Frontier Airlines wants their passengers to cater to the ones who cater to us by tipping the cabin crew.
When flight attendants come around with refreshments, the airline is hoping that passengers will thank them by offering a generous tip. And we’re not talking about gum or advice that no one asked for, but actual money. Just like how patrons tip a bartender, waitress or delivery driver.
When passengers order drinks, preferably alcoholic beverages, Frontier Airlines gives travelers a tablet in order to pay. A blogger on one of their flights noticed that different options were presented to tip attendants. It was nothing too drastic. The basic options were 15 to 25 percent. Another option was to add custom gratuity. “Gratuities are appreciated,” the screen’s message said.
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Tipping is a new concept for airlines, who typically don’t ask for passengers to tip but it’s entirely up to the passenger. “We appreciate the great work of our flight attendants and know that our customers do as well, so the payment tablet gives passengers the option to tip,” Frontier spokesman Jonathan Freed said. “It’s entirely at the customer’s discretion, and many do it.” Some are in favor of the new gestures, but some officials are totally against it, as are the Association of Flight Attendants.
The union doesn’t think the idea of tipping is in the best interest of crew members. “Management moved forward with a tipping option for passengers in hopes it would dissuade flight attendants from standing together for a fair contract – and in an effort to shift additional costs to passengers,” AFA president Sara Nelson said. An airline spokesman said flight attendants have earned “millions of dollars” from tips over the last three years.
The catch to this new platform is that Frontier employees will be splitting the tips.