Tipping is arguably more prevalent in the United States than in any other country. For many services, it’s often expected that customers leave a 15% to 20% gratuity. Still, there are certain instances when you don’t need to tip at all, and knowing when not to add a gratuity is useful intel when traveling around the country. Here are five things you shouldn’t tip for when traveling in the United States.
Counter Service
Whether you just landed at the airport or pulled off the highway to stop at a service station, you may be tempted to grab a burger and fries at the nearest fast-food restaurant. But unlike at eateries where waiters bring the food to your table and clean up after you, there’s no expectation to leave a tip at eateries that offer counter service.
Etiquette experts say tipping in these types of eateries — whether larger chains like Starbucks and McDonald’s or local delis and takeaways — is entirely discretionary. And research from the Pew Center reveals that just 12% of Americans reported leaving a tip for counter service. So, you shouldn’t feel obligated to leave a gratuity, even if you see a prompt on the touch screen to do so. That said, it would certainly be appreciated by the staff if you left a few dollars in the tip jar to thank them for excellent service.
Hotel Receptionists
If a hotel valet parks your car, a bellhop brings bags up to your room, or a housekeeper cleans up after you, then leaving them a few dollars is a standard gesture. (For more detail, see our ultimate guide to tipping at hotels.) However, there’s one scenario where leaving an additional gratuity is quite uncommon: at the front desk.
When checking in, you may be asked to provide your credit card for the cost of the room or incidentals, but there’s no need to tip on top of that. There are, of course, exceptions where you may want to thank the receptionist for going above and beyond, such as if they booked you into a specific room or handled a special request, but there’s no expectation of you doing so.
Flight Attendants
Many flight attendants go out of their way to ensure the comfort and safety of their passengers. But no matter how excellently they perform those duties, you shouldn’t leave them a tip. According to Travel + Leisure, the majority of major airlines discourage staff members from taking any cash tips, and per Fodor’s, some companies like United and Allegiant have banned the practice outright.
One notable exception is budget airline Frontier, which is known to prompt passengers who buy food or drink to leave a gratuity on their digital tablet, according to CNBC. If you’d like to thank your flight attendant for their assistance, kind words of gratitude are always appreciated, or you can go above and beyond and gift them some individually wrapped candies or other tokens of your appreciation.
Certain Professionals
Urgent medical issues can arise at any time, even when you’re on vacation. But if you suddenly need to see a doctor or visit a hospital while traveling around the U.S., leaving a tip should be the last thing on your mind. As noted by etiquette expert Thomas Farley, there’s no need to tip people who earn a full salary or perform a trade, such as doctors, lawyers, teachers, and plumbers. Farley states that “it would be highly unorthodox and very awkward” to do, and perhaps even misconstrued as a bribe. Medical costs are already high enough, even if you have insurance, so don’t worry about paying any more than you need to.
Unsafe Drivers
In the U.S., it’s customary to tip taxi or ride-share app drivers (such as Uber or Lyft) 20% at the end of your ride. Even mediocre experiences generally warrant at least 10%, according to etiquette experts interviewed by Reader’s Digest.
But if you feel unsafe while riding in the back of a car, you should never feel obligated to tip the driver. Maybe their driving was reckless, or maybe they made unwanted flirtatious advances. Either way, that type of behavior is highly unprofessional and potentially dangerous, and it should be reported — either by filing a complaint within the app or via a police report. Just try to be honest with your assessment, and don’t skimp out on tipping the drivers who do perform an excellent job.
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