Airplane Based at Full Service FBO - Tipping?

Fearless Tower

Fearless Tower

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Fearless Tower
After much research, I ended up deciding to keep the Baron at ORF which is served by Landmark. Being a full service FBO at a class C airport, they offer all kinds of services that I have not had in the past - like I can call ahead on a Friday and they'll pull the airplane out of the hangar and position it on the ramp right in front of the FBO first thing on Saturday. They'll also do stufff like arrange aircraft detailing for you.

Anyone else base thier aircraft at a full service facility like that? Do you tip for the extra services outside of basic fueling, and if so, how (I may never actually see the guy/s who physically handle the aircraft)?

My last airport was a Class D outdoor tiedown, so this is a new thing for me.
 
I was based at a full service FBO for 4 years with the Aztec and then the 310. All I ever had them do was pull the plane out and top it off.

I didn't tip on a regular basis, but what I did at Christmas was tip the line guys who were the most helpful and tipped based on helpfulness. Our line crew was also pretty stable, and that practice was similar to what we did with the doormen in the apartment building I grew up in.
 
I'm in a similar situation. I find the service very convienent, but it aint cheap. Also, I make a lot of short flight/hamburger runs...if I tipped every time they pulled it out/topped it off it would add up quickly. I do pay the guys to wash and wax it regularly and they appreciate the buisness.
The general rule is to give them an hour's notice to have it ready. On a few occasions I've stopped by last minute and tipped for the quick service. Also, I've had a few flights cancelled where they've just pulled it out and put it back. I always tip for those.
 
I've noticed that the times when I really appreciate some help is when traveling with a group with the luggage, drink cups, old news-papers and what-all else they cadge along on the plane. I always dust for such service. OTOH, it's hard to tip somebody you don't see.

Not surprisingly, the line crews understand the costs associated with GA and know that the plane owners are people of means. They appreciate a spiff and after a while you'll know which ones deserve it.
 
That Landmark is ORF is among the worst in the system IMO. Lazy line guys would rather sit in the shack than help with the plane. Did they ever finish construction on the FBO? It was a trailer around back last I was there.
 
I'm in the same situation. Tip if they do something extra. I had a bunch of heavy luggage Monday and tipped when they put it in the car. They had also washed the car. If I want to be lower key, I park outside the FBO. When I know I'll have folks and stuff, I pull up to the plane and let them park it.

Nice to have good service when you need it, huh?

Best,

Dave
 
Captain said:
That Landmark is ORF is among the worst in the system IMO. Lazy line guys would rather sit in the shack than help with the plane. Did they ever finish construction on the FBO? It was a trailer around back last I was there.
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No....still working out of the trailer. It was supposed to be done in June, but they all are hopefull that they will be out of the trailer in the fall.

The Landmark folks have all been very nice and helpful. I have no complaints so far.

I chose to hangar at ORF for a few reasons:
-15 min away from my house vs 30-45 min to get to either PVG or CPK.
-It has a 9000' runway which I prefer for the Baron - At full gross, I have a balanced field and plenty extra margin that I can't get at PVG or CPK.
-For IFR stuff, I much prefer to be based at a field with ATC services on the field.

Cost is about the same for any of the 3 local airports.
 
An hours notice when you are buried 10 deep at a busy FBO isn't going to win you many friends on the line crew. Letting them know your schedule as far in advance is greatly appreciated. While giving them advance notice when you are going out is important, letting them know you won't be using the plane for three weeks helps them out as well
 
Good reasons. I will admit that I miss being at an airport with an ILS, ATC, and long runways. But we have a cheaper hangar cost and the airport manager values our business quite a bit, and it shows. All trade-offs. Plus we were able to get into a hangar almost immediately when we moved here.

I really don't miss the full-service FBO. If nothing else, I wasn't allowed to use the tug myself unless the manager wasn't looking, and had no after-hours access to the tug. I never bought my own tug for various reasons, mostly stubbornness that they didn't let me use theirs. Here we have our own tug and just use that.
 
