Gifts for cabin crew

[justinbrett]

Apparently in the US, $5 Starbucks gift cards are the norm.

But also just saying hello when entering the aircraft is enough (especially there, where they don't check boarding passes for narrowbodies).

 

[Howard Bamsey]

I appreciate the thoughts of those who simply want to say thanks. But I wouldn't do it because it could be misunderstood and may be first step on the slippery slope to tipping culture.

 

[daft009]

i had my 5yo hand over a box of choccies to the FA recently with a hand made card/note "thanks for looking after us" which he made, with his name & our little one's name (10 months).

went down really well.

we got a nice card in return at the end of the flight addressed to my kids saying, "it was great having you, come back soon" or similar signed by the crew

This was on SQ.

I wouldn't feel right coming from me though. Kids.. no issues

 

[VPS]

I really want to do this but feel really uncomfortable and just not sure why. I think it's because you do get the odd sneering FA and I don't want them to be condescending.

 

[Happy Dude]

Gift after if service is good, not as a bribe beforehand.

Yep, I'm in the camp that sees 'beforehand' as an attempt to curry favour. Sorry.

 

[JBH]

Will be armed with a box of choclates on my first QF flight in close three years SIN-SYD early Dec!

 

[Daver6]

I should just collect those Lindt balls they keep handing out to pax, put them in a box and re-gift them next time I board a flight

 

[toowongman]

Pretty sure we had this conversation a few years ago. Beforehand, it's a bribe. Afterwards, it's a tip. FAs are there for safety first, anything else secondary. As long as I feel safe with their actions, then they're doing their job and shouldn't need a tip at all.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Good thing we all don’t like one girl huh?

 

[SOPOOR]

We sometimes forget that flight attendants part of their job is to be our waiter/waitress,

Yet some of us would tip in a restauanrt on the ground, so a gift to them would be completely logical.

I will do chocolates next time

Edit: are flight attendants allowed to eat any snacks from the business/first?? If so giving them a box of chocoates might not be appreciated as much

 

[Denali]

With Christmas coming up I am also considering giving the crew some chocolates. But how does one actually present these in the midst of boarding without making it weird or overtly bribe-like to onlookers?

I usually give after take off and before they roll out the trolley/take first drinks orders. I will have a med/small gift bag with them for easy handling.

Apparently in the US, $5 Starbucks gift cards are the norm.

But also just saying hello when entering the aircraft is enough (especially there, where they don't check boarding passes for narrowbodies).

When we go to the US, I buy at least 10 x $10 Starbucks cards. Easy to hand out on departure and can be used for many other opportunities.

We sometimes forget that flight attendants part of their job is to be our waiter/waitress,

Yet some of us would tip in a restauanrt on the ground, so a gift to them would be completely logical.

I will do chocolates next time

Edit: are flight attendants allowed to eat any snacks from the business/first?? If so giving them a box of chocoates might not be appreciated as much

Ive seen/smelt FAs eat J meals. I know ive seen them eat the chocs that we've gifted them during a flight - sometimes you need a choc fix

 

[rodm]

Have recently on several flights recently, and carried 5 boxes of Cadbury mixed, one for each flight. I usually empty the box into a pretty gift bag and write a small note of thanks. I usually hand the bag to "check in" flight attendant. The gift is always overwhelmingly accepted with many thanks. Many staff will call by and offer their personal thanks. I just love saying thanks for taking care of me during particularly during very long haul flights.

 

[jukebox333]

I can't remember who (JessicaTam? PrincessFiona?) but it would have been a decade ago I saw one of the more travelled ladies on here mention they handed out chocolates. I thought it was brilliant - and so began doing so myself.

I used to offer three packs of Ferreros, but have now graduated to five packs, or satchels of mini Toblerones or Baci's. $5 max from Coles. Handed out at PDB when flying J, or at drinks service in Y.

I have seen the gamut of reactions, from indifference (where I swear my suggestion they be shared with the crew was ignored), through gifting me a bottle of wine as I stepped off, through four of the team coming up and thanking me for the gesture on a recent QF10.

Sometimes it has resulted in better service (bottomless liquer coffees all the way from PER to SIN), other times, the service has been as perfuctionary as if I did nothing. But that isn't why I do it, so it doesn't really bother me.

My comment to the (always greatful) FA on the receiveing end been the same every time: "I think you do a great job, under difficult circumstances, with members of the public that don't always behave well. I appreciate what you do. Its my way of saying thank you" (the unspoken bit being that if there were to be an emergency, it could be these people saving our lives).

At the end of the day, I feel better about myself, knowing I've made someone in a service job have a slightly better day. Easily worth five bucks. YMMV, as they say.

 

[cbreeze]

Is this some strange inner circle practice? I have honestly never heard of doing this until this post.

 

[Forg]

Is this some strange inner circle practice? I have honestly never heard of doing this until this post.

You are now Illuminati …

 

[VPS]

So any other suggestions apart from chocolates that is light

 

[Cruiser Elite]

So any other suggestions apart from chocolates that is light

These bag tags were fabulous gifts for Crew - I bought 200 at Xinjiang Market at SS&TM in Shanghai pre-Covid - am now out of supplies and cannot get back to China to get more - but Crew Members just loved them.

I only bought female versions as the male versions were just hideous

But not something I dispensed to all Crew Members rather only certain ones - Chocolates are the go to items where everyone can share

 

[Archphoto]

I hand over some choccies with a smile at boarding and let them know it’s for the crew to enjoy throughout the flight. I attach a little, handmade card with a quick note.

I don’t expect anything in return, but I have received a lovely card signed by the entire crew, some wine and an amenities kit now and then.

But the best gift of all, was being told the choccies had made one of the crew feel much better, after the horrid earlier leg, that involved a passenger being rude and hostile to her throughout the flight.

Unexpected gifts are always a lovely thought - after all who hasn’t smiled, when a colleague has received a lovely bunch of flowers from their other half, just because they wanted to?

 

[Daver6]

Do those who gift air crew also gift other service industry staff? Genuinely curious about this.

 

[SOPOOR]

I hand over some choccies with a smile at boarding and let them know it’s for the crew to enjoy throughout the flight. I attach a little, handmade card with a quick note.

I don’t expect anything in return, but I have received a lovely card signed by the entire crew, some wine and an amenities kit now and then.

But the best gift of all, was being told the choccies had made one of the crew feel much better, after the horrid earlier leg, that involved a passenger being rude and hostile to her throughout the flight.

Unexpected gifts are always a lovely thought - after all who hasn’t smiled, when a colleague has received a lovely bunch of flowers from their other half, just because they wanted to?

Personally, As someone from the hospitality industry a box of chocolates (even when im dieting), a specific positive feedback mentioning you, a hand written card/msg is so much more satisfying then a cash tip