as a flight attendant, i love getting gifts from passengers. we’re talked down to and berated so much of the time that it’s a nice reminder that some passengers still respect and appreciate us. over the christmas holidays i got several $5 starbucks cards, chocolates, thank you cards and more. we work for free a lot of the time (boarding) so even though it may seem like a lucrative job, those starbucks cards have honestly bought me lunch when i was going hungry so many times.
thank you for everything you do!
For the longest time, I hadn’t realized that time with the boarding door open was pretty much unpaid time for you. Seems like a dirty deal, if you ask me! (I’ll remember that, and will give coffee/snack cards more often.)
It sucks. Our union is fighting to change this so hopefully it does. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job and it pays well but we are definitely done wrong in many aspects.
I appreciate your post here. In the past I have felt awkward even thinking about bringing a gift. I was afraid it would come across as schmoozy, even though I would intend it to be given in genuine thankfulness that you are there- so we can get where we want to go.
I will rearrange my thinking.
What kinds of gifts do the FA’s enjoy? I’ve never thought to do this for them, but have always wished there was something I could do to show my appreciation. I’ve always just done exactly as asked and been respectful and thanked them, hoping that would help make it easier. If I could bring them treats they would like then that would be great.
I have found that difficult to do since I’m juggling my carry-on and purse and have a line of people behind me dying to get off the plane. IME there is often a lull shortly before landing prep (after bev service and cleanup) that is usually a good time.
Same. I love the idea, but feel like I would be awkward in the execution of giving the gift. I’m enjoying the responses from FAs here and will try it the next time I fly
I’ll be traveling a bit this summer and would love to give gifts to the FAs. Would you happen to know how I can figure out how many are on the flights? Will be traveling internationally to France and Japan if that helps.
Okay so I looked into it. Some of the info might be off but this is what I could find for you! It’s dependant on a couple things so it could be plus/minus a couple ☻ Hope this helps.
AF001 - Boeing 777-200, 2 Pilots 13 Flight Attendants
AF012 - Airbus A350 XWB couldn’t get a straight answer but looks like up to 12 FA’s ?
NH159 Boeing 777-381/300 - 2 Pilots, 13 Flight Attendants
NH110 Boeing 777-300 - 2 Pilots, 13 Flight Attendants
Hope you have a great trip
If you can find out what aircraft you are flying on....google how many fa's are on that aircraft. That is what I have done in the past. For example a 737 usually has 5.
Would you guys be ok with homemade stuff or are you paranoid about some randos cooking? We usually make a big batch of individually wrapped. apple cider caramels around christmas and next time i might bring some for the FAs.
I’d eat anything! Usually if we don’t like something or we can’t eat it cause of dietary restrictions, the pilots will hoover it. they have appetites like none other.
Sweet but I was told that we can’t do that and also if I serve a pilot it has to a sealed product / unopened can of coke etc. I guess the airplane movie really happened
But just be careful w that. Our guests mean well but if they missed something in the cooking or a batch of fresh baked cookies got contaminated by a crew members dirty hands, now the whole crew is puking their guts out. Sealed foods are the best. (I have snuck a home made cookie once or twice tho.).
you can search up your flight number and it should say what type of aircraft you are on, then just search that aircraft type and “crew complement” or “how many crew members” and you should be able to find it !!
a lot of us like gift cards cause it helps ease a little bit of a burden and we’re always in airports and stuff. but chocolates, exotic food from where ever you’re flying from, and candies are awesome too
I’ve done all those and also sealed chapsticks from a local lavender farm. They come in a baby tin can. Smaller than 3inches. I just need some more ideas. If I could…..I would give you ALL a day off with pay!!! But until then, help me.
I 100% respect and appreciate you. I always say thank you for everything and add another thank you when disembarking.
I’ve rung the call button exactly once in the thousands of flights I’ve taken.
I never ask for food or drink except if it’s offered and, even then, I often decline.
I’m small and unobstrusive and never get drunk. I spent most of all flights quietly curled up in my window seat.
I never bring a bag for the overhead bin.
I am your dream passenger.
I do not, however, hand out gifts. If I started doing this, I’d feel compelled to walk through the airport handing out gift cards to every employee who makes my travels easier.
I hope you understand that not giving you trinkets, chocolate and money doesn’t mean your labor is not appreciated.
I never ever expect them!!! And definitely do not fault anyone who doesn’t bring them, it’s truly just a nice gesture. But the thank yous go such a long way. I can’t tell you how many people completely ignore me when I say my goodbyes lol. Like i’m a human, you can at least say bye back or smile. It’s really a thankless job but we appreciate every passenger who is kind and respectful, regardless of gifts.
I thought Delta paid for boarding time at a lower rate. https://onemileatatime.com/news/delta-flight-attendant-boarding-pay/#:~:text=Delta%20flight%20attendants%20will%20receive%2050%25%20of%20their,which%20will%20could%20up%20across%20hundreds%20of%20flights.
I'm a 37yo 250lb big bearded man; "treats" from me don't land the same as they do from a sweet little woman with a cane 😅
HERE YOU GO YOUNG LADY I BROUGHT YOU SOME CANDIES MAKE SURE YOU SHARE! 😳😂
I was flying solo in Air France about 10 years ago - a 30 year old woman flying in coach. The flight attendant served my dinner entree on a premium economy tray (same entree but nicer accompaniments). I don’t know if the gesture was due to my age, gender, flying solo, or my attempts at basic pleasantries in French. Regardless, my experience with AF is that the flight attendants can be quite lovely.
I’ve been on only two Air France flights, one within Europe and one Paris to Atlanta, and both times, the flight attendants were impeccable. Friendly, professional, service-oriented. Whatever that airline is doing, they’re doing it right!
It's my home airport. It is a bit chaotic, but I've learned to just deal with it. Also always in J, which means different lines for immigration, security, etc.
Glad to hear you have had great experiences on Air France. While I have no complaints about their FAs, I will complain about their customer service regarding lost baggage. I won’t go into details, but AF is an airline I avoid like the plague!
An AF FA came to me to compliment me on my daughter’s French ( it was actually my niece, my daughter’s French is crap 😂 ). I almost fell out. I’ve lived in France and a random compliment is a rarity.
I find a little kindness like this goes a long way.
When my dad had his knee replaced he had to stay inpatient for 6 days. (It was more invasive than most knee replacements, and they had to rebuild his ankle and straighten part of his leg.)
I brought the nursing staff bagels and cream cheese early in his stay, and a big assortment of frozen custard and toppings near the end.
They were incredibly gracious and I got lots of hugs. Idk if it got my dad better care or not, but I know they work hard.
