Passenger Trains > Tipping on Amtrak sleeper cars

In "All Aboard," Jim Loomis suggests that one tip a sleeping car attendant $10 to $15 per person, per day.  If I board the Lake Shore Limited at NYP at 3:40 pm and arrive in CHI (as scheduled) at 9:45 am the next day, is that considered one day or two?  

Consider it ONE OVERNIGHT.

I usually figure $10 per room (not per person) per night.

Andy

I agree with the $10 per night. But on the other hand, don't feel obligated if you didn't get any service from them.

irhoghead Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I agree with the $10 per night. But on the other
> hand, don't feel obligated if you didn't get any
> service from them.

Yes. 

$10 per person is a good number if you received good service like
---made up the bed at the time requested
---helped with luggage when boarding (that's becoming unusual, unfortunately)
---helped or offered to help with luggage when leaving
---asked when it would be convenient to convert the room back to chairs

I've had to help "prime the pump" on several trips by making a point of thanking and tipping the steward.  People stick their heads into my room and ask what's a decent number, and "I didn't know a tip was expected, etc"

Years ago, I considered $5/night 'about right'.  If I had exceptional service, $10.  I made $10 my 'OK' amount about 6-7 years ago.  I've also given only $5 when the Superliner restrooms were never cleaned enroute, or the coffee/juice/bottled water failed to materialize in the AM, etc. 

But this past May, on the California Zephyr from Sacramento to Chicago, I gave the man $40 for two nights...beyond exceptional service, very friendly, had no problem chatting with me or other passengers at length, kept the car and restrooms stocked and very clean.  At Ohaha, the passenger in a wheelchair in the handicap room wasn't met trackside, so he pushed him and carried his luggage all the way from the our sleeper (about 6 car lengths from the station) into the station!  That's far above and beyond the call of duty in my book!  AND...he was going to retire this October, as I recall.  He had been a car attendant for most of his adult life.  He knew how to do it RIGHT, and DID!  I wish him well in his retirement years!

My problem about tipping.
I am a retired senior on a fixed income.Amtrak travel is
expensive.Those people make a lot more money than
I do.It is their job.


Uncle Joe,Seffner,Fl.

This is one employment profession where service is everything.   What amazes me, still, on my most recent overnight trip to Denver, is just how good it really can be despite all the trash-talk directed at Amtrak in general.   I've had some of the best customer service in any profession EVER on board Amtrak sleepers, and, in years past, scattered instances of the worst where I felt compelled to report it where it was equally memorable.   But it's still like 20 good to 1 bad.   I don't consider $20 out of line, but you'll earn it.   I really enjoy talking to the attendants and crews myself, they have wonderful stories to tell.

Years ago I was headed back from Seattle to Pittsburgh with my family, and it just happened to be on my youngest son's birthday - we had a family bedroom.   I asked my attendant if there was anyplace in Union Station where I could maybe get a small cake for that night in the Capitol.   He communicated ahead to St. Paul, where he ordered a cake (decorated!), picked it up there,  got it to me, got it transferred to the Capitol through Chicago, and communicated to the next crew it was my kids birthday.   On board the Capitol, we got not just the cake, but an orchestrated impromptu birthday party in the diner, hats, candles, Amtrak swag.   Unbelievable.   Even today, my adult kids ask me how I ever pulled that one off.   I didn't, that attendant did.  And he got the biggest tip I've ever given in my life for that one.



 

randgust Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is one employment profession where service is
> everything.   What amazes me, still, on my most
> recent overnight trip to Denver, is just how good
> it really can be despite all the trash-talk
> directed at Amtrak in general.   I've had some
> of the best customer service in any
> profession EVER on board Amtrak sleepers, and, in
> years past, scattered instances of the worst where
> I felt compelled to report it where it was equally
> memorable.   But it's still like 20 good to 1
> bad.   I don't consider $20 out of line, but
> you'll earn it.   I really enjoy talking to the
> attendants and crews myself, they have wonderful
> stories to tell.
>
> Years ago I was headed back from Seattle to
> Pittsburgh with my family, and it just happened to
> be on my youngest son's birthday - we had a family
> bedroom.   I asked my attendant if there was
> anyplace in Union Station where I could maybe get
> a small cake for that night in the Capitol.  
> He communicated ahead to St. Paul, where he
> ordered a cake (decorated!), picked it up there,
>  got it to me, got it transferred to the Capitol
> through Chicago, and communicated to the next crew
> it was my kids birthday.   On board the Capitol,
> we got not just the cake, but an orchestrated
> impromptu birthday party in the diner, hats,
> candles, Amtrak swag.   Unbelievable.   Even
> today, my adult kids ask me how I ever pulled that
> one off.   I didn't, that attendant did.  And
> he got the biggest tip I've ever given in my life
> for that one.
>
>
>
>  

That's a great story, I wonder if Amtrak would publish it in the employee maazine?  Hits a lot of good customer service buttons

(NOTE TO AMTRAK LURKERS - get this info, it's great!)

retcsxcfm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My problem about tipping.
> I am a retired senior on a fixed income.Amtrak
> travel is
> expensive.Those people make a lot more money than
> I do.It is their job.
>
>
> Uncle Joe,Seffner,Fl.

​Personally I feel that if one can afford to travel they can also tip.