The question of whether to tip in airline lounges is a difficult question, especially in more premium ones like AA’s Flagship Dining Rooms or United’s Polaris Lounges.
I personally hate tipping…I view it as a dirty stain on American culture. It has become such an entitlement that even a 15% tip for mediocre service is considered by many to be stingy. It bothers me to see tipping, beyond rounding up to the nearest Euro, spreading in Europe and I think what bothers me most is that good service is conditioned upon what amounts to a bribe from the customer.
It is what it is. I choose not to fight the system and tend to tip fairly well. But then there’s the issue of airline lounges.
Both American and United offer sit-down dining and bar service to their most premium customers at lounges around the country. Should you, as an airline passenger that paid a substantial premium for a ticket that granted access to one of these lounges, tip these waiters, waitresses, and bartenders? After all, they often provide better service than you get in a restaurant or bar outside the airport.
Jobs Are Advertised As “Non-Tipped”
At least for United Polaris Lounges, staff are paid a living wage and the job positions are explicitly advertised as “non-tipped.” For example, here’s an opening for a mixologist at United’s SFO Polaris Lounge:
The jobs are filled by Sodexo, a French food and facilities management company. The company advertises the following benefits:
- 401K Plan
- Dental Insurance
- Employee Discounts
- Health Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Vision Insurance
So, a good hourly wage, benefits, and no expectation of tipping. Should you still tip?
My reaction is no. That I don’t have to tip out of guilt and that there should be no expectation of tipping with jobs like this. In other words, “tips” are included in the price of your ticket like an all-inclusive cruise.
Sadly, the expectation of tipping does not go away even if it is deliberately excluded from the job description. Here’s one review of the open position from a former employee:
I was a Bartender in the brand new Polaris Lounge at SFO. (though the job title is Mixologist LOL!!) There was often little to no communication between management and staff. We ran out of product and supplies often. We were not allowed to have any tips remain on the bar top for more than a few seconds. The tips were to be pulled down immediately and hidden. Most Bartenders that were skilled quit right away. New staff was just brought in with little or no experience. I am not wanting to burn bridges (though I know this will), but I really wasn’t happy working there.
In marking “cons” about the job, this bartender also complained about “no tips from many guests.” Though reading this it appears it was company mismanagement that drove him away.
Should You Tip?
Again, should you tip? That’s up to you. I’m only trying to make a point here that you should not feel compelled to tip in a premium airline lounge because workers are paid well and applied for the position knowing that tipping was not part of the deal.
Perhaps tip if you are truly dazzled by the great service, but please do not tip out of guilt that the worker’s are not paid enough.
CONCLUSION
A good bartender can do far better in a tip-based environment than one with a decent hourly wage. That has to be one reason why the Polaris Lounge in SFO lost some of its early bartenders. Just understand that as ubiquitous as tipping is in American culture, it does not have to spread to premium airline lounges…or airplanes.
> Read More: A “Real” Review of the United Polaris Lounge in SFO
> Read More: Frontier Airlines Wants You To Tip Flight Attendants
100% no.
Bartending is the number one occupation for female non-college graduates in this country. It’s
the one job basically any woman can get, and make a living on. The reason is because of their tips.
Whose tip?
Alaska lounges do not allow tipping
The AS lounges explicitly have a sign out to say no tipping is permitted and service is with thier compliments.
Love it.
I remember that British Airways also had a NO TIPPING sign somewhere in a lounge at LHR. Is still the case at bloody awful/bloody awesome depending on the day?
There was a 2018 study by the US Dept of Housing & Urban Development that found families of four in San Fran and neighboring San Mateo & Marin Counties making $117k and below were considered “low income”. I’m sure if they open a Polaris/Flagship lounge in El Paso or Northwest Arkansas that $17 will be big dough, but not a chance in SFO.
I do agree no one should be compelled to tip in an airport lounge…especially if/when they receive poor service. But I don’t really get why you feel the need to try and dissuade people from tipping. I think 99% of Americans understand how and when to tip. Most people that don’t tip either hate the tipping culture or are cheap. Fine…they don’t have to tip. But I think many people tip because they appreciate the service and not due to “guilt”.
I’m sure most here will NOT agree with me, but as a former 13yr caddie I guess I don’t have the disdain for tipping as most on miles/points blogs and forums seem to.
You must be a blast at parties.
A good number of international travelers go through these lounges too, so while 99% of Americans may understand when tipping is “obligatory”, I wouldn’t expect our international friends to understand this.
I believe it is compulsion when lounge bartenders leave cash strewn about the bar as a “suggestion.”
Yyyyyeah, I think most people tip out of guilt.
I have a friend who works at a restaurant where an 18% gratuity is automatically included but where, if you pay by card, the receipt will print a line for “additional tip.” He says close to 100% of customers who pay by card leave an additional tip (though often only $2-5), whereas virtually none of the cash customers do. We’re willing to be extorted so as not to appear rude. It’s gross.
“a good hourly wage” really $16/hr in SF
I’m sure all the bartenders are living it up in Pacific Heights.
I refuse to tip period. Regardless of opinion its not “my” job to subsidize an employer’s employees wages regardless of whether the work is skilled or unskilled.
You’re right. However it is your job to not give your business to an airline that proudly pays employees well below the cost of living in SF and doesn’t care when talented hires leave the job because they can earn more by providing their skills elsewhere. It seems you’ve failed at that, just as United has to provide a comfortable living for such employee. Off to their second job, so they can afford to not live at home and put food in their families mouths.
