Flight attendants rarely receive first-class treatment in their day-to-day job. So, when it is time to show some love to a special flight attendant, lavish them with a gift that lets them know they are appreciated, and that will make their next flight a little brighter! Here are some of the best gift ideas we found for flight attendants.
Great Gifts for Flight Attendants
Women’s Convenience Kit
This is a great gift for the flight attendant that is always on the run! The Convenience Kit comes filled with a set of 21 personal care items from name brands like Dove, Colgate, L’Oreal among others. It can be a perfect way to show someone special that they are loved. Sometimes the simple things matter the most!
Handheld Espresso Maker
If you know someone that has a hard time leaving the espresso behind, or could use an extra kick of caffeine while flying, this Handheld Espresso Maker may be a perfect choice! This compact espresso maker is manually operated and can make a foamy espresso anywhere you can find hot water. It is made to be lightweight so it is ideal for travel. This may be the one thing your flight attendant needs that they never even knew existed!
Hey Girl Tea Infuser
The Hey Girl Tea Infuser is a way to steep tea on the go. It is made out of stainless steel with double walls to insulate drinks. Drinks will stay hot for up to 12 hours and cold for up to 24 hours! This tumbler comes with an insert to steep and filter tea grounds or tea bags. It can be a useful, indestructible gift for the tea-lover in your life! You can pair it with a flight attendant’s favorite tea to make this gift extra-special.
Flying by the Seat of My Pants
What better way to make traveling seem shorter than a good book like Flying By The Seat Of My Pants to carry with you on the journey. In this book, Marsha Marks relates her personal journey as a flight attendant with humor and wit. This is a story that can give a laugh and also show a flight attendant that someone else knows how it feels to be in those shoes! It may even inspire a flight attendant to tell his or her own story!
The Flight Attendant
A book is a great idea for a gift that can easily fit into a carry-on, and give a flight attendant a temporary escape from the daily grind. The Flight Attendant is a thriller and murder mystery in one with plot twists that keep the suspense levels high. This riveting story is one that will keep your flight attendant awake even on the longest overnight flight.
Flight 666
Flight 666 is a story about a crew on an international flight being attacked by unseen forces. If the flight attendant you know likes horror or sci-fi genres, this may be right up her alley. This book can make her (or his!) job look like a walk in the park by comparison. A page-turning like this one may be just what they need to escape from the daily grind.
Getting High Is My Job Keychain
This Getting High Is My Job Keychain can show respect for flight attendants and what they do, and also give them a laugh. It is made from high-quality stainless steel so it won’t tarnish or rust. It could be perfect for keeping keys from getting lost while on the job. The long motto tab makes keys easy to find in a purse or handbag. Share a bit of fun with a flight attendant you know!
Flight Attendants Coloring Book
The How Flight Attendants Swear coloring book is for the flight attendant with an artist’s soul and a quirky sense of humor. Studies have shown that adult coloring aids in decreasing stress and in relaxing the brain. This coloring book also adds a laugh to the mix by brutally honest thoughts. Having a way to release some of the job’s frustration in a healthy way can be cathartic. Since many pages drop the F-bomb, you would probably want to know the person well before giving this as a gift!
Crew Scheduling Socks
For a bit of comfy, warmth, and humor, these Crew Scheduling Socks fill the bill. The phrase is stitched into the fabric instead of printed so it won’t rub off with wear. These socks can be a great gag gift for a flight attendant just starting on his or her career, or headed towards retirement. This gift is practical with a light touch! They can give those in the cabin crew a much-needed laugh.
Luggage Travel Cup Holder
This Luggage Travel Cup Holder is a unique and practical gift… I wish I had known about it sooner when traveling, myself! The cup holder holds not one, but 2 cups, and also has a pocket in the back for a phone or passport. It adjusts to fit your luggage handle and is foldable to fit inside your luggage when not in use. It is also machine washable so you don’t have to worry about small spills while hoofing it through an airport.
So, instead of having to juggle a cup of coffee and water bottle while trying to drag your luggage, you can now let your luggage carry them for you and have a drink in easy reach. It can be a life-saver for the flight attendant always on the run through airports.
To Fly, To Serve Makeup Bag
This is a great gift for a flight attendant who has a job to do and wants to “look fabulous doing it.” The Makeup Bag has a waterproof exterior so it should be protected from coffee drips. Also, it should be easy to wipe down and keep clean after an airport run. It is a nice size to keep all make-up together instead of digging for that lipstick, lotion, or face powder that you know is somewhere in your handbag. To make the gift extra special, you could give your flight attendant a headstart by filling it with some of her favorite make-up products or toiletries.
I Am A Flight Attendant Makeup Bag
This Travel Cosmetic Bag is a nice way to show some love to a flight attendant. She can keep her make-up handy in this waterproof bag. If she isn’t a make-up girl, she could also use this clutch to keep necessities together, such as her passport, keys, hand-wipes, phone, and Starbucks gift cards. Many buyer reviews have said the material is a bit thinner than expected, but overall the receivers of this gift were very pleased.
I’m A Flight Attendant! Notebook
This Flight Attendant Notebook is a nice gift idea for someone just beginning their courses or graduating from flight school. These 100 pages of blank, lined pages can be a great place to write down thoughts and keep notes. I’m sure he or she will have a story to tell after all those hours spent in the air! You can pair this gift with a name engraved pen or a copy of Marsha Marks’s book for story-telling inspiration.
Early Aviation Wall Art
These Early Aviation Patent Art can be an interesting bit of decoration and history for pilots and flight attendants alike. They can be a conversation piece in the living room or can decorate a pilot’s man cave. This vintage look with its earthy colors can add a nice backdrop to almost any room. You can gift it as-is or find sleek 8 x 10 frames to frame them for a friend.
