Insider Series: Should You Tip Your Flight Attendant?
Editor's note about our Insider Series: TPG Contributor Carrie A. Trey shares some of her most interesting stories and perspectives in this Insider Series article. Please remember that Ms. Trey's opinions and statements here are her's and her's only, and they do not reflect the opinions of the TPG Team. Disclaimer out of the way....please enjoy this latest installment from the one and only Carrie A. Trey!
Tips for flight attendants aren't unheard of on a plane—many attendants have received a few bucks on an alcohol sale, a box of chocolates or candy around the holidays, or more rarely, something nice off the duty free cart. But is tipping expected, or even something you should do? As part of our Insider Series, TPG Contributor (and working flight attendant) Carrie A. Trey explores this double-sided question, and offers a few...tips.
My mother flew for Pan Am from 1968 until its unfortunate demise in 1991. Onboard that carrier, tipping wasn't common practice, but when it did happen, it went down in pretty spectacular fashion. For instance, during the inaugural flight of Pan Am's 747SP from New York to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, several of her passengers were members of the Saudi royal family, one of whom purchased a pearl necklace for every female member of the crew.
Part of the allure of working for Pan Am was the opportunity to serve rich and powerful people on planes and then hobnob with them on the ground. Young, glamorous and full of flair, the entire crew would frequently be invited by local politicians and socialites to parties, country clubs and outings. Mum fondly remembers being treated to a lavish lifestyle during layovers around the world—splashy nights out in Copacabana, long days on the beach in Monrovia, or elbow-rubbing with socialites in Tehran, often at the InterContinental hotels that used to be owned by Pan Am. It wasn’t tipping per se, but it was certainly a far cry from the way business is done now.
Nowadays, politicians and socialites have better things to do than invite an A380 crew of 24 over to their estates for lunch and a swim, so crew generally stay in their hotel rooms during layovers. However, during my years working in the Middle East, I did see my premium-cabin colleagues receive gifts off the duty free cart, more often than not some jewelry like a watch, earrings or a tennis bracelet. To those doing the purchasing—usually Nigerians or Gulf Arabs—the cost was as insignificant as lunch money and simply a small token of their appreciation for good service. and I rarely (if ever) saw anyone turn down one of these trinkets.
Tipping is rare in Europe, where living-wage salaries are common, while in the US, tipping has become endemic in service industries where employees generally earn low base salaries. Those employed by the airline industry don't generally fall into this category; I mean, we aren’t paid as much as we were in the past, but we’re certainly not starving.
I see tipping every so often on US domestic flights where a lot of alcohol is being sold, to destinations like Las Vegas, South Florida or San Juan, Puerto Rico. On Vegas flights from the East Coast, for instance, I’ve seen flight attendants pocket upwards of $100 in tips, often split amongst the crew on a nice dinner or casino gaming tables.
I won’t say that tipping isn’t appreciated—after all, who doesn’t like having a few extra bucks in their pocket?—but it's certainly not expected. Flight attendants do provide service, but we're ultimately well-paid safety professionals who are paid salaries that allow us to live well both on and off layovers, and we receive excellent medical, dental and travel benefits.
So no, there’s no need to tip your flight attendant—but we all appreciate a cheerful "thank you" now and again!
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.