Rare GeezerCouple Posted January 11, 2019 #1 Share Posted January 11, 2019 https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/11/budget-airline-frontier-asks-passengers-to-tip-their-flight-attendant.html Apparently Frontier Airlines is starting to suggest formally that passengers TIP the flight attendants as part of their compensation. GC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare FlyerTalker Posted January 11, 2019 #2 Share Posted January 11, 2019 Actually, tipping has been allowed/encouraged at Frontier for the last three years. However, in the past, any tips were pooled and shared with the entire cabin crew. The new policy is that FAs get to keep the tips directly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare GeezerCouple Posted January 11, 2019 Author #3 Share Posted January 11, 2019 2 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said: Actually, tipping has been allowed/encouraged at Frontier for the last three years. However, in the past, any tips were pooled and shared with the entire cabin crew. The new policy is that FAs get to keep the tips directly. What are policies at other airlines? I've never really seen this discussed. Tipping discouraged? Encouraged? Allowed/not? Pooled or not? GC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare FlyerTalker Posted January 11, 2019 #4 Share Posted January 11, 2019 Generally discouraged to prohibited when in cash. I've been known to give out chocolates or Starbucks gift cards at times. The chocolates from hotels or the cruise line are usually welcomed by crew and ticket/gate agents. And since there's a Starbucks in almost every airport, they will get used. A number of airlines have policies that crew can't eat food/candy given by passengers for security reasons. Even on those, they will sometimes take the candy and save for later when off duty. Or so they say - perhaps they toss it when I'm not looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancal Posted January 12, 2019 #5 Share Posted January 12, 2019 What next? Everyone chip in for gas money? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DogLover Posted January 12, 2019 #6 Share Posted January 12, 2019 We regularly gift chocolates to the cabin crew on our flights (even whilst traveling in business class.) They work their tushies off during flights, especially on international itineraries, and we feel it's a small gesture to let them know our appreciation. That said, we are very careful to only purchase completely wrapped and sealed products so there is no question of compromise. On our last international flight from Dublin to the US, we gifted a very unique product, Puffin Poo, purchased from the Shetland Islands on a cruise. The package didn't make it 1 hour into to the flight before consumption (pilots included) 😉 For those curious about the Puffin Poo: https://www.shetlandfudge.co.uk/puffin-poo/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted January 12, 2019 #7 Share Posted January 12, 2019 Totally out of hand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare brillohead Posted January 12, 2019 #8 Share Posted January 12, 2019 My understanding of this is that it's for when people PURCHASE food/drink on board, like tipping your server at a bar or restaurant -- it gives you an option to leave a tip on the tablet used to process the credit card payment. This is totally different than expecting every passenger on the plane to cough up a couple bucks in cash, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mek Posted January 12, 2019 #9 Share Posted January 12, 2019 I'm a generous tipper but I think this is getting out of hand. I rarely buy any food or drinks on a flight but in the future if I do I won't add a tip. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancal Posted January 12, 2019 #10 Share Posted January 12, 2019 So, does this mean that by encouraging tipping the airline is saying that it's flight attendants are simply waitresses and waiters? I feel for the employees who work for an employer like this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suspaul Posted January 12, 2019 #11 Share Posted January 12, 2019 Sorry but no way-no how. We also fly business and yes the crew works hard, sort of, but having spent $$$ I don’t feel the need to tip. As Americans, I feel we’re tip crazy, if people made a living wage this would be less encouraged. Call me cheap but this is nuts. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcur Posted January 13, 2019 #12 Share Posted January 13, 2019 (edited) I'm not advocating tipping them, but I was surprised at these salaries: https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Frontier-Airlines-Salaries-E5144.htm Southwest salaries are much higher, if that can be considered an apples-to-apples comparison. Edited January 13, 2019 by pcur Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdCoastFan Posted January 14, 2019 #13 Share Posted January 14, 2019 Some additional anecdotes here from Frontier staff: https://thepointsguy.com/news/flight-attendants-respond-frontier-tipping-policy/ Salient point for me is that some FA's are under older contracts with Frontier - back before Frontier went no-frills. FA's hired since that business change have are subject to a different compensation structure. For the more recent hires, tips can make an appreciable difference to their bottom line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogs4fun Posted January 14, 2019 #14 Share Posted January 14, 2019 Interesting - I was not aware of this. I have an upcoming Frontier flight - guess I will soon have some firsthand experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
em-sk Posted January 18, 2019 #15 Share Posted January 18, 2019 On 1/11/2019 at 10:38 AM, FlyerTalker said: Generally discouraged to prohibited when in cash. I've been known to give out chocolates or Starbucks gift cards at times. The chocolates from hotels or the cruise line are usually welcomed by crew and ticket/gate agents. And since there's a Starbucks in almost every airport, they will get used. A number of airlines have policies that crew can't eat food/candy given by passengers for security reasons. Even on those, they will sometimes take the candy and save for later when off duty. Or so they say - perhaps they toss it when I'm not looking. Airlines in Canada generally have rules against employees accepting tips. I think that is the norm in most parts of the world. Odd move in the US market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcur Posted January 18, 2019 #16 Share Posted January 18, 2019 54 minutes ago, em-sk said: Airlines in Canada generally have rules against employees accepting tips. I think that is the norm in most parts of the world. Odd move in the US market. I'll say it for you: It's a TACKY move in the US market. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alidor Posted January 18, 2019 #17 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Not a chance in hell.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare FlyerTalker Posted January 18, 2019 #18 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Just remember folks....the tipping is nothing new. What is new is that the individual FAs get the money, whereas before it was pooled and then equally split. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnjen Posted January 31, 2019 #19 Share Posted January 31, 2019 On 1/11/2019 at 1:38 PM, FlyerTalker said: Generally discouraged to prohibited when in cash. I've been known to give out chocolates or Starbucks gift cards at times. What a wonderful idea. The Starbucks gift cards, that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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