This is a topic which has haunted me on and off. Appreciate your views on this..

I once tipped an air hostess on US Air Flight from CLT-Buffalo. She didnt seem to take it quite well.

In a previous incident I took a BA flight from TPA to LGW and had tipped. I got the best service.. Dont know if it was the tip or not but she didnt seem offended..

Well I am flying CLT-LHR-BOM this December in business class and I have begin to ponder again on this..

What do you think is 'right'?

What's an air hostess? Does it have anything to do with a Twinkie?

Possibly it has something to do with Ding Dong's

On US carriers, they can lose their job for accepting a gratuity.

I had one of those on Braniff International...back in 1973.....

It would be in poor form.

At least in the past it used to be airline policy that employees are not allowed to accept gratuities, and I would personally not consider tipping flight crews.

Also, if paid in advance I would call it a bribe rather than a tip. Tip is given after you receive good service as a sign of appreciation, not beforehand to encourage special service.

how do u tip hostess ?
put the note in...?

if she strips naked i think it should be ok. lol

i would never give them money, but sometimes buy them chocolates or something from their own duty free stock and give it to them before landing. they usually appreciate it.
might not work on flights w/ out duty free.

i dont know any airline that would allow them to take any money from passengers or to accept any brought-in-food or drinks.

you also say you gave a tip and then received the best service in the world? so this means you gave them a tip first in hope for better service? then this is not a tip but a bribe ...

You say 'bribe' like it's a bad thing.

Please continue to follow this thread in "TravelBuzz", as it is not mileage related.

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Craig6z
Buzz & United Moderator
[email protected]

Maybe some airlines are different, but in general you never tip the flight attendants.

I think the rule of thumb probably taught to most flight attendants these days is you refuse an offered tip twice and then reluctantly accept it if offered a third time.

I believe it is acceptable to "tip" in the appropriate circumstances and not all airlines prohibit this. Rounding up on drinks is probably the most common situation I've seen. I carry Starbucks gift certificates as it's hard to round up on a diet coke.

Why does everyone have to be tipped?

To my "British" eyes, this is the most ludicrous post I've ever seen on this board!!

Tipping is for good service - and that is all. If you want to tip as you EXIT the plane, because you feel that the crew have gone over and above what you (as a paying passenger) have a right to expect, then please go ahead. If you tip as they take your coat, deliver you some pre-flight nuts and drink, give you a pillow, serve your dinner - please go ahead, but be aware that you risk the chance of changing the attendants attitude to service. Please note at this juncture, that I am not talking about the vast majority of attendants, who perform their job BECAUSE it is it their job, NOT because they want a tip.

Remember that a flight attendant's job is primarily to ensure your safety, not to serve your drinks. If you would tip a fireman for putting a fire at your house out, please go ahead and (try) to tip flight attendants. Otherwise, please stop trying to "buy" people's goodwill!