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My family traveled recently — and we wanted to show our appreciation for the flight attendants working our trips. Especially because it’s the holiday season. They’ll probably deal with more riffraff and harried, inexperienced passengers than usual.
We weren’t trying to score any special treatment or anything. We simply wanted to say thank you for working — especially during the holidays. Many crew members are away from home, their familes, and friends.
My five-year-old daughter drew a picture for the entire cabin crew and presented it with a big plastic bag full of assorted candies.
But why candy? And how did we know how many flight attendants were on our planes? If you, too, are looking to give presents to your flight attendants, here are a few
“Candy or Coffee”
A friend of mine works on the ground for a major airline. He gives flight attendants either candy or Starbucks gift cards. “Candy or coffee” is his motto when it comes to onboard crew gifts.
Now, $5 Starbucks gift cards can get expensive if you travel often — especially if want to give them to each crew member on a large aircraft. (At least, it’s expensive for my budget.)
I know a couple of other people who always give M&Ms to flight attendants. So, I decided to raid the Dollar (and a quarter) Tree’s candy section a few days before our trip.
I bought an assortment of chocolates and other candies like licorice, Mike and Ikes, and sour candy. (Am I the only person on Earth who doesn’t like sour candy?)
René sometimes gives flight attendants Amazon gift cards. I’ve seen other people put together care packages with gum, hand sanitizer, and other small gifts.
Quick note: I’ve heard that it’s a good idea to bring pre-packaged and sealed items. I’m sure your homemade cookies and other treats are delicious; but word on the street is stuff like makes people a little wary for safety reasons. (Not everyone is as kind or sane as you.)
How Many Flight Attendants are on Each Flight?
Here’s a quick, easy way to ballpark/estimate how many flight attendants will be staffed on your flights: one flight attendant for every 50 seats. (Here are the federal rules about how many flight attendants are required to be onboard.)
For example, this Delta 757-300 has 234 seats. There would be about five (5) flight attendants on your flight. A Southwest 737-700 has 143 seats; at least three cabin crew members will be onboard. (I counted four last week during a short Las Vegas to Burbank hop.)
This SeatGuru page contains links to dozens of airline fleets. You usually have to do some math (adding first class, premium economy, main cabin, etc.) to determine how many seats are on your plane.
Keep in mind that ultra long haul flights require extra staffing. For something like a Los Angeles to Sydney trip aboard an A350, you’d likely see around 12 flight attendants (as opposed to 7 or 8).
Again, I’m not an authority on this. (I’m sure someone is going to jump into the Comments section and tell me I’m wrong. Or scream at me for giving candy to people who may not like or who can’t have it because of dietary restrictions.) This is simply a method for guesstimating how many cabin crew members will be on your flight. They don’t expect gifts; I’m sure they’re fine sharing candy if you don’t bring enough.
Another idea is to just give gifts to the flight attendants serving your particular part of the aircraft. That might be as few as two or four flight attendants.
Final Approach
It’s fun and personally rewarding to give gifts to flight attendants. Based on everything I’ve heard and experienced, coffee gift cards or packs of candy are almost a sure-fire hit. Just estimate one flight attendant for every 50 seats on a plane. That gives you an idea of how many gifts to bring.
What gifts (if any) do you give to flight attendants (or others)? Flight attendants: what gifts do you enjoy receiving? I’d love to hear about them in the below Comments section!
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I’ve actually researched this quite a bit and have considered everything from safety and liquids requirements for TSA, to luggage space. If you give candy, individually wrapped pieces are best and one box/bag from Costco will cover all flight crew including your pilots. Starbucks gift cards are always a hit and are small and portable. I present this to the purser as I am boarding to start the flight off right.
I usually give candy–usually a bag per flight, but have bought large bags (i.e. Halloween) and divided them out in gift bags per flight.
And don’t forget-those working at the airport at your home base–I usually try to remember them also–at least once/twice a year since I’m there often.
My usual gift for overseas crew is a 2 pound box of sees candy in the box.
I have given $5 and sometimes $10 Starbucks cards for years and have always gotten genuine smiles in return. I give them at the beginning of the flight and simply say ” I know you all work your butts off everyday, so have a fancy coffee on me.” One tie it resulted in a first class meal delivered to me in Delta Comfort! Just sayin…
The idea of giving candy from a Dollar Tree is enough to make one throw up. Perhaps that’s why some crew eschew anything to eat from a pax. If you’re going to ‘thank them’, for cryin’ out loud don’t buy any food item from a place like Dollar Tree. Why do you think all that stuff is so cheap???
