Have you ever started to recognize regular flight crews?
 

Back in the day when I was an incredibly homesick 20 y/o trying to make my way in NYC, I'd take weekend flights back home to my friends and family at least twice a month. Always on Delta, and usually the same itinerary. Of course, the crew changed constantly but there would be some FAs that showed up regularly.

I remember one flight attendant who would introduce herself as "Penny, just like the coin." After having this FA two or three times, I recognized her so when I walked on the plane the next time and she greeted me I said, "Hi...Penny, just like the coin, right?" I could tell she was really tickled that someone actually paid attention and remembered that. She asked what my name was and then later on asked me by name if what I wanted to drink. Crazily enough, the next time she happened to be the FA, about a month later, I again said, "Penny, right? Just like the coin?" to which she replied, "Oh hey, welcome back!" She didn't remember my name, but she definitely remembered me.

Now I fly on multiple airlines to different destinations so that'll never happen again, but it was pretty cool when I started recognizing the usual crews. These flights were always Delta Connection; I'd imagine this kind of thing is only common on regional carriers.

Nevertheless, I'm sure other people here have similar experiences; would be interested in reading them.

Nope. I'm not loyal to any particular airline so I don't notice the same folks all the time.

Well incidentally yes.
I flew EY 2xyear BKK-AUH-BRU (until now that is) on the AUH-BRU-AUH leg I saw the same Thai FA several times, thus we chatted away happily.

For several months, I flew DFW-TUL on AE turboprops. As I always sat in the back near the exit door, the crew assigned for that month quickly recognized me and vice versa.

I get holiday cards from some crew members. There are even some repeat passengers i run into several times a year.

Oh yeah, my cousin has even been FA on several of my flights. It's pretty funny.

Recognized Kevin, AA purser, NRT-LAX (or maybe -SFO) in J after he took excellent care of me a while earlier ORD-LHR in F. In the FT tradition, both flights were on the cheapest possible tickets with upgrades. For ORD-LHR, I used miles to get into J and then got an operational upgrade to F.

I also recognized AA FA Donna BOS-LHR. That wasn't from a previous flight, though. Second officer Kent had made a video about what happens during a trip for his family and posted it on YouTube. I learned of that video on FT and downloaded a copy to use in my classes (with his permission), so I had watched it several times and recognized her as one of the FAs who appear in it. She knew that he made the video, of course, but she had never seen the finished product. I had it on my laptop and showed it to her. (That flight was also on a cheap Y ticket with a double upgrade.)

Had a funny thing with this not too long ago.

Was on a DL flight to France in EC.

Asked for a Woodford, FA asked "it's on the back of the cart. I'll pull back and can you just grab it?"

I did and she went on.

2 weeks later, same flight, same woman, exact same scene.

I said - you know we did this exact thing 2 weeks ago?
She smiled - I thought you looked familiar!

I often get a Diet Coke brought to me without having ever been asked. It is a sure clue someone remembers me.

Not FA's, but there are a few people who work for UA at LGA that I know.

I would tend to see the same FAs on the DFW-YVR flights that I took every week.

A few years back I flew relatively often on the small airline Cimber Air (QI) NRK-CPH and NRK-MUC, and then naturally I had the same cabin crew on multiple occasions, and they recognised me as well. One of them were really easy to spot since she had previously been working in the NRK airport restaurant where I frequently had lunch. One of the pilot's I also remember flying with several times.

Now I regularly fly with KLM Cityhopper, and a few cabin crew members I remember from previous flights, I have yet to be recognised by one of them though.

It seems to me that recognizing members of the crew would happen in three cases: 1) You coincidentally spot a crew member on another flight later in the day or the week, 2) You're flying a route route repeatedly, especially if it's a long-haul where it's more likely the same team doing it over and over, or 3) You have an exceptionally strong memory for faces.

I recognized an FA in case #1 once. It was a regional airline (I forget which) and she was on BOS-YYC one day and YOW-IAD two days later. I'm not a #3 type of person so that was the one time #1 happened for me. ;)

When I was flying SFO-ICN and SFO-NRT pretty regularly a few years there was only once I recognized members of the same crew from an earlier flight. That, despite me making an effort to chat up the crew (passes time if nothing else) especially when upgraded to biz class.

Flying HA (LAS-HNL) in August one of the FA's came down to ask if I was off on another hockey trip, she'd been in the jump seat facing my exit seat on a SYD-HNL flight in January so spent a while chatting - pretty surprised to be recognised after that long. (I was quite chuffed, the 'hmmm?' and pointed look suggest female travelling companion less so :) )

I've had an FA who recognized me instead of vice versa on Jetstar, as I did fly between KUL and SIN. Was pleasantly surprised when she said "Welcome back! Visiting your aunt in SIN again?"

We are regulars SYD DPS SYD on GA in J - and often have the same crew.

They remember us by name and often come and have a bit of a chat and catch up.

The first time this happened - it was Mr L - (my BH) are you just returning home after you flew over in May? No been home and across and going home again.

Also had encounters with GA crew who worked a domestic sector I was on - CGK -DPS after being in CGK for the day shopping, and then a few nights later DPS SYD - oh that was a short visit Sir - Nah I said been in Bali for 4 weeks just did a day trip to Jakarta for some shopping.

It happens and its a reason to always be nice - as it pays off

I have gotten to know a lot of the crews on Southwest even on different routes because they seem to hop on different schedules a lot. I have gotten to know some of the domestic flight attendants on some routes, but none of them internationally.

some years ago, i regularly flew LAX-ATL on delta. i do not enjoy flying, particularly the takeoff (i get motion sickness), and watching movies is an effective distraction. delta's IFE (and i'm sure many others are like this) suspends the movie if any FA is talking on the intercom. i can tolerate brief announcements, especially if they're mandatory or customary.

but i learned to recognize one older FA, who worked at least 1/4 to 1/3 of my flights, who habitually made long-winded announcements. she would thank the FFs on board, talk about how to apply for FF membership, mention the amex card, tell us that movies were available for purchase on the IFE, rattle off a list of free beverages available from the cart, list the alcoholic beverages available for purchase, etc. her announcements were never in the same order, and she would sometimes omit some or add entirely new ones, so you could never tell when she was done. also, she was a slow talker, but the most aggravating part was how she would pause between each sentence and take her finger off the intercom button for a few seconds. so just when you thought she was done, it would start up again!

i suppose the tradeoff was that she was very nice, helpful, and accomodating.

Yes but more so it's the flight crews recognizing me and asking me if I brought the Tootsie-Pops® ;)

used to get a lot of the same FA's on CO 57 which I used to fly a bunch 2-3 years ago.

The first time was in 1974 ...
 

while flying on TWA from New York JFK to Madrid MAD. Returning Stateside three weeks later, the very same crew provided the inflight service. In those days, as some of you may remember, the crew members were called stewards and stewardesses. I recollect that the aircraft was an L-1011, a jumbo jet of that era. Although I flew in economy, it was just as nice then as Business class is now.