Tipping?
 

I ran a search and didn't find a thread on this (except for one about tipping the folks at the curbside checkin).

Does anyone here tip FA's? It seems like a no-brainer. If you do, how much and does travel time factor in?

The best tip a FA can receive is a friendly smile, a courteous word, a genuine "thank you." If you are especially pleased, a letter to NW would be wonderful.

No monetary tips are necessary. Indeed, I have never seen anyone tip a FA. It may even be against company policy for the FAs to accept them.

Anyone who travels extensively as you do should know the answer:
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Hyatt Dia, Mar Gold, *wood Gold, NW Plat
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To refresh your memory..........

Pilot: $8 (an extra $2 for the captain)

FA: $2 (an extra $1 for the Lead FA) plus $1 per drink, $1 if any snacks

TA: $2

GA: $2 plus $5 if you get upgraded to F/C and $50 if upgraded to B/E

TSA: $1 (they pool the tips)


MisterNice

I know there's been some discussion in some forums on this, but I think the consensus was that the major task of a FA is safety, not service (although many of us would possibly disagree). If you go with that logic, tipping is inappropriate.

I've actually seen FAs turn down tips offered to them.

ROTFLMAO ! !

If you try standard 15% tipping practice on your ticket .................... :D :D

I've actually heard of FAs being offended when offered a cash tip and don't recommend it at all as both inappropriate, unnecessary, and against their company policies to accept one. In another thread I remember an FA FTer sayign that it is awkward since they worry about offending or embarassing the passenger offering it if/when they turn it down for the aforementioned reasons.

A neat idea: My dad keeps several scratch-off lottery tickets in his wallet and will give one as a good natured thank you to a GA or FA that helps him out or makes his day somehow. It isn't quite a tip, but its a nice thank you gesture and will make them smile. Of course, if they scratch it off and win, they'd have to get to Pennsylvania to redeem it, but I don't think that my dad really cares or thought that piece through. :p

peace,
~Ben~

I always leave a couple of bucks on the counter for the lav attendent too.

Is that why I keep finding money when I go to the lav? :p

Nice thought, thanks. Officially, NWA discourages accepting tips or gifts of any kind from our passengers. However, the reality of the situation runs the gamut.

I have been offered tips countless times over the years, and my personal policy is this: I say "no thanks, I appreciate it, but we're not supposed to". The Las Vegas flights are notorious for this. Some days passengers are throwing money at us.

It can be awkward, as SMJ stated. One particular time, I refused a tip, only to be told, "Well she took it!", pointing at my coworker. Great, now he's ticked at me and her!

On the other side of the coin, I can think of a few times where I really busted my you know what for a passenger, and at the end of the flight, was handed a 20 dollar bill or more. I have accepted these a few times, hopefully graciously.

But all that being said, I do personally appreciate every offer very much. Try it, all they can say is "no thank you".

Why do people love to generalize FA's? Not all of us are mean, rude and unfriendly. If you ever had me as a FA on a flight, you would hear the word "THANK YOU" and that's while I'm picking you your trash!

Yes, I'm offered tips on most flights and YES I accept them.... (You would too if you worked a twelve hour shift with 4 - 6 flights). I've also been given gift cards to coffee shops from passengers due to friendly service.

So, I don't see what the big deal is. :)

I have never offered a tip to a FA, but since I work for a consumer product company I have given them free samples as a token of appreciation. I carry the samples in the bag. I know a number of FA's at NW and a number of other carriers, and they appreciate them as token of gratitude. As one of them told me, any kindness it is appreciated, due to the long days and stressful situation dealing with a large number of passengers. It is even more so these days with the poor situation in the airlines industry.

thanks for this post
 

I used to fly quite a bit to Vegas in the late 90s and early 00s, and, yes, I tipped the FAs for bringing drinks. I guess around 9-11 I suddenly noticed that no one else was doing this, so I quit in order to avoid looking weird and getting on some list. I also started to wonder if I had offended some of the FAs I had tipped in the past. The desire was never to offend. It was just meant to be a thank you. If any FAs are reading this who were offended, I'm sorry. Vegas is a tipping culture, and you just assume that bucks are a more sincere way of showing appreciation than mere words. I *do* realize that FAs are professionals. You seem to have a very good attitude, nwaflygirl!

I usually fly to NRT every year and on my return I give the FA's a box of chocolate to munch on. Sometimes, a nice smile and a thank you seems to go a long way. I can tell they appreciate it. A good FA can affect how you start or finish your day.