Tipping is not required in airport loungesIn the United States, for example, tipping most members of a wait staff and professionals who provide a service is customary. Despite this convention, tipping in a U.S. airport lounge is not required.
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Yes, food is free in United Polaris lounges for anyone who has access. Unlike United Club access, United Polaris lounges are reserved for any passenger with a United Polaris or qualifying Star Alliance long-haul international first class or business ticket.
You can certainly reward good service with a tip even if the meal didn't cost you. Although it provides lounge access in airports around the world, Priority Pass™ actually gives members credits that can be used at restaurants in the Priority Pass network.
On other long-haul international flights, the business class product is called United Polaris, and is the highest level of service; there is no first class.
The restaurant has an automatic 20-percent service charge, and Curtis estimates that roughly a third of his customers add extra gratuity. When they do, it's about 5 to 7 percent more. Curtis's advice: Add it up to whatever you'd normally tip.
The main difference between a gratuity and a tip is that a gratuity is a required charge added to the bill that must be paid while a tip is not required and is provided by a customer voluntarily. Suggested tip amounts printed on bills can sometimes be confused for an automatic gratuity, but this is not the case.
You don't get any special privileges to take things because you're in first class. On the other hand, she said it would be perfectly reasonable to take an airplane blanket if you really needed it — and if you ask a flight attendant first.