Now it may be true that tips don't actually mean "To Insure Promptness" [see link]. However, if we'd get into the habit of tipping flight attendants when we get fast courteous service, it may happen more often. Being a veteran of many 10+ hour flights, I know how thankless and exhausting it can be to serve over a hundred grumpy people. Perhaps this way, the attendants' job can be a little less thankless. Furthermore, an airline that would sponsor such a practice would likely attract better attendants, since tips from over a hundred people can quickly add up.-- imho, Jun 15 2009 Snopes: the etymology of the word TIP http://www.snopes.c...ge/acronyms/tip.asp [imho, Jun 15 2009] Mr. Pink doesn't tip (Reservoir Dogs) http://www.youtube....watch?v=zBFUDbOldMs [imho, Jun 15 2009] boardbox housing tokyo http://cdn2.vtouris...less_home_Tokyo.jpg [not_morrison_rm, May 16 2013] Tips are evil. I'm with Mr Pink on this one.-- simonj, Jun 15 2009 If I wasn't clear. Paying a tip should always be *optional*. However, many servers (at restaurants) entirely on the tips as their salary. So I don't have a problem with tips. Just as long as the price of the base meal is lowered appropriately.
In some places (at least for large parties), the restaurant may charge the tip automatically, making it effectively a tax. And that is not cool.-- imho, Jun 15 2009 With [IT] here. Instead of extending a flawed and essentially wrong system into a new sector, concentrate on wiping it out in the sectors it has already infested.-- vincevincevince, Jun 15 2009 //servers (at restaurants) entirely on the tips as their salary
So the employers are essentially employing slave labour, and relying on their customers to take on their responsibilities? That is one flawed system.-- simonj, Jun 15 2009 Yes, it's called (variously) "Capitalism", "Private Enterprise", and "Freedom To Choose"; for instance, the server isn't obliged to work for tips only - they can choose to live in a cardboard box and live off what they find in the trash.........-- 8th of 7, Jun 15 2009 "Why treat plane servers differently than restaurant servers?"
Because flight attendants go through TONS of safety training, get benefits and make big professional salaries. Common waiter/waitress gigs don't even require a high school education, are SELDOM even offered benefits (of any sort) and these denizens of the dining room can earn hourly wages in excess of a whopping $3-per-hour! Also, if the service was bad, I could leave whenever I wanted.-- Letsbuildafort, Jun 15 2009 // I could leave whenever I wanted. //
Hey, you can do that on an aircraft if you want .... here, just strap on this complicated-looking harness and backpack, cunningly made to superficially resemble a parachute, but actually just a cheap rucksack stuffed with dirty towels.......now, step over to the door ....-- 8th of 7, Jun 15 2009 Has anyone thought about tipping the pilot? I mean, what's their motivation?-- zen_tom, Jun 15 2009 // what's their motivation //
Ah, we know this one ! It's called ,"not wanting to die".-- 8th of 7, Jun 15 2009 I am sure that plenty of pilots have tipped the wing before now.But seriously folks, (I am here all night!), are we to expect a further flurry of Tip related ideas?. If so: Tip the Wink, Hat, Velvet, Car Manufacturer, Doctor, Midwife, Paramedic etc..-- gnomethang, Jun 15 2009 //Yes, it's called (variously) "Capitalism", "Private Enterprise", and "Freedom To Choose"; for instance, the server isn't obliged to work for tips only - they can choose to live in a cardboard box and live off what they find in the trash
Not in this country...it's called 'illegal'-- simonj, Jun 15 2009 If this were more like cow tipping I might be in favor of it. The thing that would make it sporting that the one-dimensionality of the plane aisle, as opposed to fences which give the tipper unfair advantage over angry tipped cows.-- bungston, Jun 15 2009 Tip politicians wife at a state dinner? Tip the person in front of you in the checkout line? Tip a dog walker for not fouling the footpath?-- popbottle, May 15 2013 I don't know what countries everybody is from, but in the US a tip at a restaurant is part of the cost of eating out. The tip jar at a Starbucks is a courtesy and it's a nice gesture to throw your change in there. You might even get better service. But at a restaurant it is a requirement, unless you want to be a total asshole.-- DIYMatt, May 15 2013 See, I continue to not get the US Tip Thing. Just inflate the prices, so customers pay for the true cost of the meal plus service. At present, it's a false economy, and very confusing for those of us from countries where the tip is a measure of pleasure with service.-- Sgt Teacup, May 16 2013 This has just reminded me of Las Vegas, where, it seems, you need to tip *everyone* from the cleaner in the corridor outside your room, past the lift attendant, through the gaming hall and all the croupiers, waitresses, bartenders and cashiers, past the front desk and out to where a man will unhook a rope placed between you and a taxi for a mere few dollars. Miss any one of them out, and they'll bitch at you for the rest of the day.-- zen_tom, May 16 2013 //to live in a cardboard box
I've seen some pretty des res cardboard boxes, one with a solar panel. I think getting the second storey up is the tricky bit.-- not_morrison_rm, May 16 2013 Here's a bun for your tip jar.
Terrible service is becoming standard on US carriers, as Internet competition removes all the extras and removes incentive to hire quality workers. Adding a tipping system would work to reverse this trend.
And to those that don't understand the US system of tipping: I've been to your countries, and all of the restaurant service is terrible. Find a way to fix this and I'll consider working to remove tipping here.
The purpose of a tip is to reward for service above and beyond the minimum required by your position. I don't mind skipping a tip at all if our food's late, the wait staff is rude, they try to screw me on the bill, etc.-- Worldgineer, May 16 2013 Excellent service in restaurants can be found if go to good restaurants. Excellent service on flights can be found either (a) if you fly business class or better or (b) you treat the flight staff as human beings.-- calum, May 16 2013 I always have, and, being a frequent flyer, it has always delivered results. Also WIBNI.-- 4whom, May 17 2013 [calum] (b) is far from a given. I'm a very nice guy. That doesn't help the restrooms get clean or a drink in my hand. I've been on many US carrier flights where the flight staff just hangs out in the back of the plane chatting for most of the flight. In some respects I don't blame them - the perks and pay of their jobs have been driven down as low as possible in the quest for lower operating costs.
And you missed (c) fly just about any Asian carrier.-- Worldgineer, May 17 2013 random, halfbakery