Is it rude to tip flight attendants?

Tipping flight attendants is not the norm, partially because flight attendants are paid a living wage, unlike restaurant servers. Plus, many airlines ban the practice and flight attendants could get in trouble for accepting tips, if they're offered. However, some airlines leave it up to customers.



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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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Ashlee Loree, a flight attendant for Delta, sees most gifts as a kind gesture that brightens her day and gives her hope. “We are all doing our best and trying our hardest every day, and we are so grateful when that doesn't go unnoticed,” she said.

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Do you tip at the airport? How much do you tip for baggage? Senning recommends $1 or $2 per bag for curbside baggage handlers and offsite airport shuttle drivers who help load and unload luggage.

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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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Here are a few questions that make us flight attendants cringe.
  • What Is The Pilot Drinking? ...
  • The Gate Agent Said You Could Seat Us Together? ...
  • Can I Just Sit Here? ...
  • What Hotel Do You Stay At? ...
  • (Ringing The Call Button) Can I Have A Coke? ...
  • What? ...
  • How Many Days Do You Work? ...
  • Is This Your Usual Route?


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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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7 Cannot visit cockpit any time Cabin crew are not allowed to visit the cockpit any time they choose. There is a rule of 'sterile cockpit' where the cabin crew cannot contact the flight crew during certain times unless of an emergency situation.

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Typical extra tips may be $15-20 per passenger for a seven-day cruise paid to the cabin steward for exceptional work, or an extra $10-20 per passenger to a waiter who offered spectacular dining service. Similarly, it is often acceptable to tip $1-3 when room service is delivered depending on the size of the order.

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Tipping is not required in airport lounges
Despite this convention, tipping in a U.S. airport lounge is not required. There's also a chance that accepting tips in an airport lounge is against employee guidelines.

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Luggage attendants take your bags from reception up to your room. Whether they carry bags themselves or use a luggage cart, a small tip per bag is the norm. Recommended tip for luggage attendants: $1 per bag.

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When airport porters help you check your bags curbside, you should tip $2 for the first bag and $1 for each additional bag; over-sized bags should be tipped at a rate of $2 per bag.

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Add a few extra dollars for luggage. PORTER If you are storing bags with the hotel porters before or after your stay, tip a few dollars per bag when you leave them and when you retrieve them, to thank everyone who helped you.

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Because their first concern is safety, what flight attendants notice about you has much to do with your ability to keep yourself and others safe. They'll make a mental note of passengers who are in good shape and who can help lift heavy items and lend a hand if necessary.

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Flight benefits for family and friends
Some airlines also provide additional free flights in the form of buddy passes. Flight attendants usually receive a certain number of passes within a year, and they can give them to friends or other family members.

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How to give. Flight attendants are allowed to receive small gifts from passengers, and there are no hard and fast rules to doing so, other than not to put you both in an uncomfortable situation: Cash bribe attempts at an upgrade, for example, simply won't fly (pun intended).

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