Tipping etiquette when traveling can be a complicated and controversial subject, especially given how expectations differ around the globe. The more you travel, the more confusing it all is. I recently had a reader ask me about tipping etiquette when dining in American Airlines Flagship First Dining, so I figured I’d answer that question more broadly.
Should you tip in airport lounges, and if so, under what circumstances is it appropriate and/or expected?
In this post:
Tipping in airport lounges is never expected
Let me state upfront that tipping is never expected in an airport lounge anywhere in the world. In other words, it’s not like dining in a restaurant in the United States, where you’re a jerk if you (knowingly) don’t tip, as servers often aren’t even being paid minimum wage before tips.
As you might expect, though, the custom of tipping in airport lounges is very different depending on where in the world you are. So while no one tips in airport lounges in Japan (it would be met with confusion at best, or offense at worst), a lot of people do tip in airport lounges in the United States.
While tipping is never expected in airport lounges in the United States:
- It certainly is appreciated for some kinds of services
- People working in airport lounges are at least paid minimum wage (unlike restaurant servers), but of course minimum wage and a livable wage aren’t the same thing
- For many airport lounge employees, tipping does make a significant difference to their bottom line and ability to provide for themselves and their family
- You might think it’s mostly Americans tipping, but that’s not my understanding; based on what I’ve been told, it’s just as much foreigners, partly because they might not be familiar with US customs (other than knowing that you’re supposed to constantly tip), and also since they may have some leftover currency and might be leaving the country
Never feel like you have to tip, but also realize that tipping is appreciated under many circumstances, and it is a common practice.
Under what circumstances should you tip in airport lounges?
Generally speaking, under what circumstances are tips common in airport lounges? I’d say there are a few different situations, so let’s go over those. I’m just sharing my take and observations, though again, I’m not claiming there’s a right or wrong answer.
When you are served a drink
In many airport lounges drinks are served by bartenders, so if you want a glass of wine or a cocktail, they’ll have to serve you. It’s not unusual to see people tip $1-3 per drink, with the lower end being common for pouring a glass of wine, and the higher end being common for a custom cocktail.
I know that some people who choose to sit at the bar in an airport lounge may just tip $20 upfront, and then they get amazing service the entire time. I’m not saying people should do that, but it is a common practice.
I’d say a similar tipping etiquette applies for the custom avocado toast station in the Admirals Club, especially if you don’t want them to be stingy with toppings. 😉
When you have a sit-down meal
In the past several years we’ve seen an increase of airlines offering a la carte dining in lounges, whether we’re talking about American Flagship First Dining, Delta One Lounges, or United Polaris Lounges. This is a lovely experience, and in many cases offers restaurant-quality food, drinks, and service.
Assuming service is friendly and attentive, I’ll generally tip $10-20, depending on how much I eat and drink. Usually I try to tip around 20% of what I think a meal like that would cost in a restaurant outside an airport. I consider it to be a small price to pay for a great experience.
When you get a spa treatment
Some airport lounges do offer complimentary spa treatments, which is always a treat. Tipping is appreciated here, and I’ll usually tip $5-10 for a mini-treatment. I try to think of how much a similar treatment would cost if paying cash, and then use the same 20% tipping rule.
When you get exceptional service
Even without a la carte dining or spa treatments, sometimes you have lounge employees who simply go above and beyond. They’ll constantly check on you, see if you want anything to drink, clear plates constantly, etc. Rumana at the Capital One Lounge DFW is (or at least was — I haven’t visited in a couple of years now) the perfect example of this.
In these situations I think tipping as a sign of gratitude is a nice gesture, though also certainly not expected. Most of the people who are this friendly do so because they genuinely want to make other people happy, and not because they’re hoping to get a tip.
What about lounge tipping outside the United States?
As mentioned above, the above guidelines are mostly for lounges in the United States, since we have a culture of tipping. What about outside the United States? Obviously I wouldn’t tip in a place like Japan for any services, as it would be considered rude.
What about aside from that, though? I typically don’t tip in airport lounges outside the United States, with the exception of when getting spa treatments. I personally feel good about tipping in those situations, though I also think it’s totally reasonable to not tip.
Aside from that, I don’t typically tip for dining and drinks in the same way I would in the United States.
Bottom line
Tipping is never expected in airport lounges. However, depending on where in the world you are, it’s also not necessarily unusual to do so. In the United States it’s common to see people tipping a couple of dollars when a bartender pours a drink, or tipping a bit more than that for a sit-down meal or a spa treatment in an airport lounge.
