Airport Kiosk Tip Prompt Draws Outrage

Newark Liberty International Airport's self-checkout screen suggested an 18 percent tip on a $6.49 bottle of water, prompting the Port Authority to act.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Air Travel

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A self-service kiosk at Newark Liberty International Airport displayed an automatic 18 percent tip option when a traveler bought a $6.49 bottle of water with no worker present. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said the prompt will be removed immediately.

Why it matters

The incident highlights growing consumer frustration with tipping prompts appearing in places where no service is provided. A Popmenu study found nearly 80 percent of consumers say tipping practices have become ridiculous.

Popmenu's March study found 59 percent of consumers feel compelled to tip when a digital screen asks, down from 66 percent in September 2025. The source does not indicate how widespread automatic tipping prompts are at other airport kiosks.

The players

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

The bi-state agency that owns and operates Newark Liberty International Airport and set the policy that tipping prompts have no place at kiosks.

OTG

A hospitality company that manages concessions at Newark Liberty International Airport and is expected to remove the tipping prompt.

The details

Clay Moss filmed himself buying a bottle of water at a self-checkout kiosk with no worker present and posted the video on Instagram asking whether others were being asked to tip. The Port Authority said tipping prompts have no place at self-checkout kiosks and that it had previously worked with concessions operator OTG to prevent them.

March: Popmenu study finds nearly 80 percent of consumers say tipping has become ridiculous.
September 2025: Earlier measurement shows 66 percent of consumers felt compelled to tip on digital screens.
Immediately: The Port Authority expects OTG to remove the tipping prompt.

Seasonal Patterns

The airport kiosk incident extends the tipping-fatigue trend documented in Popmenu's March study, in which nearly 80 percent of consumers said tipping practices have become ridiculous. The 59 percent figure for feeling compelled to tip is down from 66 percent in September 2025.

Travelers passing through Newark Liberty International Airport may encounter tipping prompts at self-checkout kiosks where no service is provided. Expect the prompt to be removed after the Port Authority's directive to OTG, but check the amount on any kiosk screen before tapping a tip option.

The takeaway

Review any self-checkout tip screen before selecting an amount, since a default percentage can be added with a single tap. The 80 percent Popmenu figure suggests many shoppers share the frustration.