r/UnethicalLifeProTips • u/beemerbimmer • 18d ago
Travel ULPT: tell the flight attendants that your significant other is also a flight attendant for the airline
Specifically, go to the bathroom, and while you’re waiting, ask them where they’re based, and when they tell you, say “oh my boyfriend/girlfriend/wife/husband is a flight attendant at (insert a different base for the airline).” Almost always gets you free drinks, snacks, whatever.
Low risk, low reward, but free is free.
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u/izzyk 18d ago
I was kind to my flight attendant, and I got two free whiskey and cokes on a trip. I was told that’s all they really want too.
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u/indisin 18d ago
I was on a long cross continent flight, hadn't slept, and they asked me what I wanted for "breakfast". I said wine. They asked if I'd like anything with my wine, so I politely said "another wine".
They paused for about 4 seconds, shrugged, and I got two free bottles of wine. For what was my nighttime.
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u/ImBonRurgundy 18d ago
Long haul flights the booze is almost always free anyway.
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u/Waitress-in-mn 18d ago
Which airline? Definitely not United. When I flew to Guam twice from the mainland there was definitely no free booze on United. Would have been nice if there was.
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u/pineappledaphne 17d ago
Lufthansa gave me all the free drinks lol, 11 hours from Frankfurt to Seattle.
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u/ImBonRurgundy 18d ago
I’ve flown long haul on Air New Zealand, qantas, British airways, Cathay Pacific, Singapore airlines, emirates, virgin (Probably some others I don’t remember) All flying economy class.
On all of them on every occasion the food and drink - meals and snacks, alcohol including spirits, has been included in the airfare.
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u/tj15241 18d ago
Pro tip: did long haul flights for business years ago. Sleeping pills and a glass of of wine or 2 works every time. Also limit the alcohol makes the jet lag worse
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u/indisin 18d ago
For me what works is not sleeping or eating (other than maybe a snack), drinking wine, and targeting to land in the destination time zone early afternoon. Gives me time to get through security, check in to the hotel, grab a small bite to eat and then crash for 12-14 hours waking up in time for breakfast in that new time zone. I get zero jet lag when I do that, it just makes the journey suck.
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u/MingusDeDingus 18d ago
Fly international a couple times a month for business for the last few years. This is the best way.
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u/freshcheesebags 18d ago
Yo. You’re in the wrong sub. This is the unethical life pro tip. Not the ethical one!
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u/iTalk2Pineapples 18d ago
Say you're diabetic and need these needles or you'll die. Refill an insulin bottle with milk. During your flight slowly inject all the seats around you with milk. You won't get any free drinks this way but you'll stank up the plane in a few days with rotten milk.
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u/TurdCollector69 18d ago
That honestly extends to all of the service industry.
Turns out that people who have to deal with karens all day appreciate being treated as a human.
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u/Plow_King 18d ago
when i fly, i find my seat, stow my carry on, and try and sleep until the landing. how can i be a nicer passenger than that?
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u/strangelove4564 18d ago
Be ready to fill in for the pilots that had fish for dinner.
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u/AlternativeAd7449 18d ago
I was sobbing uncontrollably on a flight to my brother’s funeral and got two free whiskey and cokes. So three different approaches you can take.
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u/gamemasterjd 18d ago
I've had varying degrees of success just generally being nice, saying please and thank you and asking to order multiple at once to not be annoying. I had a FA give me two bottles and a soda and then during trash pickup asked if I wanted more and slid me two more - no charge for any. lovely flight and actually logged in to give them a review
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u/Hbic_in_training 14d ago
I once used my emergency kit to sew up the crotch of the pants of an FA who had bent over too quickly and split them. I was bored and didn't mind, and got free wine the rest of the flight.
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u/StuTim 18d ago
Flight attendant here! An easier way is to give us candy or some sort of treat. Hell, just being nice and happy might do it
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u/4E4ME 18d ago
What's the etiquette of doing this? I was on a flight recently and brought a box of candy as a gift, but then I chickened out of giving it. It just felt sort of forced.
