Tip the charter pilot?

20 March 2007, 02:08

gerrys375

Is the charter pilot to be tipped? ( I didn't tip mine in Zimbabwe in 1993 on my one and only trip to Africa (flying from Harare to Chirisa safari district because he seemed so professional and certainly didn't invite a tip. It was a small English plane that landed in a pasture and everything was very informal. I sat in the co-pilot's seat) I just wonder if first timers planning a trip might not want some advice from you guys.

20 March 2007, 02:13

GeorgeS

Not as far as I know.

George

20 March 2007, 02:37

Steve

Let's try and NOT start that practice.

-Steve

20 March 2007, 02:38

Aziz

No, it is not expected. I have never heard anyone nor have I myself tipped a pilot.

Regards
Aziz

20 March 2007, 03:38

Woodrow S

Would there be a reason not to? There is no problem tipping others and this guy is making sure you arrive alive. I feel the pilot is every bit as important as the trackers, skinners or cooks. The reason I feel this way is that not every pilot owns the plane he is piloting so he is not benefitting any more than the others mentioned. If he owns the plane, then he is a businessman and is in a different league altogether and gets no tip. JMHO.

20 March 2007, 03:42

Grumulkin

Take it from a pilot; you don't need to tip the pilot.

20 March 2007, 04:26

Die Ou Jagter

If you go to the emergency room do you tip the attending physician?

20 March 2007, 04:34

Michael Robinson

I beg to differ. Gentlemen, the standard for this kind of thing is 15% of your fare.

But only if the plane arrives no more than three hours late, in one piece, with no unscheduled stops and without loss of life or lunch or both.

20 March 2007, 05:06

ALP#4

What's next? Do we just walk down the street tossing hundred dollar bills in the air?

20 March 2007, 05:16

crane

Never heard of it. IMO the "staff" tip expectations are ENOUGH. Don't really want to expand my repertoire of largess nor do I want to short someone who really is expecting something as per custom. Booking agents - any opinions?

20 March 2007, 05:54

Michael Robinson

quote:
Originally posted by mrlexma:
I beg to differ. Gentlemen, the standard for this kind of thing is 15% of your fare.

But only if the plane arrives no more than three hours late, in one piece, with no unscheduled stops and without loss of life or lunch or both.

Just to be clear, since my humor is not always appreciated, that was a joke, or what passes for one, as far as I am concerned.

20 March 2007, 05:57

jdollar

with the outrageous rates they charge for for charters all over africa, i am not about to pay anymore

20 March 2007, 06:14

TSJ

mrlexma, I like you jokes.......

20 March 2007, 07:30

Andy

I tipped one of my two pilots in 2005.

She was quite pretty and a much better pilot than the fellow who flew me out to Dande North and barely made it onto the runway without a fly around.

She also let me fly the Cessna 206 a bit on the way back. (I only have about 200 hours).

Good sport and a good pilot.

Andy

20 March 2007, 07:46

Palmer

The only time I tipped the pilot happend last year in Botswana.

He helped me expedite my bags through immigration, personally guarded them by carrying them over to his charter office while my wife and I went to lunch across the street from the Maun airport then carried the bags out to the plane and loaded them in.

Finally he nailed one of the best cross wind landings I have ever seen - and that wind was honkin.

Usually when a pilot just shows up and flies the plane I think he is flying to save his plane and his .. well -his self just as much if not more than mine so I do not tip them.

ALLEN W. JOHNSON - DRSS

Into my heart on air that kills
From yon far country blows:
What are those blue remembered hills,
What spires, what farms are those?
That is the land of lost content,
I see it shining plain,
The happy highways where I went
And cannot come again.

A. E. Housman

20 March 2007, 08:21

shootaway

If the money was rolling in by the truck load and I was famous for making money and celebrating then I would be expected to tip everyone and I would.If I were saving my pennies to make the trip then I would avoid tipping and would be expected not to tip(which is the case unfortunately).I guess the glamour of an african safari can get to someone and make him believe he is someone else.If this is the case the whole trip is going to cost a fortune.

20 March 2007, 08:37

WPN

quote:
Originally posted by Andy:
I tipped one of my two pilots in 2005.

