Serious idea!
 

I searched for this subject and to my surprise didn't find much of anything on it on APC. However, if it has been talked about and I'm missing something I apologize.

Well, by now we all know that the industry is suffering and we as pilots will always feel the effects which make for much unneeded stress and changes to our QOL. So I'm going to be up front and say that I hope we can keep this thread serious and as mature as we can. It seems as though all that takes priority with-in the industry is only in the best interest of the share holders and quite frankly I'm sure we are all fed up with it. What about us? We really need to start thinking about ourselves as crew members and our hard work and dedication we put forth everyday. Our safety record (of which we have control over) is pretty impressive given all of the risks and hazards we are confronted with everyday. Passengers have no clue what we do to get them to their destination safely, comfortably and on time. For that we should be rewarded not by our companies but by the customers themselves.

I don't understand why there has never been a crew member "tipping" process implemented (although I suppose the netjet guys may be taken care of). In every other facet of the travel industry people are tipped. For example - cab drivers, limo drivers, charter bus drivers, boat crews, hotel drivers etc. Why is it not assumed that passengers should tip their crewmembers (including FA's) for their job well done? Of course I understand that people have the misconception that pilots make way too much which is not the case.

Take a 70 seater RJ for example: Do a good job as a crew and everyone feels compelled to tip 1 dollar. Well that's $70 for the crew to split 4 ways. 17.50 a person and say you do 4 legs that day. Well that's 70 extra bucks you made that day. Do this each day of a 4 day and that's an extra 280 in your pocket that the wife nor the gov has to know how much you pulled in. This is just an example and I know there are other variables. I know that amongst all of those ungrateful pax there are a few generous ones out there that would put a few bucks in the bowl if they knew it was the right thing to do and eventually just like in the food industry it would be only natural for people to tip. Obviously there would be some complications with the logistics of this process and who gets to divide it up and how that would be done. But hey, restaurants have no problem doing it.

In all seriousness does anyone have anything else to add on why this couldn't be a reality? I'd be willing to do what ever I could to find this a tradition in every cabin, especially in these times where guys are taking stupid pay cuts again. Thanks for your input and please keep it professional.

AB~

I've always been a proponent of tipping...the jar would be available at boarding, and how full it gets would determine the quality of the ride and landing.

But seriously, nobody is going to want to tip an overpaid pilot who's already making $200K+ for working 8 days/month. That is the perception...

i think tipping would take the profession down a notch, along the lines of the after mentioned cab drivers, hotel drivers, etc etc

True, you wouldn't want to take it down to the level of guys that make more than some regional pilots do.

But Ricks comment is too spot on.

Being totally serious, the management would find a way to take part of those tips. Probably more like 90% of the tips. I don't see professionals like doctors or lawyers getting tips for their jobs. But then again they are well compensated as is...

Exactly, that's the only reason we would need tips. Unless they can figure out how to pay us more. Which is never going to happen. As far as managements part, it would have to be worked out through the union as a contractual item. I would imagine the whole thing would have to be done through the union since it wouldn't benefit the company any. But that rules out non-union guys. Oh so many variables! Why do we have to make things so difficult. Seems so simple yet a pretty tough task non the less.:rolleyes:

That's the real problem, we need to really work on fixing that perception. Gotta get it all over the news and newspapers. People are definitely following the news, they are addicted to it. If we keep on it eventually they will understand.

That's why you don't get a tip. If you think your training and expertise is worth that little, go ahead and ask for tips, just leave the airline industry before you do so. I hope you tip your doctors too...

I can't believe you're actually serious:confused:

...at the same time, it's sad when an airline pilot gets excited at the prospect of earning an extra $300 a month. Please, the profession has lost most of what it used to be. Let's not entertain the idea of dragging it further down.

Rick, I agree with 99.999% of what you post, but what happens to your passenger ratings when you plant it on a wet runway with a 25kt crosswind? They get a firm landing and then they leave all upset that the pilot didn't grease it on. Little do they know that the firm landing spared them a trip into the real estate surrounding the airport. Do you really trust pax to evaluate your competence/ability as a pilot?