I'm going to be traveling a lot coming up this year (different routes / cities, I won't be seeing the same FA's). I don't have a problem bringing a small gift but I don't want it to be awkward, just like "here's something random, enjoy!".
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u/StuTim 18d ago
It's always going to be a little awkward. Even when I give candy to hr crew I feel weird but just do it. I'll typically wait until I'm seated and give it to I've if the flight attendants passing by. If you give it to the ones up front and you aren't in first they might forget to tell the ones in the back.
It's not always a sure thing. Expect to pay and be thankful when you don't. Sometimes I'll end up paying for one drink and they'll give me a few on top
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u/Even-Education-4608 18d ago
So you can pay for candy and have an awkward social interaction OR you can just pay for your drink. Hmmm.
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u/mrminutehand 18d ago edited 18d ago
This is the unethical life hacks sub I know, but I just give it to them out of habit for their work in general. Funnily enough, made it a habit to do this after seeing a comment about it on Reddit more than ten years ago.
I get one or two medium boxes of candy - usually one chocolate, one non-dairy, and from duty-free - and give it to the attendants at the back station after the seatbelt sign has switched off. I usually slink away before I'm asked out of politeness where I sit (they will usually find you anyway).
I don't expect anything, but over the years I've gotten a personal thank-you and bow from the manager and all the crew (Cathay Pacific), two glasses of the first-class champagne skillfully "forgotten" on my tray table before takeoff (Virgin Atlantic), a souvenir goody bag containing key fobs and snacks (Xiamen Air), and almost always extra attention without being asked (are you comfortable, enough to drink, etc).
Then again, these were all international flights which have basic free booze anyway. Still, if you're nice to the flight attendants they'll usually remember your face and be nice back.
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u/floraldepths 17d ago
I do the same on long haul flights- find a nice big box of pre wrapped chocolates, generally cadbury favourites or similar, and hand it over to whoever is greeting passengers at the front of the plane, normally with some kind of ‘gee looks like a full flight, you’ll be busy so I got these for the crew!’ I am then the favourite passenger- I’ve previously gotten a full flights worth of first class meals (real cutlery and all!), and the various first class goodie bags they hand out (Qantas pyjamas, little Air Canada bathroom bag thingy etc). Once I had every single cabin crew member, including from business and first class, come by my seat and thank me, which was really sweet. On a flight to Malaysia, I handed over the chocolates, did my little ‘looks like a busy flight’ spiel and the crew members said ‘for us?’ And then made this exact facial expression 🥺 They were so excited when I said ‘yes, it’s a long flight, you’re working hard!’ It’s just nice to see peoples faces light up honestly.
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u/StuTim 18d ago
Yup. $5 for candy and a few drinks or about $10 per drink. It's up to you
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u/MontazumasRevenge 18d ago
I bring enough candy for everyone. I've never seen the first class attendants not dispense to everyone else.
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u/No-Lime-2863 18d ago
Just say last trip you treated really well and wanted to say thanks to the entire crew. Be clear you are asking for them to share with the other flight attendants so it’s less like you are giving it to the one and more like you are asking them to pass on the candy and pass along your appreciation for what they do. I fly a lot. This is always appreciated.
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u/ImMikeD 18d ago
I make up little quart sized ziplock bags. Usually put a few chocolates in there, along with some pens, and depending on how long my flight is, I’ve put in a small Starbucks gift card.
I give it to them when I’m boarding. While they’re all standing there greeting you, I just pull them out and say “here is a little something for the crew! Hope you enjoy”
Every time it’s gotten me a little something extra
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u/Even-Education-4608 18d ago
Pens? Loll
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u/ImMikeD 18d ago
Yup. I was given the idea after reading a post from an FA who made the suggestion. They said passengers ask them for pens all the time and never return them
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u/coyote474 18d ago
I could for sure see this when they gave out credit card apps or for international flights that hand out customs declaration forms
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u/Another_Name_Today 18d ago
I don’t do it for my short haul, just for my outbound long hauls. Sometimes you get neat things, pre-COVID the ANA team drew me a picture and thank you note that I still treasure, sometime you don’t. But it’s an easy way to make someone’s day a little brighter and giving makes me happy.
