Is it common to tip flight attendants?

We spoke to American Airlines, Delta, and United, and each airline generally discourages flight attendants from accepting tips. That's pretty much the rule across the board — except for Frontier Airlines. In 2019, the airline introduced tipping options for onboard purchases of food and drink.



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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.

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10 Things NOT to Say to a Flight Attendant
  1. Can I get a free upgrade?
  2. I sure hope these pilots know what they are doing. ...
  3. Why are we delayed? ...
  4. Can you put my bag up there for me? ...
  5. Can you watch my kids? ...
  6. What kind of drinks do you have? ...
  7. I will turn my phone off in just one minute. ...
  8. Am I going to make my connection? ...


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Perhaps the very first thing the flight attendants notice about each passenger, according to Fashion Beans is their general presence. This means how well-groomed and dressed we are, to our body language upon boarding.

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How can I make my flight attendant happy?
  1. Say hi back. If a flight attendant greets you upon boarding, don't just ignore them. ...
  2. Listen to the safety demo. It's just polite. ...
  3. Headphones off! ...
  4. Be specific when ordering. ...
  5. Same for cold drinks. ...
  6. Say please and thank you. ...
  7. Magazines! ...
  8. Treats.


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When you're standing there going 'buh-bye, thank you, take care' etc when you see someone you fancy, you say 'cheerio'. Cheerio!

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Furthermore, since it is generally considered pretty rude to address a person by their occupation—many servers in restaurants, for example, hate being called “waiter” or “waitress”—I would advise addressing a flight attendant with “sir” or “ma'am” if you need to use an address at all.

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While cabin crew can't see how much you paid for your ticket, they are able to see if you're a frequent flier with the airline and, if so, your status.

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While flight attendants spend most of the flight providing service to customers, unlike other people in service industries, they shouldn't be tipped. There's no expectation to tip flight attendants, and for that matter some airlines have policies against tipping flight attendants.

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For aspiring flight attendants, Delta Air Lines, ranked by its employees as one of the best places to work, is also one of the most difficult places to get a job. It's harder to get invited to Delta flight attendant training than it is to get into Harvard University.

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Roemer says cash and gift cards make for great gifts (although some airlines do not allow flight attendants to accept cash, and tipping is not considered a standard travel etiquette protocol).

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They may not be as clean as you think, and in fact, they could be teeming with germs and bacteria from the many travelers who used them before you. According to flight attendants, some airlines don't provide new or even clean pillows and blankets for the next round of passengers.

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Flight attendants are paid Per Diem from the moment they check-in for their trip until debrief, which occurs after the trip ends. Flight attendants are paid per diem for every hour away from their base for a multi-day trip until the trip ends. International Per Diem is usually a higher rate than domestic per diem.

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As a PR product, most people think of them as good looking and this is really an image created by the airlines. During the training, cabin crew go through training of grooming where they are taught how to look, what to wear, how to do their hair, how to wear makeup, how to walk, talk and behave.

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These men and women are not your waitress or waiter aboard a flight and they should be recognized for their hard work, especially if they have to deal with unruly passengers. Ignoring safety demonstrations, flirting with flight attendants or even touching them is not okay.

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Can you ask flight attendant for snacks? Economy passengers don't often get full meals on short-haul flights, but they do get a round of drinks and snacks. If you find yourself a little peckish or thirsty after that service, politely ask your flight attendant for another round.

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They sit on their hands during take off and landing so that if there is any turbulence they are already braced and ready for it. So, it's basically just for safety.

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COZY UP TO YOUR FLIGHT ATTENDANT But alert them of your situation anyway. “If you're transferring to another airline, the flight attendants may not know it,” she says. A flight attendant who's aware of your scenario may let you deplane first, which can prove crucial if you're stuck at the back of the plane.

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