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Tipping the Flight Crews, YES or NO?

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BigPappa

BigPappa

Name is Mitch Buchannon
Joined
Oct 4, 2004
Posts
367
If we can't get the money out of the company, why not try the general public? Tipping seems to be part of life almost everywhere but the airline industry. Why not adapt this thinking in to our industry? It would be a great motivator for employees. In terms the company would benefit too from motivated employees who like to earn a little extra.

Just a thought to inspire conversation.
 
Why the hell would they tip us? They all think we make $200,000 a year...:rolleyes:


Never gonna happen...
 
StarChecker said:
Why the hell would they tip us? They all think we make $200,000 a year...:rolleyes:


Never gonna happen...
Click to expand...


Kind of like a cruise ship, where you tip the people on a per day basis. Here at the airlines, the airline management can run the airline without "paying" the flight crew. The passengers will pay (tip) the crewmembers accordingly.....Captains will get $3/hr for each pax. The FO gets $2/hr. FAs $1/hr. The company only has to make up the difference for the empty seats. Now the company can not scream that the crews are costing too much. All they do is fill the seats so it doesnt cost them anything.

$3/hr x 50 seats = $150/hr for captain.
$3/hr x 300 seats = $900/hr. (x 5 hr flight =$4500 for one flight)
 
StarChecker said:
Why the hell would they tip us? They all think we make $200,000 a year...:rolleyes:


Never gonna happen...
Click to expand...


Let me put this in term of some numbers and maybe that might change your thoughts. Lets say 48 legs in a month with an average of 30 pax per flight of which you might collect from 10 pax a $2 tip, that is $20.00.

10 x $2 = $20

$20 x 48 (legs) = $960.00/month on top of your pay.

Would that maybe be a motivator?
 
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BigPappa said:
Let me put this in term of some numbers and maybe that might change your thoughts. Lets say 48 legs in a month with an average of 30 pax per flight of which you might collect from 10 pax a $2 tip, that is $20.00.

10 x $2 = $20

$20 x 48 (legs) = $960.00/month on top of your pay.

Would that maybe be a motivator?
Click to expand...

Sounds resonable. You are going to report the entire amount on your taxes, aren't you?
:eek:
 
If you succeed, mgmt will figure a way to reduce your wages to waitress pay of 3$/hr! ("they're getting fat off tips, we don't need to pay them any more!")
 
I like the idea, but we (pilots) provide a professional service. It is not up to us to beg for tips. The company should add $6.00 per/pax to the ticket, and then do the split 3, 2, and 1. I have always thought on my last flight at a regional I would make each pax pay me $10.00 if they wanted to get where they were going.
 
??????????

Do you all know what TIP stands for?
 
You're in a professional industry, act like it. Do you tip your doctor? Dentist? Lawyer? Plumber? Carpenter? No.

Yes, we are in the Customer Service industry. However, our service is to get the customer from point A to point B as safely as possible and as efficiently as possible within a given time frame. Most of all as safely as possible. It's irrelevent what the public believes we earn per year, quarter, month or day. Our job is to serve them in a safe manner. That's what they pay for. To expect a tip is a disgrace to your fellow pilots and crew members. Please find something else to do in life.
 
Long Time Gone said:
You're in a professional industry, act like it. Do you tip your doctor? Dentist? Lawyer? Plumber? Carpenter? No.

Yes, we are in the Customer Service industry. However, our service is to get the customer from point A to point B as safely as possible and as efficiently as possible within a given time frame. Most of all as safely as possible. It's irrelevent what the public believes we earn per year, quarter, month or day. Our job is to serve them in a safe manner. That's what they pay for. To expect a tip is a disgrace to your fellow pilots and crew members. Please find something else to do in life.
Click to expand...
I agree asking for a tip at the end is not professional. However, passing on a seperate service charge to each ticket is a viable option. The carriers in foriegn countries tack on a fuel service charge, why can't we tack on a crew charge. The passengers have enjoyed cheap air travel way too long.
 
I say YES to that....
I always got tipped when I was flying corporate...why not in the airlines?
We should get a tip jar permanently attached at the door , Part 121 approved by the faa (that's another story!).

It would say: "Tips not mandatory, but greatly appreciated!"

Or having the FA going through the aisle with the jar after the flight and before the seat belt sign off...

That would be good for beers...
 