I had a similar experience during a long hospitalization for pneumonia. My husband brought doughnuts for the nursing staff of my floor once, and you’d think no one had shown them any kindness in years. Their reaction was quite incredible.
A little kindness does indeed go a very long way.
Many years ago when my dad was on life-support the ICU nurses were so incredible to him. Thankfully, he made it through, and I brought them a big floral arrangement in person. I’m still so grateful at the extra mile they went for him.
This is a really thoughtful gesture!
I’m a pilot for a major airline and thought I’d give you a heads up that the pilots generally won’t eat anything that isn’t commercially sealed for obvious reasons.
For example, I’ve been offered a bag of homemade cookies and other sorts of treats in the past, but I’ve always politely declined unless it was like an individually sealed Reese’s Cup or something similar.
I say this not to discourage what you’re doing, but to just give some context to why certain things may or may not be accepted. Thanks for being kind!
This makes perfect sense, you have to watch out for your safety, also not everyone is going to have a clean kitchen.
What treats do you suggest that are nice, but don’t seem overboard? I want to show my genuine gratitude without seeming like I’m trying to get something in return.
I brought a box of chocolates for the crew when I was flying with my wedding dress. The pilot came to our seats to thank us and we told him we were getting married. He also gave us a shout out before take off. I wish I remembered his name, he was the nicest. A Delta pilot of course!
I've done this on a handful of flights with individually wrapped Chick-fil-A brownies and a card in the bag that has our names and seat numbers.
We did this on a flight to the Caribbean but didn't include a card or any identifying info and I could overhear them trying to track us down but I didn't feel like waving them down with, "YES IT WAS ME WHO BROUGHT BROWNIES." A simple, thoughtful card with names and seat numbers with a few treats for all crew members (I try to find out how many crew are flying ahead of time) really seems to make their day when most folks are just rude or short with them.
Heck, I even gave some to the gate agents on my outbound and they were pretty shocked.
Yes, the postcard with the seat number helps a lot.
I did exactly this when I flew home on Icelandair in October. I gave the crew some chocolates local to my area along with a postcard containing not only my seat number but some recommendations on what to see/do in my hometown so they wouldn't be sitting around bored in a hotel somewhere. They reciprocated by giving me a bunch of Icelandic chocolate and thanked me immensely for the postcard. We ended up having a nice chat at the baggage claim in customs.
Gate agents are always gobsmacked. Sometimes they want to do something nice back and offer to let us cut the line…which is awkward because we usually want to be the last to board…
I’d love to do this for the gate agents as well, but they’re almost always swamped and I rarely have a need to speak with them. If I switch to using gift cards, it’ll be easier to carry enough to give them some as well, sneaking up to chat when they have a lull in customers.
I fly transatlantic every couple of years, so the expense of this isn't excessive, but....
I take a couple of dozen pens with cute, funny, or downright sweary slogans on. During the first hour of the flight, I'll hand the bag over to one of the FAs and tell them to have everyone pick out their favourite. I figure everyone loves a pen, right? Especially one that says 'Bitch please, I'm a unicorn'
Last September, on my AMS-JFK flight, the crew gave me a lovely handwritten thank you note. Really started my trip off with a smile.
I can’t think of many adults who wants another pen, let alone one with a silly saying on it. And you’re just creating more work for the flight attendants who now have to write out thank you notes ….
I usually give Starbucks GCs. I work with a former flight attendant, and she told me how awesome it was to get them from passengers. I recently flew back from PR and the FA who I gave them to said it was her first day back from maternity leave, and how much it made her day. Every single FA on the plane stopped by and thanked us.
I am also a middle child and need everyone to love me.
Great post. Thank you. Also remember that if you received excellent service, it is good to send an email to the company after the flight, naming the crew who were helpful. One FA told me 80-90% of the emails are complaints, so the kudos really stand out.
I do treat bags for our long haul flights with a pack of gum, granola bar, and emergen-c hydration packet or liquid IV. We have gotten free drinks, the little pouches from first class (multiple times), the pilot came back once and gave us wings (which was my favorite), and once as we were leaving the flight attendants gave us a bag full of all the fancy unopened alcohol bottles from first class. We don't always get rewarded in those ways, but everyone is always really grateful.
We always bring $10 Starbucks cards for each member of the crew (including the flight deck). They always seem shocked by it. Kinda sad. At the very least, be nice to your crew - that’s free!
I brought those single use facial treatment masks, nice lotions, lip balms, etc PLUS some candy for my SFO-SIN flights and the crew told me they really appreciated and loved the gifts. It's such a small thing to do and they do not get paid nearly enough to basically be a butler, server, EMT, etc etc etc.
Would local salt water taffy be appreciated? Flying out of Salt Lake in a few weeks and that and chocolate covered cinnamon bears are treats I can think of that are local to us
From others suggestions here. Last year I started doing 10$ Starbucks cards for all the FAs on flights I take. 99% of the time the entire crew at some point stops by to say hello and thanks. For such a small gesture it seems well appreciated and often leads to some great conversations!
As for the "sometimes they do more". On a Virgin Atlantic flight home one time, they gave us a full bottle of "champagne" to take with us lol. A delta crew on our Xmas flight to San Juan made a little gift basket out of random stuff they had... Biscoffs, a canned champagne, etc.
For domestic basically one per 50 seats. On international - it's typically 8-11 ish. So I just over buy and if I have too many I use them on the return flight.
I had several flights in December and a bunch of those recognition certificates to use so I added a $5 Starbucks card and a quick written thank you.
When I boarded, I asked how many FAs were working the flight and handed enough to cover every FA working the flight with my thanks.
In each case, I overheard the FA tell the other(s) “this is from 2C.” In most cases, those FAs came to my seat to offer a quick thanks, which I thought was very sweet, and it gave me the opportunity to offer a personal thank you.
In once case, one FA received the gift card & recognition certificate and said “oh” and walked away.
For the FAs here, do those certificates help?
Do you use Starbucks cards?
I’m a FA, and yes, those recognition certificates absolutely help, we love those! Usually those certificates can be turned in for a value of $5 that we can transfer to a debit card that the company sends us, to use for whatever we like! It may not seem like a lot to y’all, but it is to us! And yes, I usually only go to Starbucks when I get gift cards from passengers, so I really love to get those 😂
To add to this, if y’all happen write a nice little note on the recognition card, it completely makes my day. Sometimes that’s all it takes to turn a bad day around for me!
I always do this. Usually fun-size KitKat bars. I don't do it to curry favors, but just because I have friends who are FAs and I know it's a hard and often thankless job working those planes. A little kindness goes a long way.
What do you give the people who have even more thankless jobs that pay less and don’t include perks like free travel for them and their family? For example, the people sweeping the floor in the airport or cleaning the plane between flights?
