warehouse341

I was boarding my flight today and someone brought a box of chocolates for the flight crew. This made me feel a little guilty. Why? The holiday season you typically gift service industry people that have been with you throughout the year (doorman, shuttle/car driver, etc). Should you also gift a flight crew? I know I hardly have the same flight crew but I flew 180k UA miles this year. Which makes it my second home...almost It's seems like I should thank some crew for getting me from point A to B safe and happy most of the time. I did google search and did find topics about this. Some say yes some say no and others say edibles we need to throw out. What does UA think? The flight attendants that recieved the box of chocolates seems surprised and happy.

Any appropriate gift to give to a flight crew in appreciation for a year of travel?

FlyinHawaiian

Previous discussion:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...assengers.html

I find that $5 Starbucks Gift Cards are a good way of spreading holiday cheer.

worldtrav

Fight crew?

hairpeace

Strikes me as a complete waste of time/money.

cfischer

Always be polite. Always say 'please' and 'thank you'. Always smile.

it's 365 days of the year we should appreciate the work of others ... thinking about a few random days at the end of the year to me makes no sense whatsoever.

bmwe92fan

Wow - what a bunch of Scrooges so far! On long haul flights I typically bring a snack for the crew to share - for example in narita I always buy some Nagasaki sponge cake and give it to the crew. NH recently changed their policies and the crew refused my gift on my last flight - but UA crews always love them!

I think it's nice that at least once a year the season causes us to take step back and think of others - if even in only a small way. To me it's the right thing to do!

Happy holidays!

Flyingeagle

I give Starbucks gift card year round. It generates many times the return on investment when one is not in the upfront cabin.

leonidas

I think it's rather odd to do this, a little too exuberant/ borderline strange. But that's just me. This discussion pops up every once in while and I see that some people like doing this. I won't ever do this. I always try to be very polite and friendly. If I find the service exceptional, I write to UA commending her/him. That's pretty much it.

I don't support this unnecessary "tipping" mindset everywhere. Some of you are doing it with the expectation of getting personal recognition/ extra service from them. You know that deep inside your heart.

cfischer

I think we just identified your problem

claaaaaydavis

These are people who have to deal with the cuts of SMI/J all year long. It's worth $8 to give them a bit of cheer.

Individually wrapped little candies go a long way and are easy for them to share.

hagan73

I always have this thought, but as I get in to the airport I always change my mind. I often think a pack of Timbits (As a Canadian YYZ United flyer) would be a great crew treat. However, seeing as I'm generally stuck on a 2 FA E145 as my first UA point of contact - it would be overkill. Bringing a 50 pack of Timbits through to EWR before HKH or NRT could be a more appropriate option. Again, I think it all goes to how it's perceived - and it is a bit weird no matter how you cut it.

love_to_travel

I've been handing these out this holiday season:



The FAs seem to love them, and the crew that is bringing me back to HNL always ask where they can buy them

JerseyCityS

I always fly on Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, and I almost always give the FA $10 for a layover drink.

I'm always on an ERJ so its' only 1 FA. They are usually very grateful. And I DON'T expect something for it as a previous posted suggested, as I give it when deplaning.

thebob6

I'm as frustrated as the next guy but.. these are still human beings.

LordTentacle

Year round I say please and thank you and ask the FA/Crew how they are doing
And its not just once at the end of the flight, its every time they bring me something or take something away

As far as holiday gifts go... I think its just something nice to do so I do it

I've got a few flights on the day or 2 before x-mass
SYD->SFO crew is getting a big box of lindt chocolates and a box of cadbury favorites
SFO->DEN crew is getting pack of tim tams per FA/Crew
DEN->RDM Crew is getting a Pack of tim tams and a $5 starbucks card each (EX crew need the coffee)

Got flights back to Syd on the 28th, still working out what to do for them