Chat thread – Friday 18th April
Discuss today's stories:
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The last experience I had re tipping was the crafthouse in Leeds where at first they asked what was a matter when I asked for it to be removed, and then they said they could only get the authority from the manager to remove the gratuity. After 10 minutes, and me saying I’m not wasting anymore time and they will need me to contact me for me to pay the bill, they miraculously removed it.
I think anyone that even should dare ask for tips on Uk, customers should boycott it. They would soon get it.
When presented with a credit card to pay the bill in Argentina and Chile, the server always asked “Service?” and then added 10% when I said yes. I don’t have a problem with that when the service has been great as it was in all those cases.
@davefl, where are you off to today? This creeping tipping culture feels like end of civilisation as we know it! Though we had a very nice and reasonably-priced pre-theatre Italian meal in Manchester last night and no service charge was automatically added. Service was exemplary, so it got rounded up to a decent amount!
*Good lord, I just read your 2nd post. Definitely the end of civilisation! Though you’re always taking a massive risk on this travelling in school holidays lol.
Just walked into a Marriott Autograph Collection resort (I will reveal on Saturday’s thread) and the same scan to tip QR code was fixed to the reception desk. It really looked out of place in such a lovely building.
Honestly I thought with the kids being back at school on Tuesday I was ok, and bizarrely today was Jet2’s cheapest fare for this route for several weeks either side. But honestly I should be due a refund for what I put up with on that flight, then over an hour queuing for the rental car, and 45 mins driving on dark country lanes to the hotel.
@Strickers You’re taking the piss right? Nothing cushions a darling 4 year old smashing the back of a seat for 3.5 hours@davefl – what a nightmare! I can’t believe the parents don’t stop children doing this sort of thing; I would be so embarrassed if my child were behaving like that, not only because I don’t want them annoying other people but also because it reflects so badly on me as a parent.
@JDB This was nowhere near the worst experience. 2nd worst was the flight from IST-MAN, father with lap infant in the middle seat, me in the window, family halfway down the plane. By the end of the flight I was bruised all the way down one arm from being kicked and soaking wet from the kid throwing his water around.
1st prize goes to the flight I mentioned on here a couple of years ago, BCN-ACE, where the pilot decided on a go-around at 1000ft, announced he didn’t have enough fuel for a second attempt and diverted to Gran Canaria and then back to ACE. 7 hours in total, kid behind me sat on the tray table for most of the flight bouncing up and down and slamming it back. Mother completely ignored it despite my dirty looks. Child was still sitting on the table during descent and crew ignored it too. I did get full compensation for the delay from Ryanair but not for the antics I endured.
Honourable mention was the couple whose baby was screaming at check in, screaming in the lounge, and then screamed all the way from MAN-ATL in Virgin’s UC. I’ve no idea how one individual of that size can scream for 12 hours straight. Not once did the parents try and do anything. The Virgin crew were as discgusted as I was.
@JDB, I can’t imagine you going to the moving pictures with an 8-year-old, however the children in the cinema this week were actually better behaved than the parents on both side of us who were scrolling on their phones throughout the entire film without even turning the light down to minimum! Someone described it as end of school holiday syndrome where the parents have just detached themselves from any responsibility after nearly 2 weeks of having to entertain their offspring!
@davefl, those cheap prices probably resulted in family trips being booked running from yesterday for a week or 10 days, the 2 bank holidays meant the working parents might only need 3/4 days annual leave and 3/4 days of missed school isn’t necessarily going to trigger a fine. Then another 5 weeks and the little blighters are off again!Another problem these days is that challenging children’s (and probably parents’!) behaviour can result in extreme aggression from the adults which is not a scenario one wants to trigger, especially on a phone. But it’s a microcosm for society in general nowadays, sadly, and there are times when I miss my former powers!
Honourable mention was the couple whose baby was screaming at check in, screaming in the lounge, and then screamed all the way from MAN-ATL in Virgin’s UC.
