Giving Gifts to the Cabin Crew: A Good Idea?

Being a flight attendant may seem like a glamorous job, but it can also be a thankless one. Airline cabin crew are highly trained, work long hours, put up with a lot of difficult passengers and at the end of the day, are responsible for the safety of their passengers – a tough job that they do with a smile.

As a small acknowledgement of appreciation for the work they do, some airline passengers choose to give a small gift to the cabin crew. It’s a simple but kind gesture that can go a long way, if done right.

So, if you do want to thank your cabin crew with a small gift, what’s the best way to do this? To find out, Australian Frequent Flyer spoke to flight attendants from several different airlines.

Do cabin crew appreciate receiving gifts from passengers?

All of the cabin crew that we spoke to said that they absolutely do appreciate when passengers are kind enough to give a small gift. They particularly appreciate the thought and effort that goes into this – perhaps even more so than the gift itself.

While only a small number of passengers do this, these crew members told us that it is reasonably common for a passenger to offer a gift once every few flights.

That said, a level of cultural awareness is necessary when flying with overseas airlines. In some cultures – if you’re flying with a Japanese airline, for example – offering an unexpected gift could cause embarrassment for the crew because they don’t have a gift of equivalent value to offer in return. And on some airlines, staff may not be allowed to accept gifts from passengers.

What to buy as a gift for flight attendants?

If you’re flying Business or First Class and just want to express your appreciation to a particular crew member who looked after you throughout the flight, a hand-written card could be very much appreciated. It’s a simple but a thoughtful, personalised gesture.

Many passengers give a box of chocolates or sweets, and this is also welcomed by most crew members. Most people like chocolate, they’re a fairly standard gift in many cultures, and as an added benefit they can be shared between all of the cabin crew.

AFF moderator JessicaTam often gives a box of chocolates to the crew on her flights. She told last weekend’s AFF on Air podcast that Ferrero Rocher gift boxes are her product of choice.

“The ones that I usually pick are the Ferrero Rocher brand because they’re in a plastic container that’s sealed and it’s clear plastic. So if they were a bit nervous about getting a little box of something from a passenger, they can see that they are actually the chocolates inside and they haven’t been tampered with,” JessicaTam said.

“I usually get a pretty good response from the staff too, during the flight. One of the staff members from down the back or up the front will come and tap me on the shoulder and say ‘gee, thanks very much for the chocolates’.”

In general, you probably shouldn’t give cash as a gift.

When is the best time to hand over a gift?

Some passengers choose to hand over their gift to the flight attendant standing at the door during boarding. Others do so after the meal service has been completed and the crew have a bit of “down time”.

In some cases, crew cannot take things off the aircraft – so giving things like chocolates at the start of the flight gives the flight attendants time to consume them during the flight.

One flight attendant told us that they would rather passengers waited until after boarding was completed as this can be a busy time for the crew. That said, most agreed that it’s best not to give a gift during disembarkation as this can also be a busy time for the crew as they prepare to hand over the aircraft to the next crew or turn around the plane for the next flight.

Does this result in better service?

Some of the flight attendants that we spoke to admitted that they do often make an extra effort to look after passengers who’ve gone to the effort of acknowledging their work with a small gift. If they’re in Business Class, this could mean checking in with the passenger more frequently to see if they need anything or things like offering an extra pillow. For passengers in Economy, this could occasionally result in being offered something like a glass of wine or an amenity kit.

That said, you should never expect to receive anything in return. A “thank you” gift is just that – it’s not a bribe. Also keep in mind that the cabin crew are generally not allowed to give out things like free upgrades.

If you do appreciate the service provided by your cabin crew, there are other ways to express your gratitude that don’t involve buying a physical gift. One flight attendant told us that they’re just as happy when passengers are polite, follow instructions and simply say a genuine “thank you”. It can also make their day if you take the time to submit a compliment as feedback through the airline’s official contact channels.

Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: Gifts for cabin crew