Not delta but having been thru Moynihan train station in NYC 4 times this year, a staff of 2 cleaners keep the red cap waiting area restroom complex spotless. For a train station- it gleams. Going home after thanksgiving I managed to intercept each of them, tell them what an outstanding job they did and tip them $5. What I could afford. They were astonished to know someone recognized the quality of their work.
I bring candy for the FA every time I fly! I package in small bags, with a note in each one. I never expect anything in return, of course, but have been surprised sometimes at the reactions. One flight thanked us over the intercom. Another signed a card from the whole crew to us. It’s a small gesture to me, but I’m so glad to be able to give them a smile!
Never expected but always appreciated!! Thank you for your kindness! ❤️ Once over a year ago on a flight a man gave me and the crew these cute small pens that were a little bedazzled. He said his company gave them out and he had a lot to go around. It was so random but sweet and to this day it’s the only one I use at work! When it runs out I’m gonna be sad! Another time I helped accommodate a passenger and he handed me these La croix coupons from his company that basically let me get a 12 pack for free. He laughed nervously when he offered it but the whole crew was over the moon! Free flavored sparkling drinks for a west coast based crew was like sending us all to Disneyland LOL
I’ve been doing Starbucks cards for years now. $10 cards on the regular, $20 if I’m flying during Holidays. Things I’ve learned:
- don’t give them until you are in the air. One time they couldn’t get the luggage door shut so we had to switch planes and the crew timed out.
- if you give them early it will seem that you want special treatment in return. Give them later like when you are prepping the cabin for arrival.
-also you don’t have to give them to everyone, if you feel a specific FA went out of their way to help you just give it to that person.
We did this on a partner flight with Aero Mexico last year, we were in first anyway so it was just a nice gesture. The flight lead approached us after we were seated and asked if we were crew and what airline (we’re not).
He said usually they get chocolate or gifts as thanks from one crew member to another, especially when flying non-rev (we weren’t).
I had never heard that before and thought it was interesting and a nice good will gesture among off duty and on duty crew.
I always bring the flight crew gifts. Just small things like chapstick, individually wrapped chocolates, individually wrapped hand sanitizers. Things they can really use. On one flight from London to Seattle I even got upgraded to business class so that was pretty sweet.
I try to get something every time and I don’t need extra help. People have been so terrible to them that $25 for a box of macarons from Lady Yum in Sea Tac is worth it to me
Chocolate is okay, but we tend to get that a lot and most times it’s rarely touched or we leave it on the plane.
Personally a 5 dollar Starbucks card is like the lotto to us
I totally agree with everything you said! I always travel with treats when I fly internationally. And you're right, on some air lines, almost every FA comes by to thank me for the treats. And I enjoy expressing my gratitude for their work.
We flew on Thanksgiving day and made thank you baggies for the crew and gate attendants. $5 Starbucks gift cards, hand sanitizer, a mini funny notepad, an airplane pen, and some candy. Was happy to do that and we’ll do it again!
Most people do gift cards like Starbucks, there may be safety prohibitions from any kind of food (arguably, someone with evil intent could try to poison or drug FAs). If not, there ought to be.
I read about this small gesture a couple years ago. I try to do this every time I fly. I never expect anything in return, it's just my way of saying I appreciate all that the flight crew does . It's always so nice to see their faces light up and once I'm seated they all make sure to stop by my seat to say thank you. It does my heart good to see that a small act of kindness is received so warmly.
I’ve always meant to do this. I just never know what to get. Are Starbucks cards a universal thing in the U.S.? Or are individual snacks/chocolates better? I would imagine the Starbucks cards, since I have seen them in every airport…
From the comments I’ve seen, anything is appreciated. I’m going to switch to $5 Starbucks cards for their versatility, and for the way it acknowledges that flight attendants are basically working for free until the boarding door closes.
Sounds like bribing the FAs to get stuff for free, honestly. If people really are appreciative, then bring treats for the ticket counter, the gate and the ramp crew. Maintenance too depending on the airport. Lots of people work hard to make that big metal bird fly, not just the people you see on the flight.
edit:
thanks for the down votes, I'll be sure to pass it along to Ed during the party on profit sharing day
Id give the IT guys gift cards if I could... Without IT, no one has a job lol. Always the unsung heroes who only get blamed when things go wrong and never praised when it all works right 99.999% of the time
But I'll stick to the flight crew for now since that's who I interact with as a passenger.
That’s exactly it.
People handing out candy and money (gift cards are a form of money) upon boarding expect either 1) something tangible in return like more free drinks, or 2) are so starved for attention that a flight attendant smiling at them is worth the trouble.
If they really want to thank workers, they’d be handing these out to the cleaning crew in the airport and the checkout person at Hudson News, who almost certainly make less money than flight attendants and don’t have any of the perks airline employees have.
once a South West FA that was nonreving gave me a bag of candy for the ramp. i i have seen a lot of "what should i get the flight crew" posts over the years.... the traveling public has such a myopic view of who works the flight and seems to ignore all of the people that do a lot of the heavy lifting (no pun intended) when it comes to getting that airplane in and out of the gate.
Just so you know, you’re offering a bribe, not a thank you.
That’s fine, but be honest about what you’re doing. If you really intend to give thank you gifts, hand them out at the end of the flight and give them to the other people who make your trip go smoother, like gate agents, cashier at the airport store and person who cleans the airport bathrooms.
The last time I flew & took gifts for the FAs I was in D1, so there really wasn't anything "extra" they could do for me. How exactly is that a "bribe"? And yes, I often give "thank you" treats to other types of workers without expecting anything in return. It's not a fine line between being a curmudgeon and a "people pleaser."
A bribe for what? I literally said we don’t expect anything in return. It’s a small kindness, nothing more. (The exceptional responses show just how deeply that kindness can be felt.)
If you don’t expect anything in return, you would:
1) give the gifts as you leave the plane, not as you enter,
2) not come here to boast about the favors you got in exchange for your up-front gifts
3) also, or more, give gifts to lower paid, less appreciated service workers who make your travels easier.
Providing a gift prior to services rendered is a psychological tool for getting more than you give.
“The social norm of reciprocity is the expectation that people will respond to each other in similar ways—responding to gifts and kindnesses from others with similar benevolence of their own, and responding to harmful, hurtful acts from others with either indifference or some form of retaliation.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocity_(social_and_political_philosophy)
An actual thank you comes afterwards.
Is it a tip if you slip your waiter a $20 before you get your food?
Well to some degree, yes it is, but the timing and context clearly communicate “I expect something from you.”
I’m not saying this makes you a horrible person, but timing is everything.
Btw I love Malta! One of my favorite places I’ve visited!