Everyone has a choice about who they work for and where they live. If one doesn’t like their job, residence and/or pay, they are free to look elsewhere.
If only that’s how the world really worked, Thomas. Lucky for you that you have all the requisite privilege. No problem with you enjoying that and making the most of it. And feel free not to tip too. But your lack of comprehension and compassion is just a sad indictment of humanity.
No thats the facts of life. The rest would be your opinion.
Even if it is not required, I would gladly tip if I get good service. Yes, United technically “pays” them a “living wage” salary. But truth be told, that’s not enough for most of these workers to live on. Should we be obligated to tip as a result of the airlines failure to give a high enough salary to these workers? Nope not at all. But would it hurt us that much to give a couple bucks to the service employee for their good service? Nope not at all. If you can afford to fly premium and go to a premium lounge, then I’m sure you are much better off than any of these employees and a couple of bucks isn’t going to hurt you. I’m grateful to be able to travel in style and get access to these lounges. It would give me nothing but pleasure, in the way of a couple of bucks, to make the employees day a little brighter. I’ve been given a lot of great opportunities in life…my career, family, house etc…I don’t mind paying it forward….no matter how small or big a gesture it might be.
What exactly constitutes a living wage? The push from $10 minimum wage to $15 minimum wage was supposed to address that! It seems that the bar slides higher with each minimum wage increase.
Only if they are wearing a lot cut dress and lean in extra few inches just for you.
Debit this wasn’t an article about sexist pigs who get drinks thrown in their face…. I’d happily tip that bartender for you.
Ok. Please do. I would like you to tip 30%. Don’t forget to tip that much on my behalf every time you are at an airport bar.
Also give her a pat on her dearie on my behalf.
*Derrière
SO the F&B employees in the United Polaris Lounge in SFO (and probably other cities) ….are Sodexo employees – not United ?
Correct.
Tipping in this situation is lunacy. Why does an industry predicated on making the customer happy want to add any level of confusion about the need to tip?
Customers don’t want to feel mean but nor do they want to engage in this cheap and vulgar practice…and even more so when the employees are more than adequately compensated via their wages.
There is much to admire about the US but tipping is really tacky and awful.
Sadly minimum wage in the City / County of San Francisco is only $15.00 the Minimum wage for a wait staff person is $14.00.
That is with the assumption of tips.
One would imagine the Medical, Dental and Vision coverage comes with HUGE caveats much like my partner’s who paid $80.00 per week for complete bullshit coverage – like $600 max emergency room coverage. Having added him to my coverage he can actually see a Dr.
Presuming hours a week at the stated wage it works out to less than $2800.00 a month pre-tax. Less the employee contribution to benefits.
A one bedroom in the city of San Francisco on average exceeds $2500.00
The surrounding environs not much less expensive.
While I dislike the concept of tipping … something has to be done to make life liveable, for those who make our lives easier.
Expensive ticket or not…
Do you know what the deal is with bartenders in the Centurion lounge, Matthew? I’ve always tipped them (with good reason – they generally make decent martinis), but it would be interesting to know if they were employed under similar conditions. That said, as others have noted, $16 per hour won’t get you far in the Bay area …
If I go to that lounge frequently (at least once a week) and the bartender knows my name and provides good service, then yes I will still tip.
Huh?! Funny comments…. Since when living wage and/or the wellbeing of an employee is the responsibility of the customer? If the wage is not enough, you can start saving, getting a better job, or simply work harder. The logic of american that tipping is compulsory is downright imbecile….
Usually tip per drink at skyClubs,,and did so Thursday at the Virgin lounge..
Only tip if an employee went out of their way to help you with something, especially an unusual scenario not covered by their job description. Expecting tips just for doing their job is rather entitled on the part of employees.
Tipping culture is suspect for me. I am from germany. Here we only round up. So if the bill ist 18,99 i will make 20 out of it and its okay. when i am in the states a pay the 18 to 22 percent of plus tax (cant understand why they dont show the price after tipp and tax because these are the real prices. But i never will tipp in an internations enviroment like an airline lounge.
I work in the industry as a barman. Amazing that people are so CHEAP. Yes we live on tips. NO you cannot live on the wage alone. I wonder if the author ever worked as a front line service person during breakfast? How about dealing with children? Teenage girls? Teenage boys? DRUNKEN BULLIES. Tips are a gift for CARING.
I would gladly take anyone who thinks they “know” the service industry and skool them for a few days.
How dare you “Mathew” do you work for minimum wage? Do you deal with people constantly thinking they have a right to judge your work in real time?
Mathew? you have no clue. try working at 3 am when people are wasted and YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE UNTIL THEY ARE HOME, AND EVERY TESTOSTERONE PUMPED IDIOT WANTS TO FIGHT YOU.
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT, AND YOUR CHEAP.
YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO JOURNALISM. Do your homework and talk to the pro’s. I am a 30 year veteran.
want some experience? email me.
The guy is getting 16 an hour at sfo. Does the writer of this article have no perception of reality calling this a fair wage and saying he shouldn’t tip. I agree that under paying staff because they can recieve tips is wrong but your delusional if you think this guy is making a liveable wage you should definitely tip especially when these lounges are complimentary and this person is most often having to listen to your terrible stories and entertain you on your 2 hour layover.