I used landmark at KFAY. They provided incredible service and I just used tie down. If we had horrible weather the manager would put my plane in a hanger. Additionally, I used the guys to wash and wax the plane on their free time (paid of course). I never tipped them to do their jobs, however, if they went above and beyond, which they often did, I would tip. Additionally, 1 of the line guys was also a CFI, he was sent to the Cirrus specific training, paid for buy us pilots. He also did all of our BFR's and flight training.
At the time we had our 1st child. She was treated like VIP. Everyone wanted to hold her.
 
Yes, please give notice before flying. When we were still an FBO we had a guy in our hangar who flew so infrequently that his plane was always in the back of the hangar. He always called with no more than 10 minutes notice that he was going flying.


And to top it off half the time he no showed.


He always wondered why we never had his plane out and waiting for him
 
Is it a service offered or a service required by tenancy? If the former, you should tip, if the latter, f 'em.
 
SkyHog said:
Is it a service offered or a service required by tenancy? If the former, you should tip, if the latter, f 'em.
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Service offered. My plane is in its own T-hangar, so it is purely a convenience they offer.
 
I flew in to great falls Montana last week and the line guy asked how much of the gear I wanted unloaded "All of it" and almost by the time I had my headset put away he had it unloaded. He was also very helpful with the loading process - he got a tip. I also tipped once when a line guy helped me clean dead bird bits off the airplane I was flying.
 
I wouldnt tip, those services are pre-tipped at the fuel pump.

Now I did have a few line guys help me with taking wheels pants off (they just held the pants while I unscrewed), I bought them a case of beer.
 
Mine is in it's own hanger also; about midfield. They tow it from the hanger and put it on the ramp at the FBO and add fuel as requested. I usually let them know the night before if possible. Shortest response I've requested was two hours.

Best,

Dave
 
Dean V said:
Why do Americans think they should to tip just about everybody? Fuel at ORF is +$7 a gallon - you have paid for the service when you buy fuel.
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Actually that is the transient price.

There is a 25 cent discount for based aircraft plus, if you take fuel on the weekends (after 1800 on Friday), there is an additional dollar off. SO, for me the fuel is actually a few cents cheaper than either PVG or CPK.
 
I'm based at a fairly large full service FBO and keep both planes in the community hangar. I try to give them as much notice as possible for pull outs, usually a couple hours and if it's short notice, I certainly understand the wait.:dunno: I normally don't tip the guys, I do occasionally buy them pizza on Saturdays. I am also pretty careful to be low maintenance, I'm just not demanding and try to be patient when they are busy.:D
 
Captain said:
That Landmark is ORF is among the worst in the system IMO. Lazy line guys would rather sit in the shack than help with the plane. Did they ever finish construction on the FBO? It was a trailer around back last I was there.
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I have to agree. I've been there a few times in the last 6 months and it is consistently poor service. Their remodel is taking forever, I hate that darn trailer.

I tip line guys for going above and beyond (and when I ask them service the lav). The line guys at our home base consistently exceed our expectations in anticipating our needs. Every so often we will tip them at the end of a trip when returning to base to show our appreciation.

Sometimes I see line guys stand around and watch me do their job for them... that I don't appreciate. It doesn't happen often, but it happens. They don't get any tips (from me at least).
 
I fly out of Signature KAUS, where we have valet pull and park. I don't usually tip just for routine operations.

If the weather is bad (rain, 100F+, <32F, etc) or if things are real hectic (game day, F1) or if the line guy does something extra like adding air to the Cardinal's tires ( a bit of a hassel) then I'll tip $5.
 
Dean V said:
Why do Americans think they should to tip just about everybody? Fuel at ORF is +$7 a gallon - you have paid for the service when you buy fuel.
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The kid who tows your plane from the hangar gets paid the same whether the flowage fee to the airport authority is 22c or $1.50 and whether the shareholders or Landmark get a dividend or not.

I been at the other end of the tip economy, and I know he has to put food on the table, I have no problem giving him a couple of $$.
 
NineThreeKilo said:
I wouldnt tip, those services are pre-tipped at the fuel pump.
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No, they're not. But then again, you think they're all useless ramp monkeys and you've obviously never worked in customer service, much less at an FBO.