She was quite pretty ...

Yo, Andy, did you bone her?

20 March 2007, 10:07

Balla Balla

I guess when you put people in control of your life a tip would be nice, especially if you make the journey in one piece (-:

But seriously speaking, if we normally tip a taxi driver for getting us from A to B then I would think your private pilot deserves a little something as well.

Cheers, Peter

20 March 2007, 11:22

NitroX

quote:
Originally posted by Andy:
I tipped one of my two pilots in 2005.

She was quite pretty ....

The right tip in these circumstances is an invitation to dinner.

Regarding the word "Professional" for pilots, this confused me on my first safari, when I thought the words "Professional" Hunter meant the same thing ie not tip. Didn't realise till afterwards that "professionals" need tipping too. As I'm a qualified "Professional" Accountant, I think I need to be tipped from now on too. 15% on top sounds very nice.

For the guys so confused about tipping customs, this is what I advise. Imagine you are a bride at a Greek wedding. Pin hundreds of hundred dollars notes onto the outside of your clothes. Let anyone who feels they have done something for you pull off how many notes they feel is appropriate.

20 March 2007, 13:01

shakari

nice one!

20 March 2007, 18:07

AfricanHunter

Not in my lifetime! Too many hands out already without helping another one to expect it.

20 March 2007, 22:12

MARK H. YOUNG

Crane,

First I'd like to say you or any of my clients should feel free to tip me anytime. As for the charter pilot I think in the case of the pilot that goes way out of his way to be helpful a few bucks might be nice but I don't think it is necessary or expected that you will tip the pilot.

Mark

MARK H. YOUNG
MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES
7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110
Office 702-848-1693
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Skype: markhyhunter
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20 March 2007, 22:20

Fjold

quote:
Originally posted by mrlexma:
I beg to differ. Gentlemen, the standard for this kind of thing is 15% of your fare.

But only if the plane arrives no more than three hours late, in one piece, with no unscheduled stops and without loss of life or lunch or both.

That reminds me of the old sayings:

"Good landings are any that you can walk away from"

"Great landing are when you get to re-use the equipment"

20 March 2007, 22:31

Bwanahile

quote:
Originally posted by jdollar:
with the outrageous rates they charge for for charters all over africa, i am not about to pay anymore

Given my recent quote of $800 for a flight of less than one hour I tend to agree! But, I will probably give the guy $20-$40 if he gets me the hell out of the Harare airport with all of my gear quickly and safely!

21 March 2007, 01:47

crane

Mark- I want to tip Mrlexma for pimping us(me). Then, if there are discretionary funds left I will tip you as well.

21 March 2007, 01:54

shootaway

I saw someplace where it is 2500 one way and 2500 to return.

21 March 2007, 11:15

Russ Gould

Charters are expensive in Alaska too...recently I was quoted $1500 EACH round trip for a 25 min flight (ie 25 mins each way) in a Super Cub!! I told the guy my buddy and I could fly in a twin from JNB to Coutada 10 in Mozambique, have the plane sit there all week, and fly back again for the same money. He wasn't amused and told me I was a complainer. Needless to say that hunt didn't happen.

21 March 2007, 15:06

Bahati

Russ

Like Adam said ... If I fly you to Coutada 10, please feel free to tip generously

21 March 2007, 17:42

surestrike

NOT a bad idea,

When I am standing in one of the doors saying good bye to my 300 plus passengers. Hmmmm maybe I should get a boot or hold out my hat.

Maybe I should put a sign up over the door. Tips appreciated..

I like this..

As far as the charter costs in Africa go. I happen to know just how much it costs to operate a light aircraft. There ain't NO WAY that the numbers these guys are charging to haul hunters are the same charter rates they are charging to haul normal folks.

Mention safari and they increase the price exponentially.

21 March 2007, 17:54

GAHUNTER

If the pilot asks for a tip, tell him this: "Never, under any circumstances, fry bacon in the nude!"

Best tip I ever got

21 March 2007, 19:16

Bahati

quote:
Originally posted by surestrike:
NOT a bad idea, When I am standing in one of the doors saying good bye to my 300 plus passengers. Hmmmm maybe I should get a boot or hold out my hat.

