Why Flight Attendants Can’t Accept Tips

Perhaps the better question is, "Why shouldn't I tip flight attendants?"

The debate about tipping culture rages on, but there’s one place gratuity doesn’t belong: airplanes. You might be tempted to tip your flight attendant, since they do serve you food and drinks, but we advise against it. Why? Because a flight attendant’s job, first and foremost, is to keep you safe, not serve you snacks.

“Tipping is not part of a flight attendant's compensation for serving as aviation’s first responders," Sara Nelson, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) international president, said in a statement.

She points out that accepting tips could create an impression that service is contingent upon receiving extra payment — but that would undermine a flight attendant’s job as a safety officer. By not accepting tips, flight attendants can maintain impartiality and ensure their focus remains on the safety and comfort of all passengers.

But can a flight attendant accept a tip? It depends on the airline — most generally discourage flight attendants from accepting tips, but they don’t necessarily ban them from doing so. You can, however, give your flight attendants small gifts as a token of your appreciation, like candies (individually wrapped in their original packaging for safety) or even a Starbucks gift card in a small denomination.

If a flight attendant goes above and beyond, you can also leave a comment with their airline, commending them — mention their name, your flight number and date of travel, and a lovely compliment.

And easiest of all, you can simply be polite. A United Airlines spokesperson tells Travel + Leisure, "We love it when our customers appreciate the hard work our flight attendants do every day, and a 'thank you' is always appreciated."