Tipping in LHR Cowshed?

We will be undertaking our first UC flight from LHR, and using the Cowshed for hair/shave experiences [:D] beforehand, as well as for breakfast.

Should be tip the staff as we would if we were paying in a normal hairdresser?

Also, should be tip onboard if we are lucky enough to get a manicure/massage?

I assume so, but wouldn't want to commit a faux-pas......

TIA!

[Pete]

I usually tip in the Cowshed at LHR, but (oddly) haven't tipped on board - I'm not sure if I should have been now though.... [:o]

[Decker]

This is a typical dichotomy. VS are British based so tipping tends to follow some weird unwritten rules which in my personal case I'd summarise as follows :-

Tip the hairdresser/masseuse on the ground as this is like a normal salon. Be torn between tipping and not tipping the bistro staff but err towards tipping as you're getting a full table service. Consider tipping wait staff only if service is exceptional. In the air tip no one. It feels as though it would be insulting. (I am not saying it is I am expressing what may be a peculiarly British view). My take is we want to pretend that the people who are looking after us in the air are our friends who are doing it 'cos they're glad to see us - not because they're paid to do so. This stems from a long standing non-service attitude in the UK where your local barman isn't a service provider - s'he's the centre of a group of friends who meet in his building to buy drinks. That's why the 'one for yourself' comes in - and it expected that the barman will reciprocate (buy their round) from time to time. So we're not comforttable with the concept of 'service' for an extended period. We can deal with it for an hour or two in a restaurant as we can then escape it when we leave but to be trapped in a confined space with someone for 10 hours when we tipped them 7 hours ago? What do we say then? It makes for discomfort...

Cow tipping is an urban myth. Just say no.

GJ

On a previous flight, I actually went and asked the CSD the protocol regarding tipping the IFBT and she said definatley no. That said whenever I have had a treatment on board, I do feel as if I should tip. I guess its just force of habit as I always tip in a similar circumstance on the ground and even more so in the States where you tip just about everyone for everything.

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by avalon
On a previous flight, I actually went and asked the CSD the protocol regarding tipping the IFBT and she said definatley no.

I can imagine why - I can imagine the mutiny in the sky if IFBT's were tipped and the other crew were not. Normally just some plain manners of a very sincere Thank You are best, as it's not always said to the staff.

You are absolutely correct - saying thank you costs nothing and is not said often enough. I guess if it was expected to tip on board it would an impossible situation and every flight attendant would be falling over themselves to look after all the pax, all the time, not that they dont of course!

Originally posted by avalon
saying thank you costs nothing

And thus conforms masterfully to the famous-in-certain-circles Mannion Pleasure Principle of Diminishing Capital Outlay which is stated as such: The closer one approaches zero outflow of capital, the more pleasing one's life becomes.

A treatise on the subject, written by His Grace, himself, is available for 50 quid at all larger W.H. Smith's and other popular high street news agents.

GJ

I tipped £5 for a haircut last week at the CH (despite it being a rather mediocre experience), but I'd never tip on board. Decker hits the nail on the head.