Airport lounge employees are consistently paid at least minimum wage (unlike most restaurant workers), and many airports even have high minimum wages. However, a high minimum wage still isn’t going to be a livable wage in many places.
I know that in some lounges, guests tipping makes a material difference in how much people make, and helps airport lounges retain some good talent.
And let me say that even though I have my general “system,” I’m also not 100% consistent. Sometimes I don’t have small bills (or any cash), so I won’t tip. But I try to make up for it the next time, in hopes of it all balancing out.
What’s your approach to tipping in airport lounges?
Well, workers at an airport lounge are provided an appropriate wage by their employer; thus, they should have no reasonable expectation of being tipped. Therefore, I am sure that all the folks receiving said tips are declaring them fully on their income taxes, as the change to tax law only makes tips exempt for those workers who work in professions where tips are customarily received.
Or you can stop the insanity altogether by not tipping...
Well, workers at an airport lounge are provided an appropriate wage by their employer; thus, they should have no reasonable expectation of being tipped. Therefore, I am sure that all the folks receiving said tips are declaring them fully on their income taxes, as the change to tax law only makes tips exempt for those workers who work in professions where tips are customarily received.
Or you can stop the insanity altogether by not tipping airport lounge workers, every one of whom receives an appropriate wage from their employer. Sheesh and not baksheesh!
The Brasserie in DeltaOne at JFK is one of the few places where it seemed like they really expect you to tip, but, even then, you do not have to. As for elsewhere in US, a mere dollar to a bar tender in a SkyClub, UnitedClub, or Admirals Club shouldn’t be that big a deal. (But, if you aren’t into it, that’s fine, too, I guess… that’ll show ‘em!) Never seen much tipping at overseas airports.
Respectfully, this statement in the blog post is categorically not true:
"You might think it’s mostly Americans tipping, but that’s not my understanding; based on what I’ve been told, it’s just as much foreigners, partly because they might not be familiar with US customs (other than knowing that you’re supposed to constantly tip), and also since they may have some leftover currency and might be leaving the country."
No waitstaff in USA are grifting for tips because “they don’t make minimum wage”, they do it because an extra 2 grand a month is bloody great!
For Absolute F***s Sake!!! This is not a F***ING question in any way shape or form. The employer should pay a fair wage. If you really, and I mean really really like the person serving you then perhaps a buck or two if in the US.
Outside the USA, we'll in Europe definitely, just don't! Staff here have a minimum wage which is generally liveable on, and tips as much as they are appreciated are...
For Absolute F***s Sake!!! This is not a F***ING question in any way shape or form. The employer should pay a fair wage. If you really, and I mean really really like the person serving you then perhaps a buck or two if in the US.
Outside the USA, we'll in Europe definitely, just don't! Staff here have a minimum wage which is generally liveable on, and tips as much as they are appreciated are not necessary in airports. Just stop being complete and utter knobheads, and get your franchisees to pay proper wages! Tipping culture is one of the reasons Europeans are reducing travel to the USA, not necessarily the maniac in the White House.
Tipping for lounge avocado toast? Good grief! I didn't know avocado toast is still a "thing."
I don't comment much here but I do want to say this: Please stop advertising or promoting tipping. Lounges are not restaurants and they are paid a fair wage. Tipping itself is a propaganda to put customers as the employees enemy while it should be the owner that pays them a fair wage. The waiters (barbers or therapists) knows they won't get as much by taking just the wages and prefer to guilt trip customers...
I don't comment much here but I do want to say this: Please stop advertising or promoting tipping. Lounges are not restaurants and they are paid a fair wage. Tipping itself is a propaganda to put customers as the employees enemy while it should be the owner that pays them a fair wage. The waiters (barbers or therapists) knows they won't get as much by taking just the wages and prefer to guilt trip customers by having tipping as part of the salary structure. It's getting out of control in the U.S. What is enough? To tip supermarket workers as well? We will simply stop dining out or asking for a drink at the bar if it becomes a norm. You can continue to tip as you like but please don't put your culture as the standard.
Jesus christ, you Americans. A plague
Whats the point of this argument.
Idiots will continue tipping anyway
Not wanting to sound rude, but Americans that tip in lounges are jerks. Pleas estop destroying service culture outside your own yountry.
Don't tip in the lounges. Most of us are already PAYING to access the lounges. These are not tipped employees. Last thing you want to do is give the companies that own the lounges the idea that they can start paying their employees less because they get tips. Really wish people would get paid at proper rates and tipping was abolished. Its really sad the idea that you have to 'bribe' servers with tips to do their job well.
