Tipping. Guidelines for fair tipping.
At restaurants, tip 15 to 20 percent of the before-tax bill, depending on the amount and quality of the service. The rule of thumb is that your waiter gets 15 percent and the headwaiter or captain, 5 percent. If the headwaiter does a special favor, such as reserving a particular table, tip at least $5. Coat checkers get at least 50 cents per coat.
Hotels
For doormen: signaling a parked cab or opening a cab door, no tip: parking your car and carrying your bags into the lobby, $1; braving blizzards or hurricanes to find a scarce cab, 50 cents to $1.
For bellboys: carrying luggage to your room, $1 (more for several bags). You may carry your bags to the lobby when you leave and avoid tipping.
For maids, $1 per room per night. Tip any employee (except the manager) 50 cents for a special errand.
Taxis
Tip cab drivers 15 to 20 percent of the total fare.
Hairdressers and barbers
Tip 15 to 20 percent of the total before-tax bill. If several people have worked on you, ask the owner or main attendant to divide your tip equitably. You don’t have to tip the owner.
Planes
Tip skycaps 35 cents to 50 cents per bag for carrying your luggage from the curb to the check-in counter