A 'significant' way flight attendants show their gratitude to frequent flyers

As we were getting ready to land at Orlando International Airport (MCO) during a recent Delta Air Lines flight, a friendly employee handed me and several other passengers a card with a handwritten thank you note on the back. I had never received such a note, and had no idea they existed. I immediately texted my trusted co-worker and frequent collaborator Clint Henderson for some information.

He told me that it was rare to receive a handwritten thank you note from the flight attendants and that I should hold on to it as a souvenir. I was already feeling lucky after my newly acquired SkyMiles Silver Medallion status got me a fantastic last-minute upgrade to Comfort+ on a two-hour flight to Orlando. But I indeed I felt like a VIP after receiving this sweet note.

The journalist in me immediately wanted to learn more about these mysterious notes. Here is what I found.

Go for more SkyMile

When I asked my coworkers and members of the TPG Lounge Facebook group, I got a lot of feedback from fellow travelers who had received handwritten notes from flight attendants over the years. Often, flight attendants use these notes to recognize customers for their loyalty to the airline or as a benefit for flying in business or first class cabins.

Several respondents said the notes they received thanked them for being a premium member. Whether they were advanced like me or paid outright (using cash or miles), most also said they were sitting in the front drawer when they were given the notes. The day I got mine, I only saw flight attendants handing passengers notes for first class or Comfort+ seats.

Some passengers get points waiting for their seats when boarding, but others, like me, get their notes towards the end of the flight. In my case, we experienced turbulence, so there was no inflight service. Although it's pure speculation, I'm guessing that the flight attendants used the extra time to make a few thank-you notes.

Related: Best airline for domestic first class: Delta, United or American?

One flight attendant responded to the post saying she prefers to thank travelers in person over handing them a handwritten note; several fliers claim to have experienced this as well. One traveler who has been a Delta SkyMiles member for more than 40 years and has flown more than 2 million miles shared that the flight attendants occasionally stopped by his seat to thank him.

Whether it's a note or a “thank you” and a friendly handshake, the majority of respondents said they received this favor only a few times. If you happen to find yourself among them, know that it is a rare treasure.

It's not all about elite status

While it's nice to be recognized for your loyalty to a particular airline, that's not the only reason a flight attendant might see you during a flight.

After mentioning how much she loved rice crackers while chatting with a flight attendant at a Japan Airlines flight garage, TPG Senior Writer Katie Genter received the note and gift pictured below. The flight attendant took the time to snap a cute picture of Katie and her husband and gifted them with – what else – a selection of rice cakes and in-flight snack mixes.

TPG Executive Director Gabe Travers received a note from a flight attendant for a very different – and less hearty – reason. After experiencing a long delay on the outbound leg of an international trip, he had an apology letter waiting at his seat when he boarded his flight back to the US. Flight delays and cancellations happen, but it eases the pain when you know the airline is sympathetic. and your condition.

Others received a note from a flight attendant when they flew on their birthday, anniversary or other special occasion. Some even receive a bottle of wine or other gift along with their paper. A few answers were even more unexpected.

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One woman, a certified flyer, shared that she always introduces herself to crew members and visits them at the airport before takeoff to calm her nerves. Because they naturally get to know her during their conversations, she and her husband have received a note from time to time over the years and even Champagne on their anniversary.

Several respondents to the Facebook group said they often bring snacks or Starbucks gift cards to flight attendants and will occasionally receive a thank-you note in return.

But my advice is don't expect to be on the receiving end of this rare feat. Mindful acts like these are special because they are miraculous. When you start expecting random acts of kindness, you lose the very thing that makes them special.

Bottom line

When a flight attendant takes the time to acknowledge your sincerity or mark a milestone, it makes your trip feel even more special. Whether I get a handwritten note or not, I do always I thanked the flight crew for their hard work and kindness, and I hope you do too.

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