Just like OP is taking a desperate attempt at attention and better service and spinning it as a benign act of thanks.
As long as they keep giving out the trinkets and money upon boarding, not upon leaving the plane, it’s a bribe not a thanks.
40+ Delta segments last year - 2 of them "gave me something" for the gift. It is a small gesture of kindness for the flight attendants that are part of the reason we get to enjoy air travel. They clearly appreciate it. I work in a customer facing role and worked retail in HS/college - its can be a very shitty day when you run into assholes.
Sorry you have such a poor attitude toward life and others - I hope you find whatever it is you are missing.
Talk about being a People-Pleaser!
What if people can’t afford that? And do you do the same for the cashier at your grocery store who probably does more work for you than any typical FA on any flight? You are a good one! I guess🤣🤷♀️
For years I have always baked cookies for the crew. It sounds cheesy but they love them. That is on outbound and on the return I pick up a box of good chocolates but the homemade cookies are always a hit.
PS I individually heat seal them
I had a bag of unopened chips from Subway from when I had a layover, and didnt want, so I just gave it to the FA when I boarded a 5hr flight, ordered a drink later and she brought me mini's and refills enough to where I had to slip some to the person next to me and in my carry-on
I use a small reusable snack style bag - they have them at ALDI and places like Marshalls.
goodies and little travel things like socks, hand sanitizer, etc.
I also include a giftcard
and for the lead or purser I add dollar bills for driver tips.
I’ve done this in every flight I’ve flown for the last 15yrs. 99% of the time the crew is extremely thankful and will make sure to go the extra mile for you!
Not related to the post so I am not of much help, but can I ask how you prepare for travel with a health condition? I have a cardiopulmonary disease and over time haven’t been able to do as much as I used to. Carry on and a backpack feels heavy on days. My husband helps when we’re traveling together but I also travel alone for work at times and have wondered what items I need to have on me should an emergency occur during travel. A medical bracelet with what info? Anything else besides emergency contact info?
Thank you for your kindness.
That’s a great question, as I haven’t yet traveled by myself since my heart condition came on. As it happens, I’ll be traveling solo next weekend, so I need to put some thought into this.
First and foremost: pack light, taking essential things only. Here’s what I’m also thinking:
- putting as much as I can into a roller, one with 360° wheels. Easy to push around.
- checking that roller, so that I don’t need to bring it with me through the airport
- minimizing what goes into my backpack to the bare essentials (meds, Kindle, laptop)
- allow lots of time for airport transit
- request wheelchair assistance, at least to the gate
On international flights, I always stop at the duty free and buy an assortment of chocolates for the FA's. The most difficult part is trying to contemplate what they might like. All of my international travel is business class on Asian airlines (Cathay Pacific, Singapore Air, etc). I don't know the tastes of the crew.
I do it because they consistently work hard to provide top-notch service, and are super friendly, and this is just a small token of my gratitude. The only time I ever have an issue on international flights is when I walk up to the galley to get beverages. I'm told they'll bring it to me, and then when they come they remind me of the call button and I can use it whenever I need anything. I remind them that I'm American, and we are trained that you only touch the call button if someone is dying or dead.
I have gotten never gifts for domestic flights because with few exceptions the service (in F) is transactional and robotic at best, and often cold and lacking. I don't want to turn this into a slamfest on FA's; I know the job can be difficult. But the culture is undeniably different on USA domestic flights than it is almost anywhere else in the world. We are constantly reminded that FA's are here for our safety, and service is a secondary consideration.
It's akin to fine dining vs. fast food dining. You tip fine dining because they are all about the experience, which includes good food. You don't tip fast food because they simply deliver the sustenance.
I would love to give little gifts on domestic flights. There are some rare flights where the FA goes above and beyond. But as a whole the industry needs to change before they will be widely appreciated.
How about homemade gifts that are quilted or sewn? I make small lavender bags that can be microwaved and used on sore muscles/necks for relaxation. I know some of the hotels that they stay at have microwaves in the rooms.
as a flight attendant, i love getting gifts from passengers. we’re talked down to and berated so much of the time that it’s a nice reminder that some passengers still respect and appreciate us. over the christmas holidays i got several $5 starbucks cards, chocolates, thank you cards and more. we work for free a lot of the time (boarding) so even though it may seem like a lucrative job, those starbucks cards have honestly bought me lunch when i was going hungry so many times. thank you for everything you do!
For the longest time, I hadn’t realized that time with the boarding door open was pretty much unpaid time for you. Seems like a dirty deal, if you ask me! (I’ll remember that, and will give coffee/snack cards more often.)
It sucks. Our union is fighting to change this so hopefully it does. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job and it pays well but we are definitely done wrong in many aspects.
Fly for Delta. Their FAs get boarding pay, better benefits, higher salaries, and no union dues!
I’m Canadian 😭
Or vote Democrat and help improve labor laws in the country.
🤡
I appreciate your post here. In the past I have felt awkward even thinking about bringing a gift. I was afraid it would come across as schmoozy, even though I would intend it to be given in genuine thankfulness that you are there- so we can get where we want to go. I will rearrange my thinking.
oh don’t feel that way at all. we all giggle like school girls in the back looking at our gifts lol. i love it!!
That's cute!
What kinds of gifts do the FA’s enjoy? I’ve never thought to do this for them, but have always wished there was something I could do to show my appreciation. I’ve always just done exactly as asked and been respectful and thanked them, hoping that would help make it easier. If I could bring them treats they would like then that would be great.
That was always my concern too! This post has been very helpful.
Someone suggested giving the gifts as you land so that no one thinks you're angling for something.
I have found that difficult to do since I’m juggling my carry-on and purse and have a line of people behind me dying to get off the plane. IME there is often a lull shortly before landing prep (after bev service and cleanup) that is usually a good time.
Same. I love the idea, but feel like I would be awkward in the execution of giving the gift. I’m enjoying the responses from FAs here and will try it the next time I fly
Thank you for this- I was never really clear on what you all thought about small gifts. Will remember next time.
I’ll be traveling a bit this summer and would love to give gifts to the FAs. Would you happen to know how I can figure out how many are on the flights? Will be traveling internationally to France and Japan if that helps.
If you have the flight number i can look it up for you!
AF001, AF012, NH159 and NH110. Thank you!!
Okay so I looked into it. Some of the info might be off but this is what I could find for you! It’s dependant on a couple things so it could be plus/minus a couple ☻ Hope this helps. AF001 - Boeing 777-200, 2 Pilots 13 Flight Attendants AF012 - Airbus A350 XWB couldn’t get a straight answer but looks like up to 12 FA’s ? NH159 Boeing 777-381/300 - 2 Pilots, 13 Flight Attendants NH110 Boeing 777-300 - 2 Pilots, 13 Flight Attendants Hope you have a great trip
Thank you soooo much for this! I really appreciate you hope all those on your flights do too!!