A few years ago I was in the exact same situation to SFO with people “kidulting”. (Sometime in the early 2000’s parenting reached a new low for some, and has never recovered.) There was nowhere to move to as all seats were occupied, I really needed to get my presentation finished so I calmly asked if I could move down to premium economy. The crew on that flight was extremely attentive and they clearly flagged my profile as crews on the flights for at least the next two months were very attentive as well.
@NorthernLass – I think you are probably being rather generous in suggesting there’s some end of holiday basis for the conduct of these parents in the cinema or on @davefl’s flight. It sounds like they are probably delinquent and their children will be as well, no doubt soon learning a full suite of anti-social behaviour (but little else) and becoming acquainted with the authorities at an early age. And we will all be paying to house and feed them.
@davefl Of course I was, what a nightmare.
@davefl Of course I was, what a nightmare.
It was a 738, and I noticed that all the window blinds had been removed. Never seen that before. Do you think it’s a weight/fuel saving measure?
Was irritating for the 1st hour, my head was burning up.
Regarding the nightmare of the ‘little kicking darlings’ behind oneself v the instant full recliners (often before take off) My husband and I now rather anti-socially book ourselves into two isle seats one behind the other, then make an informed decision based on who ends up behind/infront of us.
Tipping is becoming a nightmare here, yesterday I paid 38 quid for my toe nails to be gelled, and it took about 25 mins, I left 2 quid as a tip as couldn’t bring myself to leave £3.80p, as TBH I thought the 38 quid should have been enough. Recently had a pub lunch for husbands birthday, and I noticed him handing over a ten quid note as a tip, which was far in excess of 10% or the level of service we received, so I need to have a word.
@JDB, it wasn’t me who suggested it! And while it might explain it, it certainly doesn’t excuse it. Don’t forget I had a deep insight into the lives of these families for many years and share your pessimism about the outcomes! However, even relatively affluent families seem reluctant to curtail their offspring’s delinquent behaviour these days and will challenge figures of authority such as teachers and police officers even in the face of damning evidence against their brats.
@Misty, I don’t tip at the salon because I’m a regular customer and I think that’s enough! Your OH might have felt generous because it was his birthday, unless he’s just hopeless with money, like mine, lol.
I did wonder if it’s partly a reaction to the also-growing phenomena of people just not paying at all! Lots of places are now requesting payment up front, which I’m quite happy to oblige with, and it also means you don’t feel pressured to tip …
@Misty, I don’t tip at the salon because I’m a regular customer and I think that’s enough! Your OH might have felt generous because it was his birthday, unless he’s just hopeless with money, like mine, lol.
I did wonder if it’s partly a reaction to the also-growing phenomena of people just not paying at all! Lots of places are now requesting payment up front, which I’m quite happy to oblige with, and it also means you don’t feel pressured to tip …
I hadn’t consider that we might be ‘making up’ for those who leave nothing at all lol. I was at a new place and I think I may have been attended to by one of the owners. My (late)Dad who was a small business owner himself had an unwritten rule that you only tipped staff and not the proprietors.
Regarding the issue of the somewhat delinquent behaviour in the young, I’ve come to the conclusion that the concept of discipline in schools and possibly at home seems to have disappeared. My friend has a 13 year old grandson, who is virtually out of control and seems to know more about ‘his rights’ than anything academic that his poor teachers are rather unsuccessfully trying to instill in him.
@Misty, your fathers rule is one i have used for a long time too – my hairdresser and beautician are owners/self employed and as far as I’m concerned have the ability to set their own rates at an appropriate level without having to rely on tips.
my response “It’s a buffet – there was no service” was met with a blank stare as if it was irrelevant…. 🤷♂️
You should try that line in the USA where self service tills at supermarkets now ask for a tip and also gas stations where you’ve pumped your own gas and then walked inside to pay.
