m running low on either, whatever hotel I’m at can usually change a $20.

I give $5 to redcaps and leave $5 for housekeeping each time I have my room cleaned.

I base tips for others (taxi drivers, restaurant waiters, etc.) on performance and attitude.
 
My tipping on the train matches yours exactly!

I find fives go fastest so I take 20 of them and 20 ones out of the bank before a trip. If I’m running low on either, whatever hotel I’m at can usually change a $20.

I give $5 to redcaps and leave $5 for housekeeping each time I have my room cleaned.

I base tips for others (taxi drivers, restaurant waiters, etc.) on performance and attitude.
I have also found that $2.00 bills are great for tipping for a quick request. Only problem is getting them. Banks (at least mine) has a limited number on hand. I usually tip the SCA $10.00 when boarding then $10-20.00 at the end depending. After all "TIPS" means to insure prompt service. And 99% of the time it works well. Being raised by tips (mom only made $1.85/hour as a bartender) I know their importance. And I learned from a very nice blind couple and their service dog that I assisted boarding a small chartered plane offered me $20.00 (in 1972). I said no and the husband got perturbed and told me that I should never refuse a tip as it is offensive to the person offering it.
 
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