Passenger Questions 18% Self-Checkout Tip Prompt at Airport Kiosk

A traveler at Newark Airport encountered an unexpected prompt for an 18% tip at a self-checkout kiosk, sparking bewilderment and discussion online. Dr. Clay Moss shared his experience on TikTok after purchasing a bottle of water from a grab-and-go station outside the Happy Clam.

According to Moss's video, the self-checkout screen displayed the water's price at $6.49, with an additional $0.20 for tax and fees. However, it also included a pre-selected tip of $1.17, amounting to 18% of the purchase price. Moss expressed his confusion, questioning who the tip was intended for, as the kiosk appeared to be unstaffed.

"Is this what we've come to? I don't know," Moss said in the video, which has since garnered significant attention. Viewers reacted with similar frustration, with many describing the prompt as "shady" and "ridiculous."

"That is actually infuriating. It's one level above a scam to be honest," one commenter wrote. Another expressed a broader sentiment, stating, "Tipping is out of hand."

The incident comes amid a wider conversation about tipping culture in the United States. A survey conducted earlier this year found that 78% of Americans believe tipping culture has become "ridiculous." The same survey indicated that nearly half of respondents have reduced their gratuities in 2026 due to increasing financial pressures.

Retail analyst Neil Saunders commented on the trend, noting that consumers are increasingly dismayed by both the expected tip amounts and the expanding number of situations where tipping is suggested or required. This sentiment suggests a growing backlash against what many perceive as constant requests for additional money on top of rising product and service costs.

The Daily Mail has reached out to OTG Group, the airport hospitality and retail company, for comment on the self-checkout tipping practice.