Plane passenger is baffled after being asked to leave an 18% tip at airport self-service checkout

Published: 10:48 EDT, 21 October 2026 | Updated: 10:48 EDT, 21 October 2026

A plane passenger was baffled after being asked to leave an 18 per cent tip at an airport self-checkout.

Dr Clay Moss posted on TikTok to share his experience buying from a grab-and-go kiosk outside the Happy Clam at Newark Airport, New Jersey.

‘Take a look at this. This is what the world has come to nowadays,’ he began before taking viewers with him to purchase a bottle of water.

Shock: Dr Clay Moss posted on TikTok to share his experience buying from a grab-and-go kiosk outside the Happy Clam at Newark Airport, New Jersey

‘I’m at a self-service spot in the airport. Just grabbed a bottle of water and we’re going to check out,’ the content creator said.

He then scanned the item before focusing in on the screen.

It showed the one-liter Habitas Artesian Water at $6.49 with estimated tax and fees at $0.20.

‘Who is this automatic 18 per cent tip – that I have to click out of – for? Who am I tipping here?’ Dr Moss said as h, laughing in apparent disbelief.

Confused: A plane passenger was left baffled after being asked to leave an 18 per cent tip at an airport self-checkout. Stock picture

He panned around the store, showing no staff were manning it.

‘Is this what we’ve come to? I don’t know,’ he concluded.

And the video left dozens of viewers equally frustrated.

‘Ridiculous, these companies just can’t screw us enough,’ another added.

‘That is actually infuriating. It’s one level above a scam. Hoping people don’t pay attention or guilt trip them,’ a third penned.

Others branded the tipping prompt as ‘crazy,’ with someone else sharing: ‘Tipping is out of hand.’

Out of control: Earlier this year, a nationwide survey found that 78 percent of Americans believe tipping culture has become ‘ridiculous’. Stock picture

Earlier this year, a nationwide survey found that 78 percent of Americans believe tipping culture has become ‘ridiculous.’

Nearly half also said they have actively cut back on gratuities in 2026 as household budgets come under increasing pressure.

The findings, from restaurant technology company Popmenu, suggest a growing backlash against what many consumers see as relentless requests for extra money on top of already rising prices.

Retail analyst Neil Saunders spoke to the Daily Mail in June about the findings.

He said consumers are increasingly frustrated by both the size of expected tips and the growing number of situations where they are asked to leave them.