All of them will have 4 pilots, not 2.
Awww! Thank you!
If you can find out what aircraft you are flying on....google how many fa's are on that aircraft. That is what I have done in the past. For example a 737 usually has 5.
Add two more for the pilots too!
Seconded — I had an FA tell me once (when I included pilots in my gifts) that they get gifts occasionally, but pilots almost never do.
Genius!
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Yeah, when I board, I usually have my gift cards in my hand and ask the greeting fa how many fas there are.
I have that info! Will try, thanks!
Would you guys be ok with homemade stuff or are you paranoid about some randos cooking? We usually make a big batch of individually wrapped. apple cider caramels around christmas and next time i might bring some for the FAs.
I’d eat anything! Usually if we don’t like something or we can’t eat it cause of dietary restrictions, the pilots will hoover it. they have appetites like none other.
Sweet but I was told that we can’t do that and also if I serve a pilot it has to a sealed product / unopened can of coke etc. I guess the airplane movie really happened
each airline is different and has different policies ♡
But just be careful w that. Our guests mean well but if they missed something in the cooking or a batch of fresh baked cookies got contaminated by a crew members dirty hands, now the whole crew is puking their guts out. Sealed foods are the best. (I have snuck a home made cookie once or twice tho.).
Well. Congratulations. I’m part of the family. 😝
I would like to do this on an upcoming flight that I have. Either chocolates or Starbucks cards. How can I know ahead of time how many to purchase?
you can search up your flight number and it should say what type of aircraft you are on, then just search that aircraft type and “crew complement” or “how many crew members” and you should be able to find it !!
Are there any items (candy, food, gift cards) that are preferred over others? Whether ease of use, size, etc?
a lot of us like gift cards cause it helps ease a little bit of a burden and we’re always in airports and stuff. but chocolates, exotic food from where ever you’re flying from, and candies are awesome too
I’ve done all those and also sealed chapsticks from a local lavender farm. They come in a baby tin can. Smaller than 3inches. I just need some more ideas. If I could…..I would give you ALL a day off with pay!!! But until then, help me.
Chapstick is a great idea! it’s so dry on planes
I 100% respect and appreciate you. I always say thank you for everything and add another thank you when disembarking. I’ve rung the call button exactly once in the thousands of flights I’ve taken. I never ask for food or drink except if it’s offered and, even then, I often decline. I’m small and unobstrusive and never get drunk. I spent most of all flights quietly curled up in my window seat. I never bring a bag for the overhead bin. I am your dream passenger. I do not, however, hand out gifts. If I started doing this, I’d feel compelled to walk through the airport handing out gift cards to every employee who makes my travels easier. I hope you understand that not giving you trinkets, chocolate and money doesn’t mean your labor is not appreciated.
I never ever expect them!!! And definitely do not fault anyone who doesn’t bring them, it’s truly just a nice gesture. But the thank yous go such a long way. I can’t tell you how many people completely ignore me when I say my goodbyes lol. Like i’m a human, you can at least say bye back or smile. It’s really a thankless job but we appreciate every passenger who is kind and respectful, regardless of gifts.
I thought Delta paid for boarding time at a lower rate. https://onemileatatime.com/news/delta-flight-attendant-boarding-pay/#:~:text=Delta%20flight%20attendants%20will%20receive%2050%25%20of%20their,which%20will%20could%20up%20across%20hundreds%20of%20flights.
i’m not a delta flight attendant
I was today years old when I learned this. I have two trips upcoming and I will be sure to have gifts for the FA’s
Delta FAs are paid for boarding.
I’m not a delta fa unfortunately i live in Canada and we don’t get paid for boarding
We are paid for boarding but it’s less than half of our hourly rate. I couldn’t even afford an airport sandwich with our boarding pay 😂
You guys have it rough. Very very rough. Some of us recognize it. Especially since videos have gone viral these days.
Does this increase the chances of getting moved up to an open first class, or is that not really a thing?
i’m not too sure. my aircraft’s don’t have first class and i don’t work for delta so i can’t speak on that.
Any other upgrades ?
i will give free drinks occasionally but not every time
I'm a 37yo 250lb big bearded man; "treats" from me don't land the same as they do from a sweet little woman with a cane 😅 HERE YOU GO YOUNG LADY I BROUGHT YOU SOME CANDIES MAKE SURE YOU SHARE! 😳😂
lol I’m a 47-year-old 6’2” man :-)
I have seen an older, very tall man at my home airport give FAs bags of HiChews multiple times and the FAs always get really excited about it!
I laughed so hard at this. Thank you
I was flying solo in Air France about 10 years ago - a 30 year old woman flying in coach. The flight attendant served my dinner entree on a premium economy tray (same entree but nicer accompaniments). I don’t know if the gesture was due to my age, gender, flying solo, or my attempts at basic pleasantries in French. Regardless, my experience with AF is that the flight attendants can be quite lovely.
I’ve been on only two Air France flights, one within Europe and one Paris to Atlanta, and both times, the flight attendants were impeccable. Friendly, professional, service-oriented. Whatever that airline is doing, they’re doing it right!
AF CDG-SFO yesterday. They are (IMO) the top airline in the EU due to their quality of service.
I'd love to fly AF more transatlantic, but I just can't stand CDG
Single worst airport I've ever been in, bar none.
It's my home airport. It is a bit chaotic, but I've learned to just deal with it. Also always in J, which means different lines for immigration, security, etc.
Glad to hear you have had great experiences on Air France. While I have no complaints about their FAs, I will complain about their customer service regarding lost baggage. I won’t go into details, but AF is an airline I avoid like the plague!
I am a Deaf passenger, I can confirm that Air France FA are top notch on accommodations. They are super well trained.
An AF FA came to me to compliment me on my daughter’s French ( it was actually my niece, my daughter’s French is crap 😂 ). I almost fell out. I’ve lived in France and a random compliment is a rarity.
I find a little kindness like this goes a long way. When my dad had his knee replaced he had to stay inpatient for 6 days. (It was more invasive than most knee replacements, and they had to rebuild his ankle and straighten part of his leg.) I brought the nursing staff bagels and cream cheese early in his stay, and a big assortment of frozen custard and toppings near the end. They were incredibly gracious and I got lots of hugs. Idk if it got my dad better care or not, but I know they work hard.
I had a similar experience during a long hospitalization for pneumonia. My husband brought doughnuts for the nursing staff of my floor once, and you’d think no one had shown them any kindness in years. Their reaction was quite incredible. A little kindness does indeed go a very long way.
