Gifts for FAs?
Nov 6, 2017, 1:35 pm
#151
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR
Posts: 171
I always have a handful of Starbucks cards in my carry on as a thank you for truly excellent service. Probably hand out one every 10-20 flights at most, the last time to a young cabin crew member who worked tirelessly to look after the entire upper deck single handed on a Miami flight when short crewed. She seemed to genuinely appreciate it and said it had made her day and almost wanted to cry.
Chocolates I've given out once when flying with my kids TATL on Xmas Eve and they were bought in the terminal. Whilst I can appreciate there's a theoretical risk, it doesn't strike me as one anyone would try who wished for any realistic chance of success. Perhaps banning flight crew from consuming such food would make sense.
Chocolates I've given out once when flying with my kids TATL on Xmas Eve and they were bought in the terminal. Whilst I can appreciate there's a theoretical risk, it doesn't strike me as one anyone would try who wished for any realistic chance of success. Perhaps banning flight crew from consuming such food would make sense.
Nov 6, 2017, 4:49 pm
#153
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 698
Nov 6, 2017, 6:57 pm
#154
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
I have once, and once only, bought a box of chocs from the duty free trolley, and immediately given it to the crew member, as a thank you for particularly kind service earlier in the flight.
They were opened and consumed in the galley with colleagues, and I think were appreciated.
But that was a single, personal moment. I don't think I'd gift the crew pre-emptively. Would seem creepy to me.
They were opened and consumed in the galley with colleagues, and I think were appreciated.
But that was a single, personal moment. I don't think I'd gift the crew pre-emptively. Would seem creepy to me.
i've done it once because the crew helped me out a bit (more than just a thank you note).
Nov 7, 2017, 1:20 am
#155
formerly fdemoulin
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: UK
Programs: SPG Lifetime Platinum, BA Silver, Virgin Flying Club Red
Posts: 916
I always have a handful of Starbucks cards in my carry on as a thank you for truly excellent service. Probably hand out one every 10-20 flights at most, the last time to a young cabin crew member who worked tirelessly to look after the entire upper deck single handed on a Miami flight when short crewed. She seemed to genuinely appreciate it and said it had made her day and almost wanted to cry.
Chocolates I've given out once when flying with my kids TATL on Xmas Eve and they were bought in the terminal. Whilst I can appreciate there's a theoretical risk, it doesn't strike me as one anyone would try who wished for any realistic chance of success. Perhaps banning flight crew from consuming such food would make sense.
Chocolates I've given out once when flying with my kids TATL on Xmas Eve and they were bought in the terminal. Whilst I can appreciate there's a theoretical risk, it doesn't strike me as one anyone would try who wished for any realistic chance of success. Perhaps banning flight crew from consuming such food would make sense.
Nov 7, 2017, 1:45 am
#156
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Meh
Posts: 2,594
Why would you do this? A couple of boxes?
Nov 7, 2017, 2:15 am
#157
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Anyway, it would be interesting if we could have a few staffers chime in and confirm whether there are indeed any rules/guidelines on acceptance and consumption of passenger foodstuffs on duty. Particularly relating to flight deck crew and easily-contaminatable items like mince pies.
Nov 7, 2017, 5:27 am
#158
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL/GFl, HH Diamond, BW Diamond, Virgin Voyages Deep Blue Extra, Blue Peter Badge Holder
Posts: 3,937
I think the only time I've done this was a magazine that I had read and had it in the table, was chatting to the CC about the person in the front cover, he mentioned that he hadn't read that issue, so I gifted it to him, but wasn't to thank him or anything, would do the same to a fellow passenger, cleaner in a hotel or a stranger in a restaurant.
Nov 7, 2017, 12:11 pm
#159
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR
Posts: 171
May 6, 2018, 8:23 am
#160
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, EK Gold, GF Silver, IC Royal Ambass, Marriott Gold, TK Elite
Posts: 902
On BA 233 LHR-DME this morning, the guy boarding in front of me handed a duty free bag of chocolates to the lady checking the boarding cards at the door. They were gratefully received.
Turns out this guy was seated across the aisle from me in first row of WTP. A few mins later the CSM comes along, says thanks for the chocs and "by the way this seat here is free. You can sit here today" pointing to last row in CW.
I might have to try that trick
Probably the cheapest upgrade I've ever seen.
Turns out this guy was seated across the aisle from me in first row of WTP. A few mins later the CSM comes along, says thanks for the chocs and "by the way this seat here is free. You can sit here today" pointing to last row in CW.
I might have to try that trick
Probably the cheapest upgrade I've ever seen.
May 6, 2018, 8:53 am
#162
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,125
I agree.
Given that passengers aren't allowed to take sharp objects on board in case they're used to incapacitate air crew or take them hostage, surely airlines can't allow their crew to accept edible gifts that might contain drugs or other harmful substances? If I were a crew member I wouldn't want to risk my own health, or the safety of everyone else, by eating food given to me by a passenger or any other stranger. A well-organised terrorist group can easily create packaged goods that look like they haven't been tampered with.
Why create a situation that could cause embarrassment for the crew; they either have to refuse the gift and risk offending the passenger, or accept it and bin it.
Given that passengers aren't allowed to take sharp objects on board in case they're used to incapacitate air crew or take them hostage, surely airlines can't allow their crew to accept edible gifts that might contain drugs or other harmful substances? If I were a crew member I wouldn't want to risk my own health, or the safety of everyone else, by eating food given to me by a passenger or any other stranger. A well-organised terrorist group can easily create packaged goods that look like they haven't been tampered with.
Why create a situation that could cause embarrassment for the crew; they either have to refuse the gift and risk offending the passenger, or accept it and bin it.
May 6, 2018, 9:20 am
#163
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Sapporo, Japan
Programs: Junior Jet Club, Nando's Card 1 Red Chilli, Tesco Clubcard, BAEC Gold, TK M&S Elite
Posts: 520
When I fly BA long haul I usually take on and give the crew a box of duty free chocolates. I do tell them that I am BA staff first though, just in case they think I've given them a box of rat poison. The gesture is always appreciated and the payback is that I can hover around the galley and have someone to talk to for the whole flight.
Sep 2, 2021, 11:23 am
#165
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold for Life
Posts: 469
Extraordinary variety of opinion! For me its just not 'British'!! But also it smacks of expectation, which is not always deserved. In my view if you smile at someone (including cabin crew) they will smile back. Essentially if you are a good passenger, then this will be reciprocated with great service. And, as someone else has said, if you are Gold, you have Gold Tickets. If deserved, I will let the individual concerned know towards the end of the flight that I will be sending the Gold Ticket email. I don't expect anything in response, but I do enjoy the warm glow that it seems to confer on the individual cabin crew member the vast majority of whom are genuinely surprised and delighted to be given the ticket......just make sure if you do tell them that you actually do follow up and send the Gold ticket via the website