Actress Kaley Cuoco caused some turbulence when she said flight attendants should receive tips.
The majority of the internet thought otherwise.
Cuoco, who plays an airline flight attendant in the HBO series, The Flight Attendant, made the declaration during a TMZ interview at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
The media reporter had asked her:
"When you catch a flight, do you have an added appreciation for flight attendants after having played one?"
"Yes, actually I do," she replied, with a smirk on her face.
"They deserve tips. Tip your flight attendants."
You can watch the TMZ interview here.
Kaley Cuoco Says Flight Attendants Deserve Tips | TMZyoutu.be
Twitter went into a meltdown over her flippant suggestion.
\u201c@TMZ Here\u2019s a tip\u2026Thanks for doing your job\u201d— TMZ (@TMZ) 1666112000
\u201c@Chum1045 @TheAshleyGreco They\u2019re doing their JOB so no\u2026no tip from me. Sorry.\u201d— CHUM 104.5 (@CHUM 104.5) 1666115861
\u201c@TMZ People should learn to speak for themselves. If she\u2019s financially able and willing to do it go for it. How about tipping nurses who care for your relatives and friends? That\u2019s a life saving/sustaining job\u201d— TMZ (@TMZ) 1666112000
\u201cIn an interview with TMZ, actress Kaley Cuoco said she thinks air travellers should tip their flight attendants \u2708\ufe0f\n\nDo YOU agree?\u201d— Breakfast Television (@Breakfast Television) 1666179545
The topic sparked a discussion against the practice that seems to be exploited in the US over other countries.
\u201c@breakfasttv Tipping is ridiculous. Everything cost soo much. If employers would just pay there staff a living wage tipping wouldn\u2019t be needed . Tipping needs to end!\u201d— Breakfast Television (@Breakfast Television) 1666179545
\u201c@breakfasttv Are you kidding me?! Air travel is expensive enough! Everyone expects to be tipped now, even though they are just doing their jobs. I refuse to tip to get my coffee poured into a cup. It's getting a bit ridiculous\ud83d\ude44\u201d— Breakfast Television (@Breakfast Television) 1666179545
\u201c@breakfasttv She can tip whoever she wants, she has lots of money. Not everyone does. Go fly away Kaley!! \ud83d\udc4b\ud83c\udffc \u2708\ufe0f\u201d— Breakfast Television (@Breakfast Television) 1666179545
\u201c@breakfasttv Some of us don\u2019t have unlimited money & are paying enough for the flight itself.\u201d— Breakfast Television (@Breakfast Television) 1666179545
\u201c@breakfasttv At this rate, my electric bill will have a tip option.\u201d— Breakfast Television (@Breakfast Television) 1666179545
\u201c@breakfasttv I\u2019m so sick of being expected to tip people who are being paid a wage. No one tips me!\u201d— Breakfast Television (@Breakfast Television) 1666179545
\u201c@breakfasttv No tips needed. Just act like a decent human when travelling.\u201d— Breakfast Television (@Breakfast Television) 1666179545
Users suggested better wages would prevent the need for tipping in any industry.
\u201c@TMZ Let's not try to expand tipping to the other service industries. With the economic headwinds we are facing amid soaring inflation, finding ways to spend more money is not a good solution. Next, they'll be passing around tip buckets for the Captain and luggage handlers.\u201d— TMZ (@TMZ) 1666112000
\u201c@TMZ thats why nobody deserves tip, how do you decide who deserves and who dont?\u201d— TMZ (@TMZ) 1666112000
\u201c@TMZ Maybe the airlines should pay them a respectable wage or salary?\u201d— TMZ (@TMZ) 1666112000
\u201c@TMZ I vote we eliminate tipping and organizations pay their staff better.\u201d— TMZ (@TMZ) 1666112000
When asked if she had to study flight attendants to play one, she said she's flown enough to understand what they deal with.
At the conclusion of the interview, as she was making her way to the gate, the reporter inquired about her recently announced pregnancy and asked if she had any food cravings.
"Not really," she said.
As far as tipping flight attendants goes, their unions don't generally encourage the custom.
According to the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA):
"Tipping is not part of a Flight Attendant's compensation for serving as aviation's first responders."
"Flight Attendants are certified for our safety, health, and security work."
"Safety is not variable, and therefore, base compensation for a safety job cannot be variable."
Former flight attendant Jo Jo Harder told USA Today:
"Flight attendants should not be tipped."
Harder added that while she understands guests feeling compelled to tip" for good service," it was something that was "not allowed."
However, for airlines like Southwest Airlines, attendants are permitted to accept tips if a passenger insists.
