According to the New York Post on the 9th, a passenger using Frontier Airlines shared a screen online asking for at least 18% of tips in the payment stage after ordering beer and snacks.
Frontier Airlines is the only U.S. airline that sells drinks and snacks for a fee on board. It introduced a tip system six years ago to compensate for flight attendants’ wages, and recently changed the method from sharing tips among flight attendants to receiving tips individually.
In response, passengers are responding, such as, “It is inappropriate for a flight attendant responsible for safety to receive tips,” and “It seems that they are working to receive tips, not services.”
Sarah Nelson, president of the American Crew Union (AFA), said, “The flight attendant’s role is to be responsible for the safety of passengers,” adding, “If the tip culture is established, the role of the flight attendant can be blurred.”
EJ SONG
US ASIA JOURNAL