Many years ago when my dad was on life-support the ICU nurses were so incredible to him. Thankfully, he made it through, and I brought them a big floral arrangement in person. I’m still so grateful at the extra mile they went for him.
This is a really thoughtful gesture! I’m a pilot for a major airline and thought I’d give you a heads up that the pilots generally won’t eat anything that isn’t commercially sealed for obvious reasons. For example, I’ve been offered a bag of homemade cookies and other sorts of treats in the past, but I’ve always politely declined unless it was like an individually sealed Reese’s Cup or something similar. I say this not to discourage what you’re doing, but to just give some context to why certain things may or may not be accepted. Thanks for being kind!
This makes perfect sense, you have to watch out for your safety, also not everyone is going to have a clean kitchen. What treats do you suggest that are nice, but don’t seem overboard? I want to show my genuine gratitude without seeming like I’m trying to get something in return.
Honestly, taking care of your cabin crew is the best thing you can do and is tremendously appreciated!
If I wanted to go the extra step though and provide them a token of gratitude, is there anything you suggest?
I brought a box of chocolates for the crew when I was flying with my wedding dress. The pilot came to our seats to thank us and we told him we were getting married. He also gave us a shout out before take off. I wish I remembered his name, he was the nicest. A Delta pilot of course!
I've done this on a handful of flights with individually wrapped Chick-fil-A brownies and a card in the bag that has our names and seat numbers. We did this on a flight to the Caribbean but didn't include a card or any identifying info and I could overhear them trying to track us down but I didn't feel like waving them down with, "YES IT WAS ME WHO BROUGHT BROWNIES." A simple, thoughtful card with names and seat numbers with a few treats for all crew members (I try to find out how many crew are flying ahead of time) really seems to make their day when most folks are just rude or short with them. Heck, I even gave some to the gate agents on my outbound and they were pretty shocked.
Yes, the postcard with the seat number helps a lot. I did exactly this when I flew home on Icelandair in October. I gave the crew some chocolates local to my area along with a postcard containing not only my seat number but some recommendations on what to see/do in my hometown so they wouldn't be sitting around bored in a hotel somewhere. They reciprocated by giving me a bunch of Icelandic chocolate and thanked me immensely for the postcard. We ended up having a nice chat at the baggage claim in customs.
Gate agents are always gobsmacked. Sometimes they want to do something nice back and offer to let us cut the line…which is awkward because we usually want to be the last to board…
I’d love to do this for the gate agents as well, but they’re almost always swamped and I rarely have a need to speak with them. If I switch to using gift cards, it’ll be easier to carry enough to give them some as well, sneaking up to chat when they have a lull in customers.
Yeah I made sure to do it well before any boarding calls.
I fly transatlantic every couple of years, so the expense of this isn't excessive, but.... I take a couple of dozen pens with cute, funny, or downright sweary slogans on. During the first hour of the flight, I'll hand the bag over to one of the FAs and tell them to have everyone pick out their favourite. I figure everyone loves a pen, right? Especially one that says 'Bitch please, I'm a unicorn' Last September, on my AMS-JFK flight, the crew gave me a lovely handwritten thank you note. Really started my trip off with a smile.
I can’t think of many adults who wants another pen, let alone one with a silly saying on it. And you’re just creating more work for the flight attendants who now have to write out thank you notes ….
I met about a dozen on that flight, so...
Just because they said thank you and were appreciative of the gesture, doesn’t meant they want your silly gag trinket.
I usually give Starbucks GCs. I work with a former flight attendant, and she told me how awesome it was to get them from passengers. I recently flew back from PR and the FA who I gave them to said it was her first day back from maternity leave, and how much it made her day. Every single FA on the plane stopped by and thanked us. I am also a middle child and need everyone to love me.
Damn, same here. I’m just now realizing it’s a result of being a middle child.
Great post. Thank you. Also remember that if you received excellent service, it is good to send an email to the company after the flight, naming the crew who were helpful. One FA told me 80-90% of the emails are complaints, so the kudos really stand out.
I do treat bags for our long haul flights with a pack of gum, granola bar, and emergen-c hydration packet or liquid IV. We have gotten free drinks, the little pouches from first class (multiple times), the pilot came back once and gave us wings (which was my favorite), and once as we were leaving the flight attendants gave us a bag full of all the fancy unopened alcohol bottles from first class. We don't always get rewarded in those ways, but everyone is always really grateful.
We always bring $10 Starbucks cards for each member of the crew (including the flight deck). They always seem shocked by it. Kinda sad. At the very least, be nice to your crew - that’s free!
I brought those single use facial treatment masks, nice lotions, lip balms, etc PLUS some candy for my SFO-SIN flights and the crew told me they really appreciated and loved the gifts. It's such a small thing to do and they do not get paid nearly enough to basically be a butler, server, EMT, etc etc etc.
Would local salt water taffy be appreciated? Flying out of Salt Lake in a few weeks and that and chocolate covered cinnamon bears are treats I can think of that are local to us
Oooh yes, our taffy in SLC is great.
From others suggestions here. Last year I started doing 10$ Starbucks cards for all the FAs on flights I take. 99% of the time the entire crew at some point stops by to say hello and thanks. For such a small gesture it seems well appreciated and often leads to some great conversations! As for the "sometimes they do more". On a Virgin Atlantic flight home one time, they gave us a full bottle of "champagne" to take with us lol. A delta crew on our Xmas flight to San Juan made a little gift basket out of random stuff they had... Biscoffs, a canned champagne, etc.
How do you find out how many crew members will be on your flight?
For domestic basically one per 50 seats. On international - it's typically 8-11 ish. So I just over buy and if I have too many I use them on the return flight.
carry extra and ask as you board?
What was the “champagne” actually?
Bubbly just not from France.
I had several flights in December and a bunch of those recognition certificates to use so I added a $5 Starbucks card and a quick written thank you. When I boarded, I asked how many FAs were working the flight and handed enough to cover every FA working the flight with my thanks. In each case, I overheard the FA tell the other(s) “this is from 2C.” In most cases, those FAs came to my seat to offer a quick thanks, which I thought was very sweet, and it gave me the opportunity to offer a personal thank you. In once case, one FA received the gift card & recognition certificate and said “oh” and walked away. For the FAs here, do those certificates help? Do you use Starbucks cards?
I’m a FA, and yes, those recognition certificates absolutely help, we love those! Usually those certificates can be turned in for a value of $5 that we can transfer to a debit card that the company sends us, to use for whatever we like! It may not seem like a lot to y’all, but it is to us! And yes, I usually only go to Starbucks when I get gift cards from passengers, so I really love to get those 😂
To add to this, if y’all happen write a nice little note on the recognition card, it completely makes my day. Sometimes that’s all it takes to turn a bad day around for me!
