Originally Posted by
YourNameHere
I've been wondering: we don't tip flight attendants for doing their jobs. Why are we expected to tip Sleeping Car Attendants (and yes, we are expected to tip them), for just doing their jobs. They are paid a very good salary so they don't need to rely on tips to pay the mortgage. Yes, I've tipped SCAs who have provided extra services like bringing a meal to the room at my request.
America has developed a very tippy culture. I think it's absurd that there's a tip jar on the counter next to the register at my local coffee shop. What's next? McDonald's?
[suit of armor on - flame away]
I believe that tipping sleeping car attendants is something that has been in practice since the days of the pullman sleeper car and the "porters" that took care of you in them. Thus I think tipping the SCA is a historic practice that probably goes back from before airplanes were widely available to most americans.
Thus that is why SCAs are tipped. It has always been that way.
One could argue that instead it is strange that flight attendants aren't tipped!