News and notes from around the interweb:
- The Burger King crown is what just absolutely makes this JetBlue passenger’s racist tirade more than just another day in the skies. Not safe for work language, which is why I’m not embedding the video.
- I hate the equilibrium where guests are expected to tip housekeeping instead of hotels paying their wages directly. But are guests still expected to tip housekeeping when hotels aren’t providing the service during their stay? (The room is, presumably, still cleaned prior to their arrival.)
- A month ago I wrote that American Airlines will no longer send elite membership cards but that elite members could call to request employee recognition certificates to hand out (since those wouldn’t be proactively mailed, either). American will no longer enter employees receiving those into a drawing for cash. The airline tells me,
Even though we may not be drawing names for quarterly awards these days, team members still receive recognition for providing outstanding service or a job well done. When a team member receives a recognition certificate from a customer, they enter that certificate into our recognition platform where their leader can see it. Certificates are worth recognition points in the platform, and those points can be redeemed for gift cards and other items.
- The government plans to require reporting of a lot more international funds transfers
The Federal Reserve and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network [on Friday] proposed to reduce the transaction volume threshold for when banks must collect and retain information on funds transfers and remittances that start or end outside of the United States. The proposal would reduce the threshold from $3,000 to $250 for when insured depository institutions must comply with the recordkeeping and travel rules under the Bank Secrecy Act.
- The Briggo coffee robot, which was my go-to source for fuel at the Austin airport – order from the app when I arrive curbside at the airport, pick up using a code as I walk by the machine once I’m through security – has been acquired by Costa Coffee, which itself was acquired by Coca Cola two years ago.
- Reportedly staff at Balthazar decanted two wines for two different tables – a 1989 Mouton Rothschild and an $18 Pinot Noir – a mixed them up, sending each wine to the wrong table. And the folks who ordered the cheap wine didn’t know the difference. The story is too good, right? And did the restaurant realy pour the bottle listed for $2000 outside of the diners’ sight?
@ Gary — Anyone who spends $2,000 on a bottle of wine is making a poor choice. Order the $18 bottle and give rest to charity.
I’ve heard nothing good or pleasant about Jamaican jails. For the racist’s sake, I hope that’s true.
I never tipped the housekeepers before as I always refused housekeeping anyway even for week long stays
This is an american virtue signaling BS thing to do
It is not my responsibility to provide a living wage to the hotel staff
If you look at the Instagram comments for that wine posting, the consensus is this particular anecdote is not recent as the prices for both wines are significantly higher now.
Apply the same experiment to Champagne and the result would be identical. Clueless snobs will pay for a label ( whether in cash or as a perk of flying), but wouldn’t know the difference between Chateau Pisse de Chat and the real deal (…because the difference between a $20 bottle and a $500 one is minimal). The same applies to all manner of things: food, clothes, luggage, etc.
The vulgar nouveau riche are impressed by labels.
Of course you should still tip housekeeping (unless you are just cheap). They are some of the hardest working, lowest paid hotel employees. While they aren’t cleaning the room daily they have to do a deeper clean between guests.
Previously I left $3-$5 a day for housekeeping. Now I don’t necessarily multiple that for multi-night stays but do add more if I’m there (maybe $10 for a 4 night stay).
Sure you DON’T HAVE TO TIP and many are just opposed to it (or use that to justify their cheapness). As for me I feel better doing something for housekeeping. I will never miss $3-$5 a day (I waste more than that on $8-$10 beers at night) and it isn’t life changing for them but nice to show they are appreciated and maybe if a few rooms leave a tip they have enough for lunch.
Think about it people!
@AC
Did you ever stop to think why is it only in the US that maids expect tips?
Did you ever realize that as long as americans tip then the hotel owners will have no notivation to provide them with a living wage?
@AC not cheap, just real. Everyone does not have to be tipped, employees are paid by the employer for the work that they perform. If they are underpaid that is on the employer NOT the customer. Wait staff complain that they are underpaid, but employees who are underpaid leave that job and go to jobs where they are paid fairly.
We are not cheap. You are the cheap one. You do not tip the store clerk for selling you the gallon of milk as the clerk gets min wage. You do not tip the Burger King clerk and they get min wage.