At Christmas time I’ll try to bring something for the GA as well.
Honestly, even if the etiquette was not to, I’d still do it just because it feels right to me.
Maybe someday the return FAs will get something. But that’s a decision for a different day.
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u/MontazumasRevenge 18d ago
I do this on 99% of the flights I'm on. I fly about 40 times a year. I generally grab like four king size candy bars. Or maybe two large, fine chocolate bars. I simply tell the flight attendants in first class as soon as I walk on "here I brought you something" and hand it over. 99/100 they ask where you're sitting. I'm always sitting in first class so I don't really get the added benefit of free goodies. I just like being nice. I did once get like five bottles of wine on a 3-hour flight so I guess it helped them look past the amount of wine I was consuming LOL.
I was on a flight once and before we took off the pilot came out to ask why he didn't get any candy. He was obviously joking. I told him "hey I handed it to the flight attendant it's up to her to disperse to whom she thinks should get one." On several other flights I've had flight attendants write me a nice note on their official little cardstock.
Honestly, just saying " heres something random enjoy" will probably have the same end result. It's not what you say, it's more the gesture.
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u/jaguaraugaj 18d ago
I will bring you a nice slice of warm meatloaf
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u/Missus_Missiles 18d ago
Gummy bear? They've been in my pocket. They're real warm and soft.
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u/purrmutations 18d ago
Weird, there are a lot of posts from flight attendants saying not to bring gifts like that. Usually they throw them out.
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u/StuTim 18d ago
Homemade treats will probably get thrown out. Store bought treats still in the package won't. If we don't eat them someone will bring them home to their family
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u/Drunkenaviator 18d ago
Anything not sealed and from a store gets tossed. There's too many fuckin' weirdos out there. Otherwise, the crew will definitely snack on them.
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u/litty_kitty3005 18d ago
I work for a hotel and this gentleman is a fight attendant for an airline we have stay regularly. He knows he's getting a great room bc he always brings us snacks. Great guy!
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u/usernamefoundnot 18d ago
Would you take something to eat from a stranger? Isn’t that a security risk?
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u/StuTim 18d ago
Homemade is questionable. It's usually packaged treats like candy. Sometimes it's a gift card to get a coffee
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u/joshoy 17d ago
So on the unethical side of things, just bring a lot of empty gift cards with big numbers written on them to give out?
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u/Duochan_Maxwell 18d ago
Hell, just being nice and happy might do it
Can confirm - I was at the back of the cabin in economy once and I got a dessert from Business from the attendants because I kid you not, I apparently was the only one to consistently say "please" and "thank you" to them
I'm still not sure if I should be happy for my treat or appalled that 100+ people didn't have basic manners -_-
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u/Formerly_SgtPepe 18d ago
I’m always nice and never got any special treatment lmao
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u/casualcreaturee 18d ago
I can do nice but happy is something I have been unable to do since a few years
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u/AyyyyLeMeow 18d ago edited 16d ago
The real Pro tip is commenting that "giving me gifts is the best way". Basically uno reverse card.
Well played...
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u/TheAviaus 18d ago
I'm always happy and nice, it's never done it -- which is fine I'm not being a nice person with the expectation of anything in return (that's just my default setting), but I'm just stating a fact.
That said, I did try giving a box of chocolates my last trip just over a year ago -- barely got a thank you. So I must be doing something wrong -- maybe the wrong FA, the wrong timing, the wrong airline; I don't know.