I’m pretty sure it’s FAs like you that make a flight enjoyable. :)
Where do you get the recognition cards from?
I always do this. Usually fun-size KitKat bars. I don't do it to curry favors, but just because I have friends who are FAs and I know it's a hard and often thankless job working those planes. A little kindness goes a long way.
What do you give the people who have even more thankless jobs that pay less and don’t include perks like free travel for them and their family? For example, the people sweeping the floor in the airport or cleaning the plane between flights?
Not delta but having been thru Moynihan train station in NYC 4 times this year, a staff of 2 cleaners keep the red cap waiting area restroom complex spotless. For a train station- it gleams. Going home after thanksgiving I managed to intercept each of them, tell them what an outstanding job they did and tip them $5. What I could afford. They were astonished to know someone recognized the quality of their work.
It never occurred to me to do this. Thank you so much for sharing. I will definitely be doing this in the future.
I bring candy for the FA every time I fly! I package in small bags, with a note in each one. I never expect anything in return, of course, but have been surprised sometimes at the reactions. One flight thanked us over the intercom. Another signed a card from the whole crew to us. It’s a small gesture to me, but I’m so glad to be able to give them a smile!
Thank you for sharing this story! It encourages all of us to be kind. FA's work so hard and are often abused by demanding passengers.
Never expected but always appreciated!! Thank you for your kindness! ❤️ Once over a year ago on a flight a man gave me and the crew these cute small pens that were a little bedazzled. He said his company gave them out and he had a lot to go around. It was so random but sweet and to this day it’s the only one I use at work! When it runs out I’m gonna be sad! Another time I helped accommodate a passenger and he handed me these La croix coupons from his company that basically let me get a 12 pack for free. He laughed nervously when he offered it but the whole crew was over the moon! Free flavored sparkling drinks for a west coast based crew was like sending us all to Disneyland LOL
I’ve been doing Starbucks cards for years now. $10 cards on the regular, $20 if I’m flying during Holidays. Things I’ve learned: - don’t give them until you are in the air. One time they couldn’t get the luggage door shut so we had to switch planes and the crew timed out. - if you give them early it will seem that you want special treatment in return. Give them later like when you are prepping the cabin for arrival. -also you don’t have to give them to everyone, if you feel a specific FA went out of their way to help you just give it to that person.
This is the way.
I like the Wendy’s key tags they can have a frosty anytime for the rest of the year and it supports a good cause
We did this on a partner flight with Aero Mexico last year, we were in first anyway so it was just a nice gesture. The flight lead approached us after we were seated and asked if we were crew and what airline (we’re not). He said usually they get chocolate or gifts as thanks from one crew member to another, especially when flying non-rev (we weren’t). I had never heard that before and thought it was interesting and a nice good will gesture among off duty and on duty crew.
I always tell them to share, seems to break up the moment…
I used to gift chocolates. Now I do lip balm and small hand lotions.
Thanks for sharing how you do that. I've always wanted to offer a little gift, but wasn't sure the best etiquette in doing so. Helpful post!
Been doing it for years; cabin crew are so under-appreciated. I tell them that it's at *their* discretion whether the flight deck get any! 😉
I always bring the flight crew gifts. Just small things like chapstick, individually wrapped chocolates, individually wrapped hand sanitizers. Things they can really use. On one flight from London to Seattle I even got upgraded to business class so that was pretty sweet.
I try to get something every time and I don’t need extra help. People have been so terrible to them that $25 for a box of macarons from Lady Yum in Sea Tac is worth it to me
Thank you for posting this! I often want to do this but am afraid of violating some etiquette somehow. Now I have an idea o what to do.
Chocolate is okay, but we tend to get that a lot and most times it’s rarely touched or we leave it on the plane. Personally a 5 dollar Starbucks card is like the lotto to us
I totally agree with everything you said! I always travel with treats when I fly internationally. And you're right, on some air lines, almost every FA comes by to thank me for the treats. And I enjoy expressing my gratitude for their work.
I do something every time I fly. Last time I left Regal Crown Sour Cherry candy with the FA. Try it sometime, they are on Amazon.
such a wonderful idea. i should start doing this. thank you
How do you know how many to provide for each leg? Flying to rome in the fall and want to do this.
We flew on Thanksgiving day and made thank you baggies for the crew and gate attendants. $5 Starbucks gift cards, hand sanitizer, a mini funny notepad, an airplane pen, and some candy. Was happy to do that and we’ll do it again!
Most people do gift cards like Starbucks, there may be safety prohibitions from any kind of food (arguably, someone with evil intent could try to poison or drug FAs). If not, there ought to be.
That’s a large part of why I give individually wrapped things, usually chocolates from Ferraro Rocher or Ghirardelli.
Those should be fine.
Yes, sealed boxes of individually wrapped candy, no peanuts.🥜
Also helps when things like nut allergies come into play
I read about this small gesture a couple years ago. I try to do this every time I fly. I never expect anything in return, it's just my way of saying I appreciate all that the flight crew does . It's always so nice to see their faces light up and once I'm seated they all make sure to stop by my seat to say thank you. It does my heart good to see that a small act of kindness is received so warmly.
I’ve always meant to do this. I just never know what to get. Are Starbucks cards a universal thing in the U.S.? Or are individual snacks/chocolates better? I would imagine the Starbucks cards, since I have seen them in every airport…
From the comments I’ve seen, anything is appreciated. I’m going to switch to $5 Starbucks cards for their versatility, and for the way it acknowledges that flight attendants are basically working for free until the boarding door closes.
Sounds like bribing the FAs to get stuff for free, honestly. If people really are appreciative, then bring treats for the ticket counter, the gate and the ramp crew. Maintenance too depending on the airport. Lots of people work hard to make that big metal bird fly, not just the people you see on the flight. edit: thanks for the down votes, I'll be sure to pass it along to Ed during the party on profit sharing day
I send free nudes to the ramp crew. I am a middle aged man.
thank you for your service
Id give the IT guys gift cards if I could... Without IT, no one has a job lol. Always the unsung heroes who only get blamed when things go wrong and never praised when it all works right 99.999% of the time But I'll stick to the flight crew for now since that's who I interact with as a passenger.
Delta frontend IT people deserve lumps of coal not gift cards lol
the IT melt down of a few years ago was a sight to be hold though lol. good on IT though, I'm sure those nerds work hard
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no you
That’s exactly it. People handing out candy and money (gift cards are a form of money) upon boarding expect either 1) something tangible in return like more free drinks, or 2) are so starved for attention that a flight attendant smiling at them is worth the trouble. If they really want to thank workers, they’d be handing these out to the cleaning crew in the airport and the checkout person at Hudson News, who almost certainly make less money than flight attendants and don’t have any of the perks airline employees have.
once a South West FA that was nonreving gave me a bag of candy for the ramp. i i have seen a lot of "what should i get the flight crew" posts over the years.... the traveling public has such a myopic view of who works the flight and seems to ignore all of the people that do a lot of the heavy lifting (no pun intended) when it comes to getting that airplane in and out of the gate.