Live Free and Fly Necklace
The Live Free & Fly Necklace is a way to send good thoughts to someone special on their journey. It is made of gold-plated brass is a subtle addition to match almost any wardrobe. This could be a great gift for a flight attendant as she begins her career, or as a sweet reminder that someone will be missing them on their journey. You can pair this gift with the travel jewelry box for safe-keeping when she takes it off to sleep!
Ferrero Rocher Gifts
Ferrero Rocher chocolates are some of my personal favorites in the chocolate/praline category… and I’m pretty sure I am not the only one! These can be a nice “thank you” treat for flight attendants… especially in the holiday season when many are having to be away from their families to get you close to yours. These chocolate pralines can make a flight attendant’s day a little sweeter. They might even return the favor by getting you an extra pillow or blanket while you’re on board!
Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle
Hydration is very important in a flight attendant’s active job. The Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle is a great way for a flight attendant to be able to stay hydrated on the go. It is made of BPA-free silicone, is dishwasher safe, and it collapses and folds when not in use. This sports bottle is made for hot or cold drinks, and you won’t have to worry about it shattering on the run.
A flight attendant will be able to fill it with a Starbucks drink on layovers and skip out on the onboard coffee that always seems to taste more like water than coffee. This is a very thoughtful and practical gift!
Ferrero Raffaello Candy
The Ferraro Raffaello candy can be a good choice for flight attendants who are not chocolate fans. These are a sweet way to say “thank you for your service” to your flight attendant. You can bring a combination of Ferraro Rocher and Ferraro Raffaello to have treats available to chocolate lovers and coconut fans, alike. Leave a box at the cabin and let them distribute as they please!
Universal Travel Power Adapter
The Universal Power Adapter is a very practical idea for a flight attendant who is traveling around the globe. It has a 6-way charging option so it is handy for when all your devices are dying and you only have a limited time to get them all back to 100%. Check the list of phones that this device supports to know if it will suit your flight attendant’s phone. When the flight attendant is overnighting in a foreign country he or she will certainly thank you for your thoughtfulness!
Safe Trip Airplane Bracelet
This Stay Trip Airplane Cuff is a great way to send a good luck charm with someone dear on their flight. The message “safe travels wherever you go” will be a sweet reminder of the loved ones waiting for their safe return. It is made of stainless steel so it shouldn’t tarnish or rust. The two engraved airplanes on the inside are a subtle addition to this classy bracelet.
Small Jewelry Box Organizer
This Small Jewelry Organizer can be a helpful addition to any travel bag. When a flight attendant is overnighting on planes or in hotels, this is a great way to keep small jewelry from tangling or becoming lost on the journey. It has compartments and a pocket for organization and comes with a zipper for an extra-safe close. This thoughtful gift and can be a life-saver for a traveling flight attendant!
How We Selected Gifts for Flight Attendants
It can be difficult to find the perfect gift at any time, but with flight attendants, there are even a few more factors than usual. There are a host of flight attendant gifts on Amazon, but when you are looking for the perfect gift for a flight attendant, you should take into consideration:
Size and Weight
Things like paperweights, bookends, or ceramic mugs can make a lovely to gift a flight attendant at their home, but if you are catching up with them in transit, no flight attendant will want to add that extra weight and bulk to their carry-on. We recommend practical gifts for flight attendants that are small and packed easily like bracelets, foldable cup holders, and make-up bags. These flight attendant accessories add almost no weight to a bag and can make great, thoughtful gifts.
Convenience
Convenience is another important aspect of a flight attendant’s gift. Snacks for flight attendants like chocolates, candy, and dried fruit snacks can be a pick-me-up while on duty. It is a tasteful gift that will be appreciated when energy runs low. Since it is consumable, it won’t require baggage space allotment throughout the journey.
Regulations
Flight attendant must-haves like shampoo, lotion, or perfume are a nice touch for flight attendants to freshen up and feel spoiled. Make sure any liquids are the right size to be TSA compliant. For flight attendants more isn’t always better if they will be entering and exiting airports. A little can go a long[er] way!
FAQs – Gifts for Flight Attendants
We’ve answered some of the most asked questions about how you can take care of a flight attendant while they are taking care of you! Here are some of our thoughts.
What gift do I give a flight attendant stranger while flying?
Some of the gifts we recommended are for friends, colleagues, or loved ones who have chosen a flight attendant career. But, if you yourself are traveling on a flight, flight attendant gifts can be a nice gesture. Many flight attendants have said that acts of kindness from strangers have brightened their day! While certainly not mandatory, gifts can be a nice touch for flight attendants who are having to spend important holidays on the road and away from their family and friends. A simple lotion pack or box of chocolates can give them a little recognition and encourage them on their journey.
What gifts are flight attendants allowed to receive?
It may come as a surprise, but flight attendants are not allowed to receive any and every gift. Flight attendant regulations say that they can’t carry cash on them, so a flight attendant won’t be able to receive monetary tips. Also, handmade goods are not allowed because of safety issues. Any food gift should come wrapped and sealed.
Many flight attendants have said that they have appreciated gifts like individually wrapped candies or a box of chocolates that a passenger gave to share with the crew. Also, Starbucks gift cards have reportedly been a hit.
How to give the gift of kindness to a flight attendant?
When you are flying remember that flight attendants are often travel-weary just like you are! A simple ‘hello’ when your flight attendant greets you to board the flight can go a long way. Many flight attendants have noticed that many people do not even respond to a simple greeting. While on board, remember to greet a flight attendant and thank them for their service… and a small gift certainly never hurts!