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u/SirPsychoSexy22 17d ago
I've gotten exactly 50% of the beer I've drank on a plane for free just by being nice to the flight attendant lol. Which is only like three beers, but that's a lot in my opinion especially since they're like 10 dollars each
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u/TightOrganization522 17d ago
I was flying Emirates and I bought a small bag of toblerones for each galley. Even though I was sitting in economy, one of the first class class FA’s brought me a grab bag of goodies from up front. They took great care of me all the way from DXB to DFW.
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u/kschaffs 17d ago
Exactly. Being friendly and appreciative of what a flight attendant does is easier than pretending. I’ve been handed 3+ mini jack daniels or two sleeves of biscotti just with good please and thank yous.
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u/Supergoose1108 18d ago
Yeah it's crazy how being nice to people who are solely responsible for the comfort of your trip makes for a better trip.
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u/Hungry_For_Pickles 18d ago
I do this everytime! I stock up on travel size bags of lindor truffles and hand them to the lead attendant when boarding. Free drinks all flight.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Sir3280 18d ago
I don’t mind giving out free stuff but it’s has to be sneaky, not bc of the airline but bc of the other passengers. If they see someone get something they don’t have, they get BIG mad. Like little kids on a field trip. One time a lady told me her daughter was pregnant and was only craving Biscoff cookies - I gave her like 65 of them to take home!
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u/TheIlluminaughty 18d ago
Ugh my life has not been the same since I found biscoff cookies in BULK at Costco 😭 I love those things
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u/HumpyFroggy 18d ago
I loved them for a month, bought a big pack of them and had like two everyday. Now the smell alone makes me nauseous :l . I'm glad it didn't happen to you too
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u/namhee69 18d ago
My wife is an FA and this is the real issue. If people think it’s free, they’ll ask and then argue. It’s sometimes not worth the hassle.
Tho biscoff is free… so ask for more.
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u/smokeytheorange 17d ago
Totally fair. One FA I met played it off in a clever way. I ordered a beer at the beginning of the flight, he dropped it off, and said he’d be back to charge me later.
Toward the end of the flight, he came by and asked kind of loudly “Did you order a XYZ beer?” I said yes but I was confused because I had finished it and he picked up the can already. He handed me another one with a wink and “I saw there was this last one in the back. Enjoy.” Never charged me for either one.
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u/rerutnevdA 17d ago
We used to be really big on giving out free stuff, but because of countless people on social media posting “if you say this you’ll get free stuff” we really put a damper on it. Once people expect free stuff, it’s no longer special, and becomes just another cost to the business that they’ll then cut.
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u/fuknthrowaway1 18d ago
One of my relatives actually was a flight attendant and the very first time I happened to mention it I decided never again.
Turns out cousin Chris is kind of a bitch and I got to hear all about it.
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u/CombatRedRover 18d ago
Legit, just being nice to the FAs works fine.
Also, being on little gift bags for them..There's a formula for how many FAs are on each flight. Bring that many +1 (because they sometimes have an extra on a jump seat) of some kind of candy and a little bottle of hand sanitizer in a Ziploc.
It's an Overly Ethical Life Tip to just be cool to people who have a tough job, who are there to help you if something goes wrong with the plane (they're not waitresses in the air, despite what some people think), and generally have to deal with stressed out travelers who are often complete assholes because of that stress.
They have a LOT of power once you're in the air. The last time I flew overseas, some rich couple had first class seats and their nanny had a coach seat. Because their kid was under whatever age, they tried to claim an empty first class for their kid, but they were such a-holes the FA made their kid sit in coach with the nanny.
The nanny was next to me in coach, and when I saw what was going on I quickly offered to move to an obviously empty seat (also in coach) so the kid could sit with the nanny, just to make everyone's life that little bit easier.
As a thank you to me (and an FU to the rich couple playing games), the head FA put me in the vacant first class seat.
13 hour international flight in first class, with zero flight status. Best sleep on a plane, ever.