...

As far as the charter costs in Africa go. I happen to know just how much it costs to operate a light aircraft. There ain't NO WAY that the numbers these guys are charging to haul hunters are the same charter rates they are charging to haul normal folks.

Mention safari and they increase the price exponentially.

As long as you forfeit your paypacket and settle for the income of the typical African bush pilot I can see nothing wrong with that!

And, as disappointing as it may be - charter rates are the same, safari or not. Remember that a large chunk of small 'plane charter flights over here (Africa) involve safaris anyway, so it really is no big deal. Safari folks are pretty much what we would call the "normal folks"

The best deal is most likely where the outfitter is the also the owner/operator of the aircraft - in other words the aircraft is used to support the safari business only. Unlikely to get any better than that. Availability, price, you name it.

21 March 2007, 19:56

surestrike

Bahati,

Obviously not all charter/ outfitters charge the same price. BUT when I see $2500 for a 1 hour flight in a Caravan I have to call BULLSHIT. You can charter a B-737 for $4500 an hour. Or a B-777 for $7000 an hour.

Africa or not that just doesn't add up.

The going charter rate on a C-208 should be somewhere around $6-900 an hour depending on the area. $900 being steep.

As far as trading my pay and benefits package for that of a bush pilot. Sorry dude I've already been there and done that, got the T-shirt and I didn't take tips back then either.

But pride aside, I think $300-500 dollars tax free tip money per flight segment is only fair.

After all I need the money for hunting.

21 March 2007, 20:07

jorge

In my case the PH was also my pilot, so I tipped him for the overall hunt of course. besides, he gave me some stick time (sorry "yoke", real men fly "sticks"

)

Surestrike hit the nail on the head. Tanzania seems to be the biggest offender in this regard. I was looking at some of their charter prices and they are outrageous.

In Zimbabwe, I paid 1200 bucks round trip for a 2hr flight from Bulawayo to Dande North in a Cherokee. Since the PH also owned the aircraft, I can see paying that much as parts & maintenance cost a lot more in Africa and he has his maintenance done in RSA. Can't say I blame him for that. jorge

21 March 2007, 21:35

500grains

With everyone getting tipped, I feel that the forum moderators are being left out. Where is their tip?

21 March 2007, 22:34

Allout

quote:
Originally posted by 500grains:
With everyone getting tipped, I feel that the forum moderators are being left out. Where is their tip?

Never fry bacon in the nude is a good one.
So is, don't piss into the wind. That one has many literal and figurative uses on this board...

Brian

21 March 2007, 22:50

MARK H. YOUNG

Because of all the above I drive whenever possible and recommend it to clients. Driving not only is much cheaper but it allows an opportunity to see parts of Africa that the average tourist just completely misses. I find the small towns/villages and rural Africa very interesting. This year I'm driving from Bulawayo-Save Conservancy-Coutada 9 Mozambique-Save-Harare and very much looking forward to it.

Mark

21 March 2007, 23:12

shootaway

Thanks for the tip Mark! Can you drive to most hunting sites in Tanzania from the airport and save 5000 dollars(if that is the cost).

22 March 2007, 00:07

Bahati

I cannot agree more, Mark ... the problem is the fun goes away when you have to do it 3 times a week for 6 months in a row! At least in the air you don't have to face these stupid African roadblocks where officials fish for bribe money ...

Seriously, tipping a pilot is not the norm, nor is it expected.

22 March 2007, 05:15

mikeh375

I just got a quote today for an air charter from Windhoek to the Caprivi. The price is $14720.00N, or $1997.00U.S., one way. This is for a Cessna 210. I don't think there's a tip in the pilots future, other than perhaps one of 500Grains.

22 March 2007, 08:43

LRH270

quote:
Originally posted by Allout:
quote:
Originally posted by 500grains:
With everyone getting tipped, I feel that the forum moderators are being left out. Where is their tip?

Never fry bacon in the nude is a good one.
So is, don't piss into the wind. That one has many literal and figurative uses on this board...

Brian