Tip for excellent service. Did they unload your airplane for you? Pull your car up for you? Pull the plane out with very little notice? Tip them. I tip almost every place I go including my home port of CHD when there is great service (where there usually is). We had a guy where I worked who tipped us $100 about every other time he came in or left. Have a few others who tip between $5 and $20 randomly. The guy who tipped the $100 was soooooo nice too that he didn't even have to tip for us to enjoy seeing him. But I will say, that even though the same care was always taken, those who tip well are remembered.

Also, a good way to possibly avoid a ramp fee when not purchasing fuel is to tip the line guys. Might not work at larger places like Cutter and Signature, but works often at the mom & pop FBOs.
 
Z06_Mir said:
No, they're not. But then again, you think they're all useless ramp monkeys and you've obviously never worked in customer service, much less at an FBO.


Tip for excellent service. Did they unload your airplane for you? Pull your car up for you? Pull the plane out with very little notice? Tip them. I tip almost every place I go including my home port of CHD when there is great service (where there usually is). We had a guy where I worked who tipped us $100 about every other time he came in or left. Have a few others who tip between $5 and $20 randomly. The guy who tipped the $100 was soooooo nice too that he didn't even have to tip for us to enjoy seeing him. But I will say, that even though the same care was always taken, those who tip well are remembered.

Also, a good way to possibly avoid a ramp fee when not purchasing fuel is to tip the line guys. Might not work at larger places like Cutter and Signature, but works often at the mom & pop FBOs.
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I agree 100%.

I even tip my garbage man. :yes:
 
weilke said:
The kid who tows your plane from the hangar gets paid the same whether the flowage fee to the airport authority is 22c or $1.50 and whether the shareholders or Landmark get a dividend or not.

I been at the other end of the tip economy, and I know he has to put food on the table, I have no problem giving him a couple of $$.
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No KIDDING.


ALL YOU CHEAP AIRPLANE OWNERS :lol:

The line almost allways go out of their way to help me with anything once they become aware that I sport aputated feet....

I tip regularly, especially for those who had a great attitude.

That doesn't mean I'm coughing up $10 a flight for tips because I do 85% of stuff myself anyways, but when winter rolls around, I use the line guys pretty much exlusively.

I'm anal about cleanliness and I like my windows spotless, so I usually do those myself.
 
Other than Christmas for the guys who were helpful . . . .if someone stayed a few min late to help me get the airplane in or if someone always was jonny on the spot helping my wife or son or someone - I'd hit 'em with a $10 occasionally - meant alot more to them than it did to me when it came to the cost of operation - when I paid $350 to park in the main hangar I figured I was paying $10 a day to park . . . .
 
I kept my plane at ORF for about a month a couple years ago (before the remodeling I guess).
They were always prompt and pleasant with their service. I always gave them at least an hour notice, and I they always had the plane on the line and ready. I tipped a few times I felt they went above and beyond. Overall I thought they were a good FBO.
They also used to have a fancy coffee/espresso machine that made really tasty beverages for free!
 
At my home field the FBO is required to provide certain services as a part of their agreement with the airport owner. Pulling airplanes from the T hangars is one of those services. Fuel is significantly cheaper 5 air minutes away. I buy the FBO fuel and expect the tenant service required by the lease agreement without further compensation or gratuity.
On the other hand, I have let some of the certificated line people fly my plane to show my appreciation for exceptional service. Haven't let them just take the plane yet, I am always on board.
 
I tip a lot every trip.

I feel it's the best money I spend in aviation.

These guys and gals work really hard on a smoking hot ramp all day.

In return I get amazing service, even at FBO's I am visiting for the first time.

At home they:

Wash my car N/C
Walk my dogs
Load my luggage
Fill all my ice chests
Clean out the plane of trash
Pull/replace all the covers
Keep my car inside always

The other day I was about to leave with a storm coming. I decided to wait unit it passed over. Without saying a word I was pulled back in the hangar because they were worried about hail. The $10M dollar jets sat on the ramp while they took care of their "good" customers first.

$20 dollars puts my little Cessna at the front of the line always. Worth it to me.
 
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