Georgia man says a flight attendant handed him a tip screen for his M&Ms and water, and told him to pick a box before she’d hand them over

A Georgia man recently shared a video on TikTok about a surprising experience he had while flying, the BroBible reports. Justin Opel, a creator based in Georgia, claims a flight attendant handed him a payment device after he ordered M&Ms and water. 

According to Opel, the attendant told him to select one of the boxes on the screen before she would hand over his snacks. The screen showed tip options, which left the passenger questioning if this is now standard practice for air travel. 

Opel expressed confusion about the interaction during his video. He mentioned he was on a flight from Orlando that lasted about an hour. He stated, “Crazy story,” and asked viewers if tipping flight attendants is a new trend or if he is just behind the times. He noted that while he appreciates the work flight attendants do, he found the request for a tip on a short flight to be unexpected.

People think the tipping culture is getting out of control

The topic of tipping in the air has sparked plenty of debate online. Some people responding to the situation think the culture of asking for tips is spreading too far. One person commented on the situation, “Tipping is out of control.” 

Another user shared a similar frustration by mentioning they were once asked for a tip at an automated car wash. However, not everyone feels the same way. One person noted that their father always taught them to tip everyone, and they personally tip if they are served alcohol on a flight.

Airlines have different rules regarding gratuities. Some carriers do not allow their staff to accept any tips or gifts. Others have specific restrictions in place. According to information from Southern Living, some airlines like Frontier ask customers if they want to tip when they pay for food or drinks using a card. 

The discussion on the r/flightattendants subreddit shows that staff members have mixed feelings about the practice. One user shared a story about trying to tip a flight attendant while pregnant, only to have the offer refused by someone who looked offended.

 On the other hand, several flight attendants posted that they enjoy receiving tips even if it is not a requirement. One attendant explained that while company policy often forbids it, they really appreciate the gesture because the work is hard and food at airports is expensive. Another added that it makes their day when it happens because the pay does not always reflect the amount of work they perform.

Not everyone thinks this should become the norm. One commenter argued that turning flying into a tipping culture will wreck the experience. They pointed out that some people suggest tips as high as $100, which they find absurd.