My Flying News

Tips are a hot topic in the U.S. right now. We get bombarded with tip requests where and whenever we pay for something. Tips are an option in more and more point-of-sale systems. It seems like businesses are “Nickle and Diming” us to death.

I may be considered an old and grumpy pilot, a badge I wear with honor. I refuse to add a tip when I pay in the drive-thru.

My “rules of thumb” on tips are simple: if you perform a service for me or bring something, I will tip. If you bring food to my table, deliver something to my home, or go above and beyond, I will tip.

Flight attendants fall into these rules. They are performing a service, bringing us food and drink, and sometimes going above and beyond, so why not tip them occasionally?

In the golden days of aviation, airline flight attendants received tips from passengers. Corporate and private jet flight attendants receive tips today, why not airline flight attendants?

Top 3 Reasons to Tip Your Airline Flight Attendants

Flight attendants make less money than you think.

As of the date of this post, flight attendants who work for a well-known regional airline start at about $27.00 per flight hour. If a flight attendant can manage to work 100 flight hours in one month, that totals $2,700 plus some benefits and per diem.

Remember, the pay is per flight hour. A flight hour starts when the boarding door is closed until it opens at your destination. That means when flight attendants are boarding the aircraft, their busiest time, they are not even on the clock!

Think about your rent, mortgage, or car payment in 2023. You will quickly realize that $2,700 is not a lot.

They deserve our appreciation.

They put up with a lot. I genuinely sympathize with them. I could not do their job, especially when dealing with unruly passengers. In addition to serving food and drinks to customers, they perform safety functions. Flight attendants have to know specific aircraft systems and safety equipment. They have basic medical training and understand CPR.

I have witnessed some of their training and have participated in mock aircraft evacuations. Watching them perform under stress was incredible to watch. When things go wrong on an aircraft, they spring into action! I am so impressed with these dedicated men and women, and I am glad as a pilot, they have my back.

They clean up your mess.

Suppose you make a mess, then tip. If you are traveling with your kids, tip more. Flight attendants, especially on low-cost carriers at stops away from bases, put on rubber gloves and clean the cabin.

If you experience a flight attendant or a crew of flight attendants that go above and beyond, why not tip them?