Long Time Gone said:
You're in a professional industry, act like it. Do you tip your doctor? Dentist? Lawyer? Plumber? Carpenter? No.

Yes, we are in the Customer Service industry. However, our service is to get the customer from point A to point B as safely as possible and as efficiently as possible within a given time frame. Most of all as safely as possible. It's irrelevent what the public believes we earn per year, quarter, month or day. Our job is to serve them in a safe manner. That's what they pay for. To expect a tip is a disgrace to your fellow pilots and crew members. Please find something else to do in life.
Click to expand...

When you go to a restaurant, you expect a service as well, but still tip the waiter or waitress...even if it's 90% of his salary, it's not mandatory.
 
My way, of working for tips only, frees the company of crying, " we cant afford to pay the crews". Under my way, as long as the company fills the seats, the company wont pay a penny to the crews. The airline only has to pay for the empty seats.

And yes, have this "tip" included in the purchase price of the ticket. The company can discount their ticket accordingly to, as "they" are not paying for the crews.

The airlines can never blame the high cost of crews as there down fall. Instead it is now on their own management.
 
I love the comment about we are in a professional industry. "You don't ask your doctor, lawyer, etc. for tips do you?"

I gurantee our doctors and lawyers aren't scraping by on cup of noodles and free food at hotels to save money so that they can have a normal "professional lifestyle."

I agree tiping would not look professional but, if the carriers would add 6 dollars to every ticket, maybe we would earn more money than idiots who work as gardners, waiters, fast food workers, and maids.
 
BigPappa said:
If we can't get the money out of the company, why not try the general public? Tipping seems to be part of life almost everywhere but the airline industry. Why not adapt this thinking in to our industry? It would be a great motivator for employees. In terms the company would benefit too from motivated employees who like to earn a little extra.

Just a thought to inspire conversation.
Click to expand...

It never amazes me on some of the threads that are created on this board.........Grow up guys
 
StarChecker said:
Why the hell would they tip us? They all think we make $200,000 a year...:rolleyes:


Never gonna happen...
Click to expand...

Yes i agree, i think they are intimidated to tip us because we don't have a van driver uniform on. but i will take a $2 tip anyday. even $1 would be good.
 
Airplane not on time, NO TIP
Bumpy flight, NO TIP
No full can of Coke, NO TIP
Gate checks not in jetway, NO TIP
Waiting at gate for marshallers, NO TIP
Waiting for jetway driver, NO TIP
 
FedExFlyer said:
It never amazes me on some of the threads that are created on this board.........Grow up guys
Click to expand...
Service charges are the natural progression of companies that can't properly manage their fare structure.
 
(as we exit the runway) Ladies & gentleman, thank you for flying with us and it's been our pleasure serving you today! Some of you may not be aware of this, but I am a little short on my car payment this month, so we are going to sit here while the FA passes around the collection plate. I also accept lap-dances.

We aren't moving until we reach $525 in donations. Thank you, this is your captain.
 
I tipped the Doctor who also drives the hotel van, and is part owner of the La Quinta in MGM (no joke, most educated van driver you'll ever see). He gladly accepted our tips.

Did not see hime acting like 2 bucks was beneath him!
 
erj-145 Mech. Why don't you stick to your private flying or go fix a bulb or something and get of this board. Flying a Skymaster painted in military colors doesn't make you a military pilot.
 
expecting tips?? god you guys really gotta quit aviation go buy a gun and blow your brains out. Cause guess what?? nobody will miss you or even care. Also reserve crew will just take your spot so there is no reason to tell anyone before it happens.
 
zman, another wannabee! You and your POS Skymaster.
D(0)RK
 
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i dont think pilots should get tips but i absolutely think galley ho's should.
the fu(king service from stews now is reprehensible. they need some motivation for better service. every once and a while i use an upgrade on airways and its like one or two drinks on a 2 hour flight and the rest of the time they're hiding out in the galley bitching about how bad their lives suck.
if they're looking for good tips they're gonna bust their old crusty humps. if tips are allowed flight attendant service will be 100 times better than it is now and it will attract a better group of flight attendants i.e. hot girls get bigger tips. bigger tips = hotter girls = increased chance of a illicit acts with said hotter girls = happier pilots = less masturbatory activities = less chafing = less money spent of lubricants and tissues.
 

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