Should You Tip Your Flight Attendant?

With tipping culture evolving from a few singles here and there to percentage-lined touchscreens at cafes, fast-casual restaurants, and even hotel front desks, it’s tough to know when and when not to tip these days.

This uncertainty has also spread to the realm of the skies—specifically, when it comes to flight attendants. After all, they pour drinks, serve food, and go above and beyond to ensure our comfort—all tasks that we typically recognize by opening our wallets. But are tips anticipated at an altitude of 30,000 feet?

We spoke to a few flight attendants about whether or not tipping is expected.

To tip or not to tip?

The short answer is . . . it’s complicated. Tips are never expected and may even be forbidden under certain company policies, a Southwest Airlines flight attendant told Travel + Leisure. 

“There are carriers like Frontier that encourage and even streamline the process through onboard technology, but many airlines prohibit tips,” he shared. “That’s not to say that we all don’t secretly accept them.” 

The argument from airlines is that a flight attendant’s primary job is one of safety over service. Though the most face-to-face interaction may be a greeting upon boarding or a serving of beverages, there are dozens of behind-the-scenes responsibilities to ensure that passengers arrive safely at their destination. 

That said, a buck or two will likely not be rejected. 

“We do everything a bartender does. If a customer hands me some cash, I will always accept it and slip it into my pocket,” the crew member divulged. “But don’t expect any freebies like booze or seat upgrades—bribery rarely works, especially as we are juggling the demands and needs of many people in a small and crowded space.” 

What You Can Do Instead

While it’s still important to read the fine print about what flight attendants can or cannot accept, a simple thank you and positive demeanor will go a long way. 

“Kindness is everything,” a retired United Airlines flight attendant told T+L. “While most people are pleasant, it takes just one bad apple to ruin our day. We appreciate good manners, cleanliness, and mindfulness of those around you so that we can focus on our more important tasks.” 

Another way to call out exceptional service? Filling out a post-flight survey. 

“Our customer service agents do read these forms, and if a flight attendant is called out specifically, this feedback is relayed to our supervisors,” the source confirmed. “This could make or break whether or not an employee gets a raise, bonus, or promotion.” 

If a passenger still insists on gifting a physical item, skip the cash and opt for a gift card. 

“We have a lot of traveling through airports in between flights [which] can mean extremely quick meals and a lack of caffeine,” he said, advising passengers to make sure the gift card’s value “stays under the limits set forth by each airline.” 

And refrain from bringing homemade baked goods as well, an American Airlines flight attendant told us. 

“We will toss anything in a Tupperware or plastic wrap out of precaution. While I’m sure the brownies and cookies taste delicious, it’s protocol to dispose of anything that isn’t packaged or sealed by a manufacturer,“ she explained. 

Though instincts of expressing appreciation through tips or goods may be difficult to suppress, do not feel pressure to go above and beyond the norm. Flight attendants are ultimately on planes for your well-being, and there are other, often more impactful ways to pay it forward and ensure that these hard workers get their deserved flowers.