Should I tip on the Amtrak train?
I've never rode on an Amtrak train before- in this case I'll be riding the Silver Star which allows for checked luggage and has a dining car. Is it customary to tip Amtrak personnel?
For example- is it customary to tip the server or personnel at the dining car, the person that delivers meals to the room, or the person that helps carry my luggage?
Best Answer
It is recommended to tip:
The Complete North American Train Travel Guide,” recommends $5 per passenger per night for sleeping-car attendants, and the standard 15 percent of what the meals would cost if you paid (prices are on the menu) outright.
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How much should I tip on Amtrak?
Jim Loomis, author of \u201cAll Aboard! The Complete North American Train Travel Guide,\u201d recommends $5 per passenger per night for sleeping-car attendants, and the standard 15 percent of what the meals would cost if you paid (prices are on the menu) outright. Come prepared with a stash of small bills.How much should you tip your Amtrak sleeper car attendant?
While tipping isn't required, leaving a gratuity is the norm. Usually, for one night in a sleeper, I suggest about $10 per person/per night. If your room attendant brings your meals to you in your room, then think about adding more to the tip as you would have left a tip anyway for the dining car waiter.Do you tip Amtrak First Class?
Friendly service usually gets a little larger tip. For the Dining Car Attendants; it is typically recommended that you tip just like you do in a restaurant; 15 - 20% depending on the quality of the service. For those in First Class where the meals are included, it is important to remember that the tips are not.Is it rude to talk on the phone on Amtrak?
Privacy is a good thing and when you're on speaker phone all that privacy is well\u2026all gone. In order to avoid other riders listening to both sides of your chat, avoid all speaker phone conversations at all times. With the engines, the chatter and the train stops, it gets loud on the train. But it also gets quiet.Amtrak Food Options And Tipping Information
More answers regarding should I tip on the Amtrak train?
Answer 2
Disclaimer: I'm not American, so the extreme tipping culture is pretty alien to me, but I did find some information online which seemed to be accurate when I've been around on Amtrak before.
At the dining car, your meals are free if you have sleeping accommodation, but whether or not you've paid for your meal, the suggestion is to look at the prices on the menu, and tip according to the price you would have paid were you paying full price, by the usual American restaurant standards (ie 10-20% depending on level of service; I tended to just go with 20% because it's easy to calculate and I thought the service was good).
If you have sleeping accommodation, you will have an attendant in your sleeping car who helps you set up your beds, etc.. Towards the end of your journey, or even as you leave the train, give them around $5 per person per night, at least unless you had bad service.
I don't think I made use of any luggage services, but I'd imagine tipping whatever you'd tip a porter at a hotel would be appropriate. A dollar or two maybe? If you're American, please do chip in in the comments.
You shouldn't try to tip the engineers or conductors, of course, since they're not service roles.
Answer 3
To give an update on this trip I addressed in the question- I rode in coach-class on this particular train round-trip from Columbia SC to Washington DC. I did not have to tip anyone riding in coach. You do not tip unless you specifically request or receive services. I brought my own food and drink so I didn't have to visit the dining car/restaurant.
Checked luggage pickup at Washington D.C. was conveyed on an airport-type turnstile system until it reached the assigned terminal for pickup. At smaller stations like Columbia they just put the bags outside on racks for pickup. You do not tip to pick up your own checked luggage. But there are Amtrak employees nearby that you could ask for help and that is essentially asking for extra services and I could understand tipping for that.
TLDR: if you don't want to tip just buy a coach ticket, stay in coach the whole trip, take your own food and drink, and do not ask for help with grabbing carry-ons or checked luggage.
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