Should you tip your flight attendant?
 

Should you tip your flight attendant?

Should you tip your flight attendant? For such a commonly asked question, the answer is anything but simple.

Tippers argue that at a time when service and amenities are on the decline, a standout crew member deserves a dollar bill or two. But there are more effective ways of acknowledging great service, and down the line, you risk creating a another class of tip-dependent employees.

In the airline industry, this question is far from settled. Some airlines allow tipping, others don't.

"Flight attendants should not be tipped," says Jo Jo Harder, a former flight attendant. "I understand that guests feel compelled to tip" for good service, but in her career it was "not allowed."

Except when it is. At Southwest Airlines, flight attendants initially refuse a tip, but if a passenger insists, they're allowed to gratefully accept it, say current and former crew members.

"The largest tip I ever received was left for me in an empty peanut bag," recalls Lauren Cashman, who used to work at Southwest. "The passenger came to the back galley and said he had won big in Vegas and wanted to share. The peanut bag contained $600. I split it with my crew, and we had a great dinner that night in Reno."

Is there a better way of acknowledging and encouraging great service? Absolutely. For starters...

https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...ant/102912112/

I flew on Frontier the other day and bought some snacks. The machine asked for a percentage tip to the Flight Attendant. I think it is a great idea to tip flight attendants! It's not obligatory but it shows your appreciation for a nice flight and great service.




















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Airlines are "fast casual".

Really? How many times have you heard "We're here to save your ass, not kiss it". In what alternate universe do they expect/accpet tips?

Take a tip (see what I did there) from Japanese culture and take pride in your job, do it well, and let that be the reward. Either way, I expect FAs will be replaced by vending machines before we see pilotless aircraft, but it's all on the way! :)

One Valentine's Day, a man boarded carrying a dozen roses.
The F/As joked: "Are those for us?"
He said "Yes", and handed them over.
The F/As almost passed out.
:cool:

Tips used to be reserved for those that actually had to live off tips, and the law allowed the employers to pay them less because tips were expected to help them supplement the low wage. Now it seems everybody wants tips even when they are paid regular wages. I'm a generous person, but it kind of bugs me to see tip jars and people expecting tips that actually get paid a real hourly wage or salary, not the 2 or 3 bucks that servers get paid.

Tips are up to the person giving them and should remain non obligatory in this Universe but "greatly appreciated"! It's always been my privilege to tip someone for a great job done. If the person declines the tip they often say thank you, I appreciate the gesture. This is really no big deal! My votes is sure, why not tip a Flight Attendant?

What is an average flight attendant salary?

You don't feel that a simple "thank you for making me comfortable, you do a really nice job" is gratitude enough? Most flight attendants have medical benefits, company 401K contributions, CBA work rules, paid vacation, travel benefits. Some have profit sharing and other bonuses.

But, if you want to throw money at them for dragging an overpriced snack bar up and down the isle, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.

I mentioned Japan earlier and it's amazing how different the work ethic is there. People actually do their jobs exceedingly well for the personal satisfaction and societal approval, they'd be insulted at the idea of being tipped for just for doing their job.

But this America, land of the sloven half-wits who feel entitled to a hand out. Like you say, "why not flight attendants"?

No.

Should we tip gate agents? Rampers? Lav-dumpers? The fueler?

What about pilots for avoiding thunderstorms, or a smooth landing?

Tips in America are really charity for jobs that don't pay well.

I prefer the European way.