It’s no secret that flying can be a stressful experience. From the long lines at security to the cramped seats on the plane, it’s easy to get frazzled before even taking off. Especially as air travel is picking up again. But there are some simple steps you can take to make your travel experience a little bit easier – and one of those is to give a gift to your flight attendant.
Sure, it might seem like a small gesture, but flight attendants are the ones who can really make or break your travel experience. They’re the one who are responsible for your safety and your well-being. They’re the ones who will help you with anything you need during the flight, from getting you an extra pillow to fixing your in-seat entertainment system. And a little appreciation can go a long way.
Here is how I usually do this:
I usually pack a box of individually-wrapped chocolates and I make sure they’re still in the original packaging, as some flight attendants might not accept food from unknown origin. On the box, I usually write something like: “Thank you from seat 21A”… Then when I board and the flight attendants welcome me and expect that I hand them my boarding pass, I hand them a the chocolates as I tell them that this is to share with the cabin crew. I always like the surprise on their face as they’re not used to that.
Sometimes I add that I know that their job has been difficult since the start of the pandemic and that it’s my way to thank them for the work they do. Then I just go to my seat.
When I travel with my kids, I usually ask them to hand the chocolates to the crew, making an even bigger impact. Last time I’ve done it with the kids, the crew kept coming to see us during the flight to thank us and to bring extra drinks and good snacks.
So next time you’re packing for a trip, make sure to include a small gift for the flight attendant. It will definitely help to make your travel experience a little bit better.