It’s the same stuff I can buy elsewhere…
What are you talking about? Dollar tree has name brand candy…. Swedish fish, reeses, Hershey, war heads should I go on ?
My daughter is a flight attendant. Starbucks giftcards are the most appreciated. Honestly, they really don’t want candy. It’s hard to eat healthy on the run the way it is. Starbucks gift cards are nice for their food purchases, as well. Protein meals are much needed. They also appreciate thos Liquid IV packets to help keep them hydrated. Not everyone likes chocolate—-my flight attendant daughter as one.
I too give candy to every flight attendant, except when I’m on overseas flights with 15-18 FA’s — I just can’t carry that much. I bring 4-5 for each of those flights and they’re happy to split it up.
I’ve only had one FA in literally hundreds of flights over the last six years since I started giving who didn’t want candy. I give them to the lead FA who distributes them. Many of the others have come up and thanked me so I know they must like it.
And candy from Dollar Tree is identical to that bought elsewhere.
I was on an AF 737-300 and found out there are 13 FA’s and 3 pilots!! Only had 11 boxes of candy so they had to share!! Also newsflash they cannot serve Champagne as a Pre- boarding beverage in the US??? It is a US rule for AF?? Never heard of this…so cannot open alcohol cabinet till in flight!!!
Yes they can
I do this daily
On my last long haul flight from IAD to DXB (14 hours) my wife and I prepared small ziplock baggies, each containing one $10 Starbucks gift card, one Neutrogena Makeup Removal Towelette and a small 3×5 thank you card with our names and seat assignments on it. We had them in a large gallon size ziplock bag and gave it to the purser when we got on board. They were most appreciative for the gesture and came by to thanks us personally. It made our trip to see how happy they were to be considered.
If any passenger chooses to give us, Flight Attendants a small token of their appreciation , we always are happy to get a small bottle of hand sanitizer ! It never gets old or out of date !!
Thank you and fly safely form all of us who are fortunate to be currently working as your Flight Attendant on your next flight !!
How would a person include the airline people in the airport if traveling on a major holiday? And how many to plan for? What about those people who handle baggage, etc. that you are never in contact with?
Bring extra gifts. Figure you’ll interact with one person at the check-in desk. Anywhere between one and three (maybe four) people, depending on how large your plane is, might work the gate. You can give all those people gifts. You can probably ask the gate agents to hand off your gifts for the ramp workers. That’s another four-ish people.
Perhaps one of our airline employees who read the blog would like to weigh in!
I gave out $5 Starbucks cards on my first post-Covid 6-hour flight to Alaska. Did NOT sign the hand-written thank you cards because I wasn’t looking for any attention. An observant attendant apparently noted my appearance and found me in the back of the plane about an hour into the flight and asked me if I was the one who had dropped off the thank you cards. After turning 50 shades of red, I was then profusely thanked over the next hour by every attendant on the flight and was even brought a big bag of extra first class snacks and big water bottle. While I wasn’t expecting any extra attention, it was nice knowing that such a small heart-felt gesture was so well received. I’ve told this story many times, and I have several friends who were inspired to do similar things.
I’ve been bringing treats for the flight attendants for about the last ten years. Usually four items each from the adult nutrition section at the market. Ex. One protein bars, larabars ,Cliff bars and most of the time include a premium chocolate bar. No act of kindness is ever wasted.
I usually give them a bag of fresh fruit (apples & oranges) and some individually wrapped cheese. If it’s holiday time I like to add a box of See’s candy. I appreciate the flight attendants and hate when people are mean to them.
I would suggest lip balm you can get it for $2 per stick and it is unisex.
Good idea, thanks!
I take small bags of half salt popcorn for each attendant and 2 for the pilots. They are always surprised and keep telling me how good it is. But I come from a popcorn-eating city (Omaha)and can go to a popcorn store to buy it fresh!
I learned something new about Omaha today!!
I am a police chief who can appreciate the nonsense that airline attendants endure daily. In a way, it is similar to the duties of a police officer. I like to give them an official “From the desk of… ” hand-written card thanking them for making our flight safe. In the envelope, I include a patch from my department as well as a challenge coin and 2 courtesy driver’s cards. I’m not looking for anything in return, but I do use this opportunity to let them know that I am a police officer and can be relied upon in case they have a medical or otherwise emergency onboard. They seem to appreciate the gesture and know where their back up is!
I love that! Thanks, Tim! (And thanks for your service!)