Flying Denver to Reagan yesterday (after a great time at Telluride Bluegrass Festival) I bought a couple of beers. Gave my credit card to the stewardess, who inserted it in an iPad-like device and gave to me to authorise and sign.

All fine, all normal.

Until I saw that, as in bars, restaurants and taxis, it prompted me to leave a 'gratuity' and prompted various percentages! What? That wasn't the case on the outbound flight a week earlier.

Tipping is a scourge in the US, unlike anything anywhere else in the world. The notion that you have to help pay the waitress's wages because the employer won't is disgraceful. Nonetheless, I tip because it's part of the deal. And I genuinely do not want a waitress to be evicted. But part of the premise is that it applies to minimum (or sub-minimum) wage employees.

Stewardesses are not minimum wage employees. Serving drinks is part of their job, alongside ensuring a safe trip. The idea that I should tip them is anæthema to me. I've mentioned it to a few stewardesses I know (none in the USA). They all thought it extremely tacky, and would be severely embarrassed by it.

Needless to say, I did not tip on the flight.