National Express customers slam sign urging them to tip drivers

Passengers wait to board a National Express coach service to London Stansted Airport
-Credit: (Image: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)


Encouragement from the coach company National Express for customers to tip its drivers has been met with a negative reception. The company has confirmed that the tipping of drivers was introduced in 2022 on the back of customer and driver feedback as an added incentive, and says it has been 'a welcome boost to morale'.

But it continues to prove controversial. A photo of a sticker urging passengers to consider handing a bit of cash to their driver inside a National Express coach from Stansted Airport was posted on Reddit. This has now been removed by the page's moderator.

One person commented: "I really don't like that this is creeping into UK society. I want people to be paid properly for doing their jobs well. I want a coach driver to drive safely and be polite, but I don't think that should warrant extra reward over what I've already paid for the ticket."

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Another said: "It's ridiculous. Just pay people what they deserve." A different user said: "What happened to just having a job, being good at it, being proud of your days work and going home?"

'It becomes basically extortion'

Another said: "Once tipping creeps in and becomes the norm it becomes basically extortion. 'Better leave me a good tip or you’re in for a bumpy ride'. Obviously it doesn’t exactly work like that since tips are generally left at the end but still. It makes basic politeness transactional.

"I refuse to be made to feel guilty and uncomfortable because you went out of your way to do something ‘nice’ that I didn’t ask for and now you want compensation for it. Like those people who forcibly wash your windscreen at traffic lights without asking and then get pissed and maybe damage your car if you don’t pay up. It feels like being forced to pay protection money to avoid having the mob burn your house down."

Another person suggested a change: "I'm not for tipping but if they want me to, leave a QR code because I never have cash."

'We firmly believe that tips are a thank you'

A National Express spokesperson said: "Our drivers play a vital role in providing the highest standards of service for our customers. We pay our drivers a fair and competitive wage and do not expect tips to make up part of their salary. However we know that many drivers go above and beyond, and when we surveyed customers we found that many wanted to thank their drivers for a brilliant service, but were unsure if it was acceptable.

"So we have made it clear to customers that tipping is not expected but is welcome should they wish to thank their driver for a great service, with all tips entirely kept by them. We firmly believe that tips are a thank you - 41 per cent of drivers surveyed recently saying that they regularly receive tips and it's a welcome boost to morale."

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