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Layover guideNew York · JFK

Tipping in New York

Tip 18-20% at restaurants (not included in the bill), $1+/drink at bars, 15-20% in taxis — it is wages, not extra.

Markus Spiske / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
All of New York

Restaurants: 18-20% of the bill is standard, 15% the floor, per the official tourism board. Service is NOT included unless the menu/bill states a no-tipping or service-charge policy, or an automatic gratuity is added for parties of six or more — check the bill before doubling up.

Bars and counters: at least $1 per drink at the bar, or 18-20% when closing a card tab; roughly $1 for espresso drinks at counter service, optional for simple orders. Takeout tipping of 5-10% is fairly standard.

Taxis and ride-share: 15-20% of the fare.

Hotels: $1-2 per bag for porters, $3-5 per day for housekeeping (more at luxury properties), $2-5 to a doorman who hails a cab. The tourism board's framing is blunt: gratuity is factored into service wages, so tips are expected, not decorative.

  1. NYC Tourism + Conventions (official tourism board) · checked 2026-08-18

The rest of New York

The whole guide
Getting out of the airportYellow cabs run to Manhattan on a published flat rate from official stands at every terminal, and the AirTrain links the terminals to the subway and the Long Island Rail Road.Ride-hailingUber and Lyft operate at JFK, but the pickup point is not always the kerb: Terminals 5 and 7 send you out to Howard Beach on the AirTrain.Local laws that catch crew outTwo legal systems apply at once, and cannabis is the trap: legal to buy in New York State, illegal to take out of the state or the country.Staying connectedFree unlimited wifi at all Port Authority airports, no time limit.WeatherFour real seasons: 30C summers, snowy sub-zero winters, rain possible any month; hurricane season peaks Sep.Eating near the crew hotelsFood halls are the crew move — one roof, many vendors, long hours; Chelsea Market runs 7am-10pm daily.What to buyClothing and shoes under $110 per item are completely tax-free in NYC; most everything else adds 8.875% at the register.