" as servers often aren’t even being paid minimum wage before tips." In places like NYC servers are guaranteed minimum wage which is currently $17 an hour and increases each year.
What’s the appropriate for your brain surgeon? Asking for a friend.
It absolutely isn't common, and it should be even less common than it currently is.
Please keep it in the US/NA and don't bring this culture to the rest of the world.
The Alaska lounges explicitly put out a sign that tips are not expected or taken by the staff.
The worst softpower from America :tipoing. Other than this: evangelical and mormons around thr world
DONT TIP IN LOUNGES.
It's not common. It's not expected. And it should not be.
Only exception is the bar tender.
why should that be the exception? honest question
It shouldn't be either. Tipping is wrong full stop.
Never tip in a lounge. Never ever. That simple.
I bring a roll of nickels , and dole them out one by one .
This is such nonsense. Please stop propagating this insane tipping culture. I say this as an American who used to accept tipping but it is out of control. Waiters and waitresses dont want a living wage because tipping allows them to make more than teachers, health care assistants, cooks, administrative assistants, etc.
Waitresses made good tips at Hooters .
yea the people who want to keep the tipping culture are the servers, because of the individuals who think it makes them a big shot to over tip. All those people are doing is undermining the argument that people should be paid a living wage by their employer.
Your heart is in the right place, but to me this feels nuts. It's not ok to be expected to tip for every little thing, especially in an airport lounge. American tipping culture is pure insanity – and like much of that country, borne from racism.
The more that well meaning people give in to it, the more it encroaches and gets worse for everybody else. Eventually we'll be expected to tip at every interaction...
Your heart is in the right place, but to me this feels nuts. It's not ok to be expected to tip for every little thing, especially in an airport lounge. American tipping culture is pure insanity – and like much of that country, borne from racism.
The more that well meaning people give in to it, the more it encroaches and gets worse for everybody else. Eventually we'll be expected to tip at every interaction possible with somebody working in a service culture. When you give into it, you're also allowing yourself to be exploited by business owners who don't pay their staff properly. The only people who win here are the rich executive class.
How about if you leave a tiny tip for every tiny thing ? (eg., a nickel for a glass of wine ; a penny for a parking meter ? )
Helpers pushing wheelchairs require a decent payment . Baksheesh = everything else is a bribe.
I tip at the bar minimally if anything more than just pouring from a can or tap is involved. Don't tip elsewhere unless there was some exceptional out of normal service like catering to a special request or providing helpful advice in choosing. Tipping shouldn't be a norm just because you sit down to eat.
Solving wage issues isn't my problem. It has become wage copay in US restaurants and really obscene in high priced...
I tip at the bar minimally if anything more than just pouring from a can or tap is involved. Don't tip elsewhere unless there was some exceptional out of normal service like catering to a special request or providing helpful advice in choosing. Tipping shouldn't be a norm just because you sit down to eat.
Solving wage issues isn't my problem. It has become wage copay in US restaurants and really obscene in high priced places like in California. Not a tip for service anymore.
A related event is tipping in restrooms and use of shower rooms. Here the norms and expectations are the opposite between US (no continuous attendant cleaning in most places) and South or SouthEast Asia (where an attendant "maintaining" the place is the norm). I tip the latter but typically the amount is small converted to US dollars.
Without getting into the merits of whether waiters are paid enough or not, I would like dispel the myth that they do not make at least minimum wage, since the law guarantees their pay+tips equal to federally- or state-mandated minimum wage at least.
An American point of view. I really do not care what happens in the US as I do not plan to visit. The title was generic; lounges, which I interpreted to mean world wide as it is a travel blog. Please stop referring to laws that are only applicable to a subset of the world. Neither the US legal system nor its culture are travelling well these days.
I don't know how you can say it's never expected when literally every bartender at a Sky Club these days has an obnoxious QR code for tipping or an obnoxious tip jar prominently placed on the bar. It's standard operating procedure now. I'm sure it's the same at United and American lounges.
That’s right, the obnoxious tipping jars are on every bar counter in Admirals Clubs and wherever they do they avocado toasts. So you pay hundreds of dollars membership fee then you pay again for a complimentary glass of wine. That said, never seen this nonsense in American’s Flagship lounges. It’s a start.
nobody should ever pay to access an Admirals Club
How about a tiny-tiny tip ? A nickel ?
The thing is, these are NOT tipped wage employees like a waiter in a restaurant.