Tipping Crew Members
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, Star Alliance Gold, HHonors Gold.
Posts: 70
Tipping Crew Members
I was flying on the BA190 from Austin the other day in Y. The gentlemen next me was surprised to find that alcoholic drinks were free and ordered a Rum&Coke.
During the meal service he asked for another Rum&Coke and slipped the crew member a $20 note and asked him to continue bringing him drinks until he asked him to stop. The crew member readily accepted the 'Tip', and shortly after returned with 3 further drinks, with the same occurring on at least 2 occasions before I dropped of.
Was the crew member right to accept the tip? It did make me feel uncomfortable and that almost I should be tipping if I wanted further drinks.
During the meal service he asked for another Rum&Coke and slipped the crew member a $20 note and asked him to continue bringing him drinks until he asked him to stop. The crew member readily accepted the 'Tip', and shortly after returned with 3 further drinks, with the same occurring on at least 2 occasions before I dropped of.
Was the crew member right to accept the tip? It did make me feel uncomfortable and that almost I should be tipping if I wanted further drinks.
Last edited by Prospero; Sep 11, 2016 at 5:07 am Reason: Discretion
#2
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,873
I think there is an obvious professional reason not to accept a tip here if that was the 'deal' the passenger was trying to make - the cabin crew's judgement on whether to continue serving a passenger drinks should not be cluttered with any suggestion of bias due to money.
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sin, HKG
Programs: SQ, BA CCR GGL
Posts: 626
On some flights where service is patchy, to be kind, it would be a great idea. I know am someone on short haul who prefers BOB so that I can order what I want and when I want rather than the current unsatisfactory situation so in the absence of that a couple of dollars instead seems a good workaround.
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sin, HKG
Programs: SQ, BA CCR GGL
Posts: 626
I think there is an obvious professional reason not to accept a tip here if that was the 'deal' the passenger was trying to make - the cabin crew's judgement on whether to continue serving a passenger drinks should not be cluttered with any suggestion of bias due to money.
#5
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador, Starbucks Gold,
Posts: 624
I was flying on the BA190 from Austin the other day in Y. The gentlemen next me was surprised to find that alcoholic drinks were free and ordered a Rum&Coke.
During the meal service he asked for another Rum&Coke and slipped the crew member a $20 note and asked him to continue bringing him drinks until he asked him to stop. The crew member readily accepted the 'Tip', and shortly after returned with 3 further drinks, with the same occurring on at least 2 occasions before I dropped of.
Was the crew member right to accept the tip? It did make me feel uncomfortable and that almost I should be tipping if I wanted further drinks.
During the meal service he asked for another Rum&Coke and slipped the crew member a $20 note and asked him to continue bringing him drinks until he asked him to stop. The crew member readily accepted the 'Tip', and shortly after returned with 3 further drinks, with the same occurring on at least 2 occasions before I dropped of.
Was the crew member right to accept the tip? It did make me feel uncomfortable and that almost I should be tipping if I wanted further drinks.
Last edited by Prospero; Sep 11, 2016 at 11:14 am Reason: amend quotation
#6
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,873
#7
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 45
I object to tipping in all forms but unfortunately for our friends across the Atlantic tipping is seen as a requirement rather than any form of gratuity.
Being given extra £££ for just doing their job really annoys me. On my recent trip to NYC I went to a theatre show. They wanted $4.50 for a bottle of water and the cheeky git actually turned round an iPad screen and asked me to enter his tip! All he had done was pick up a bottle of water (no pouring, no mixing, no ice, no cup...) and wanted a bleeding tip!
The folk that argue back generally say "oh but the waiter/waitress is on like $1 an hour so needs the tips as s/he's so poor" to which a quick glance at the fact they are waiting on 10 tables in any hour...if each table left a $10 tip (which would be well below the 20% the US sees as the minimum) then instantly they are on nearly $100 an hour...hardly a minimum wage job!
So tipping crew is absolutely a no-go. It was absolutely wrong for the crew member to accept it and even more so for this pax to then be given preferential treatment!