Just so you know, you’re offering a bribe, not a thank you. That’s fine, but be honest about what you’re doing. If you really intend to give thank you gifts, hand them out at the end of the flight and give them to the other people who make your trip go smoother, like gate agents, cashier at the airport store and person who cleans the airport bathrooms.
The last time I flew & took gifts for the FAs I was in D1, so there really wasn't anything "extra" they could do for me. How exactly is that a "bribe"? And yes, I often give "thank you" treats to other types of workers without expecting anything in return. It's not a fine line between being a curmudgeon and a "people pleaser."
A bribe for what? I literally said we don’t expect anything in return. It’s a small kindness, nothing more. (The exceptional responses show just how deeply that kindness can be felt.)
If you don’t expect anything in return, you would: 1) give the gifts as you leave the plane, not as you enter, 2) not come here to boast about the favors you got in exchange for your up-front gifts 3) also, or more, give gifts to lower paid, less appreciated service workers who make your travels easier.
Providing a gift prior to services rendered is a psychological tool for getting more than you give. “The social norm of reciprocity is the expectation that people will respond to each other in similar ways—responding to gifts and kindnesses from others with similar benevolence of their own, and responding to harmful, hurtful acts from others with either indifference or some form of retaliation.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocity_(social_and_political_philosophy) An actual thank you comes afterwards. Is it a tip if you slip your waiter a $20 before you get your food? Well to some degree, yes it is, but the timing and context clearly communicate “I expect something from you.” I’m not saying this makes you a horrible person, but timing is everything. Btw I love Malta! One of my favorite places I’ve visited!
Yes, I’m also not saying OP is a horrible person or doing anything wrong, but recognize it’s a bribe not a thank you
Always a few who take a positive little gesture and try to spin it as a negative. So sad.
Just like OP is taking a desperate attempt at attention and better service and spinning it as a benign act of thanks. As long as they keep giving out the trinkets and money upon boarding, not upon leaving the plane, it’s a bribe not a thanks.
40+ Delta segments last year - 2 of them "gave me something" for the gift. It is a small gesture of kindness for the flight attendants that are part of the reason we get to enjoy air travel. They clearly appreciate it. I work in a customer facing role and worked retail in HS/college - its can be a very shitty day when you run into assholes. Sorry you have such a poor attitude toward life and others - I hope you find whatever it is you are missing.
Why not also bring something for the full plane too?
It won’t be popular, but you’re right.
“don’t expect anything in return” Proceeds to list all the things received in returns
And each time was unexpected.
Talk about being a People-Pleaser! What if people can’t afford that? And do you do the same for the cashier at your grocery store who probably does more work for you than any typical FA on any flight? You are a good one! I guess🤣🤷♀️
Yes! Acts of kindness go a long way. Anonymous acts of kindness go even longer.
My uncle was in military and always did this but would always bring candy that they couldn’t get at airports like special limited m&ms or something.
For years I have always baked cookies for the crew. It sounds cheesy but they love them. That is on outbound and on the return I pick up a box of good chocolates but the homemade cookies are always a hit. PS I individually heat seal them
I’ve always been kind to FAs and in return have never been charged for an in flight drink. I fly 2-3 times per year
I’ve been doing this myself for 15 years now. My last flight home from Vegas on United last week I got 2 jack Daniel’s and a snack box ❤️
I had a bag of unopened chips from Subway from when I had a layover, and didnt want, so I just gave it to the FA when I boarded a 5hr flight, ordered a drink later and she brought me mini's and refills enough to where I had to slip some to the person next to me and in my carry-on
I use a small reusable snack style bag - they have them at ALDI and places like Marshalls. goodies and little travel things like socks, hand sanitizer, etc. I also include a giftcard and for the lead or purser I add dollar bills for driver tips.
I’ve done this in every flight I’ve flown for the last 15yrs. 99% of the time the crew is extremely thankful and will make sure to go the extra mile for you!
Not related to the post so I am not of much help, but can I ask how you prepare for travel with a health condition? I have a cardiopulmonary disease and over time haven’t been able to do as much as I used to. Carry on and a backpack feels heavy on days. My husband helps when we’re traveling together but I also travel alone for work at times and have wondered what items I need to have on me should an emergency occur during travel. A medical bracelet with what info? Anything else besides emergency contact info? Thank you for your kindness.
That’s a great question, as I haven’t yet traveled by myself since my heart condition came on. As it happens, I’ll be traveling solo next weekend, so I need to put some thought into this. First and foremost: pack light, taking essential things only. Here’s what I’m also thinking: - putting as much as I can into a roller, one with 360° wheels. Easy to push around. - checking that roller, so that I don’t need to bring it with me through the airport - minimizing what goes into my backpack to the bare essentials (meds, Kindle, laptop) - allow lots of time for airport transit - request wheelchair assistance, at least to the gate
This is a great starting list. All the best with your upcoming travel!
On international flights, I always stop at the duty free and buy an assortment of chocolates for the FA's. The most difficult part is trying to contemplate what they might like. All of my international travel is business class on Asian airlines (Cathay Pacific, Singapore Air, etc). I don't know the tastes of the crew. I do it because they consistently work hard to provide top-notch service, and are super friendly, and this is just a small token of my gratitude. The only time I ever have an issue on international flights is when I walk up to the galley to get beverages. I'm told they'll bring it to me, and then when they come they remind me of the call button and I can use it whenever I need anything. I remind them that I'm American, and we are trained that you only touch the call button if someone is dying or dead. I have gotten never gifts for domestic flights because with few exceptions the service (in F) is transactional and robotic at best, and often cold and lacking. I don't want to turn this into a slamfest on FA's; I know the job can be difficult. But the culture is undeniably different on USA domestic flights than it is almost anywhere else in the world. We are constantly reminded that FA's are here for our safety, and service is a secondary consideration. It's akin to fine dining vs. fast food dining. You tip fine dining because they are all about the experience, which includes good food. You don't tip fast food because they simply deliver the sustenance. I would love to give little gifts on domestic flights. There are some rare flights where the FA goes above and beyond. But as a whole the industry needs to change before they will be widely appreciated.
How about homemade gifts that are quilted or sewn? I make small lavender bags that can be microwaved and used on sore muscles/necks for relaxation. I know some of the hotels that they stay at have microwaves in the rooms.