The internet erupted over an 18 percent tip prompt at a Newark Liberty International Airport self-service checkout. Clay Moss, a doctor who shares health videos on social media, filmed himself purchasing a bottle of water for $6.49 from a kiosk with no worker present. The self-checkout screen then suggested an 18 percent tip. “Who is this automatic 18 percent tip that I have to click out of for? Who am I tipping here? Is this what we’ve come to?” Moss asked his viewers.
Social media users responded with frustration. One commenter wrote, “So sick of it. Wish they had NEGATIVE TIP option for irritating me.” Another said, “Auto gratuity in a self-checkout is madness.” A third noted, “My husband and I were just talking about this the other day… wildly out of control.” A fourth commented, “At a self-checkout is INSANE.”
A Popmenu study from March found that nearly 80 percent of consumers said tipping practices have become ridiculous. Despite the backlash, 59 percent of respondents said they feel compelled to leave a tip when a digital screen asks for one — down from 66 percent in September 2025.
Amid the outrage, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey directed OTG, the hospitality company that manages concessions at Newark, to remove the tipping prompt immediately. A Port Authority spokesperson told Nexstar, “Tipping prompts have no place at self-checkout kiosks, and we have previously worked with OTG to ensure customers do not receive those prompts.” The spokesperson added, “We have contacted OTG about the kiosk shown in the video and expect the tipping option to be removed immediately. We will also confirm that no other self-checkout kiosks are prompting customers for tips.”
OTG declined to comment when contacted by The Independent. The removal of the prompt at the specific kiosk featured in the video suggests the issue has been identified as an isolated misconfiguration rather than a system-wide policy.
How self-checkout tipping prompts differ from traditional service tipping
Tipping at a self-checkout kiosk requires a customer to tip for a service they perform themselves. Unlike table service where a server brings food and collects payment, a self-checkout transaction involves the customer scanning items, bagging purchases, and completing the payment process without staff assistance. The automated tip suggestion places the burden of tipping on the customer for work they are already doing.
What the Popmenu study reveals about tipping behavior
The same study that found 80 percent of consumers consider tipping practices ridiculous also tracked whether people felt compelled to tip when prompted. The 59 percent figure represents those who admitted feeling pressured to leave a tip despite their frustration. The eight-point drop from September 2025 suggests growing resistance to digital tip prompts, even as the practice spreads to new contexts like airport kiosks.
Port Authority response and next steps
The Port Authority’s quick response indicates the tipping prompt was not intentional policy but rather an error at a specific location. By directing OTG to remove the prompt, the authority signals that self-checkout kiosks are not appropriate venues for tipping requests. The follow-up check for other kiosks suggests the organization is reviewing its full network of self-service installations.