Being given extra £££ for just doing their job really annoys me. On my recent trip to NYC I went to a theatre show. They wanted $4.50 for a bottle of water and the cheeky git actually turned round an iPad screen and asked me to enter his tip! All he had done was pick up a bottle of water (no pouring, no mixing, no ice, no cup...) and wanted a bleeding tip!
The folk that argue back generally say "oh but the waiter/waitress is on like $1 an hour so needs the tips as s/he's so poor" to which a quick glance at the fact they are waiting on 10 tables in any hour...if each table left a $10 tip (which would be well below the 20% the US sees as the minimum) then instantly they are on nearly $100 an hour...hardly a minimum wage job!
So tipping crew is absolutely a no-go. It was absolutely wrong for the crew member to accept it and even more so for this pax to then be given preferential treatment!
#8
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: 59K
Posts: 2,301
Crew aren't allowed to accept tips.
It might be an idea to remove the crew members nationality from the OP as it easily identifies them. In fact I could probably name them without access to the crew list.
It might be an idea to remove the crew members nationality from the OP as it easily identifies them. In fact I could probably name them without access to the crew list.
#9
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 45
I actually think this crew member should be disciplined! He made the OP feel uncomfortable, he gave preferential treatment for the payment (therefore not a gift) and he reduced the perceived professionalism of BA crew.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 45
I doubt it from the OP.
So because his employer has decided to offer a complimentary bar service the crew member is rewarded financially....
#12
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
I object to tipping in all forms but unfortunately for our friends across the Atlantic tipping is seen as a requirement rather than any form of gratuity.
Being given extra £££ for just doing their job really annoys me. On my recent trip to NYC I went to a theatre show. They wanted $4.50 for a bottle of water and the cheeky git actually turned round an iPad screen and asked me to enter his tip! All he had done was pick up a bottle of water (no pouring, no mixing, no ice, no cup...) and wanted a bleeding tip!
The folk that argue back generally say "oh but the waiter/waitress is on like $1 an hour so needs the tips as s/he's so poor" to which a quick glance at the fact they are waiting on 10 tables in any hour...if each table left a $10 tip (which would be well below the 20% the US sees as the minimum) then instantly they are on nearly $100 an hour...hardly a minimum wage job!
So tipping crew is absolutely a no-go. It was absolutely wrong for the crew member to accept it and even more so for this pax to then be given preferential treatment!
Being given extra £££ for just doing their job really annoys me. On my recent trip to NYC I went to a theatre show. They wanted $4.50 for a bottle of water and the cheeky git actually turned round an iPad screen and asked me to enter his tip! All he had done was pick up a bottle of water (no pouring, no mixing, no ice, no cup...) and wanted a bleeding tip!
The folk that argue back generally say "oh but the waiter/waitress is on like $1 an hour so needs the tips as s/he's so poor" to which a quick glance at the fact they are waiting on 10 tables in any hour...if each table left a $10 tip (which would be well below the 20% the US sees as the minimum) then instantly they are on nearly $100 an hour...hardly a minimum wage job!
So tipping crew is absolutely a no-go. It was absolutely wrong for the crew member to accept it and even more so for this pax to then be given preferential treatment!
Tipping really puts me off the US, coming from a country such as Switzerland where tipping is not expected. Why not just include service in the bill, pay the staff appropriately and be done with it?
#13
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,160
Quite extraordinary.
#14
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: HEL/SFO/ORD
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 83
How about charity?
The problem with tipping is the wide range of amount and style, especially globally. Like in the states it's very close to mandatory but in southern Europe more like a nice habit, not to talk about Scandinavia where it's something very special. I understand mistakes happen and a newly recruited American cabin attendant might very well accept a tip just out of habit.
It this case and also in generally, it might be a good idea to put the money for charity, like BA's Flying Start.
It this case and also in generally, it might be a good idea to put the money for charity, like BA's Flying Start.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,064
Jumbodriver isn't exactly correct, we can accept tips but we should politely refuse at least three times and then to avoid embarrassment to the customer we should graciously accept. Personally I would tell the customer that I will be giving the money to our Flying Start charity and then continue to serve him as I would any other customer.