I’d never try that line in the States, as I’m aware of the situation there. But we can’t let things this side of the pond creep in that direction. One of things I love about eating out in France is that they don’t expect a tip – just a little “pourboire” is sufficient.
@davefl Weight, fuel and maintenance. They get broken quite regularly.
We were mulling over a trip to Colombia and I know a few recent contributors have been. I’m normally quite chilled re safety considerations, however I’ve noted news reports of an uptick in rebel activity and the associated possibilities re tourism. The Australian and US official websites don’t make particularly pleasant reading. Any thoughts from those who’ve been recently?
We were mulling over a trip to Colombia and I know a few recent contributors have been. I’m normally quite chilled re safety considerations, however I’ve noted news reports of an uptick in rebel activity and the associated possibilities re tourism. The Australian and US official websites don’t make particularly pleasant reading. Any thoughts from those who’ve been recently?
Keep away from the border areas, stick to Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena. Bogota was great, Cartagena was meh for me but most love it.
It’s the same all over, be sensible and you’re fine. Don’t go to illegal cock fights like the people in Ecaudor last night looking for trouble, Don’t go hunting for drugs etc.
We were mulling over a trip to Colombia and I know a few recent contributors have been. I’m normally quite chilled re safety considerations, however I’ve noted news reports of an uptick in rebel activity and the associated possibilities re tourism. The Australian and US official websites don’t make particularly pleasant reading. Any thoughts from those who’ve been recently?
Keep away from the border areas, stick to Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena. Bogota was great, Cartagena was meh for me but most love it.
It’s the same all over, be sensible and you’re fine. Don’t go to illegal cock fights like the people in Ecaudor last night looking for trouble, Don’t go hunting for drugs etc.
Thanks. So basically it’s ok to visit said cities, fly between them and get pre booked taxis everywhere if I’m to believe the official advice which you’re sort of confirming?
Generally we enjoy getting a bit more local,out and about and self driving. Perhaps a return trip to Argentina might be better?Thanks. So basically it’s ok to visit said cities, fly between them and get pre booked taxis everywhere if I’m to believe the official advice which you’re sort of confirming?
Generally we enjoy getting a bit more local,out and about and self driving. Perhaps a return trip to Argentina might be better?Yes exactly. If you want to drive then I’d agree, go to Argentina or Uruguay. Much preferred the latter, nicer people, roads, car hire more pleasant. The guy at Sixt even let me off the tolls when I returned the car early.
@HampshireHog – as @Davefl says stick to main areas, we had a 3 week trip to Colombia at Christmas & New year, visited Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Barranquilla, we felt safe walking everywhere, but were told to be extra vigilant if walking around late at night, we are never out late anyway, we walked around a lot of the cities, and did not feel in danger at all.
We flew between cities with Latem and avianca.
I would note that if you fly into BOG the immigration is notoriously slow, it took us 3 hours to clear on our inbound flight.Ubers/taxis are very cost effective, we would like to return again at some point.
Note – People will always find trouble if they are looking for it.
Just to put this in perspective, yes Colombia is a dangerous country compared to the U.K., but the world’s highest murder rate is actually in Turks and Caicos which is generally perceived as an idyllic celebrity paradise playground of the rich and famous-type place, with prices to match!!
Thanks all, I’ll feed back to Mrs Hampshire Hog and we’ll have a think.
@davefl Of course I was, what a nightmare.
It was a 738, and I noticed that all the window blinds had been removed. Never seen that before. Do you think it’s a weight/fuel saving measure?
Was irritating for the 1st hour, my head was burning up.
Emirates have introduced aerBlade blinds on a number of their Airbus A350 and Boeing 777X fleet, these are fully automated, and can be operated by the crew remotely, for landing and take off, still physical blinds though.
On the flip side there is also the blindness window’s, (saves on weight) where glass that is automatically dimmed electronically at the touch of a button, Boeing used a company called Gentex to come up with a solution a couple of years ago,
I particularly like these type, they are a clever piece of technology.
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