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u/John__Spartan 18d ago
Sorry but what kind of fucking psycho brings a dozen little bags of candy and hand sanitizer and hands them out to the flight attendants before a flight? This is insane behaviour.
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u/austinalexan 18d ago
How to get free things on a flight
Step 1: buy things elsewhere for flight attendants
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u/takeiteasynottooeasy 18d ago
Thanks for saying this - should be the top comment. Anyone who does anything like this has some MAJOR main character syndrome. Also, it’s not kind, or cute, or quirky, or appreciated. It’s super awkward. You’ve just added a level of bizarre to the FA’s day that they don’t want or need.
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u/bored-FA 18d ago
You guys need to chilllll lol this isn’t that unusual for flight attendants and we always appreciate it 😂
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u/jcbubba 18d ago
“Please wait until we have been at cruising altitude for 90 seconds before ingesting the candy. Try to do so as simultaneously as possible.”
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u/zachms 17d ago
I'm a flight attendant, my favorite gifts are the little bags with like, a mini hand sanitizer, small pack of gum, ChapStick, whatever. Sometimes even a dollar for my van tip that evening.
Anything is of course appreciated and awesome, but those goodie bags show so much thought put into something just to give to little old me.
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u/Superb_Watch_2166 18d ago
I’m a flight attendant and any little gesture of kindness is so appreciated and can really change a crappy day for me. Even if it’s just a piece of chocolate: so thanks for what you do!
The replies on this comment kind of reflect the reason why a tiny bit of kindness goes a long way for me - because so many people are just plain mean, especially out in public places. It’s pretty sad that someone going out of their way to be kind to other people is “fucking psycho, insane, or main character behavior” to others.
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u/Key_Door6957 17d ago
"Hello flight attendants, here's some chocolate, it's kinda melted from my trouser pocket. And here's a goodiebag for each of you. I would appreciate it if you suck the jellies. I really hope we enjoy this flight together. "
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u/DrunkenCatHerder 17d ago
Step 1 works everywhere. If you're at my bar on a busy night and you're polite, not a pain in the ass and don't special order everything, I will probably buy you a drink just for not being an asshole.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Sir3280 18d ago
I would know you were lying if you couldn’t tell me where they were based. Also I could prob ask 1-2 followers up questions that would lmk it’s BS. If you’d like me to write you out a fake story so it sounds legit, I’d be more than happy to lol
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u/saalamander 18d ago
But would you really ever interrogate a passenger to find out if they're lying about their spouse being a flight attendant lol
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u/Puzzleheaded-Sir3280 18d ago
lol no I wouldn’t care but to be fair you did get out of your seat, come up to me and provide me with that information without me asking so I would figure that it’s something you want to talk about haha I’d just ask questions to be polite
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u/AbruptMango 18d ago
It's not even interrogating, just a response question in the banter. "Oh, is she liking the new Airbus 2200s that they've been basing out of there?" or "Wow, she probably hates the new uniforms they're trying out at that hub!"
Something so blatantly stupid and incorrect that even a family member would get confused at how wrong it is
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u/PavlovsVagina 14d ago
Not only that, but if you are immediate family, you probably qualify for pass travel/standby and the FAs already know who the nonrevs are. Also, real airline employees/families (for the most part) do not go out of their way to talk to/disrupt the crew. We sit in our seats and cause no problems and are thankful for our free trip.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Sir3280 18d ago
Where are you guys based? My s/o is a flight attendant to for (different airline) and based in (city). Do you have any more legs today or are you laying over in (destination of flight)? While I’m already up here could I grab an (alcoholic drink) from you??
For extra pizzazz, you could say something like “omg my s/o would kill me if they knew I came in the galley!”
Flight attendants take care of other FAs even if it’s one from a different airline. So saying a different one would be safer lol.
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u/Left_East7588 18d ago
As a FA, please don't ask these boring ass questions for the millionth time. Just be nice in a normal way.
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u/AmeliaShadowSong 18d ago
I was given 4 refills for a glass of juice I bought during lunch on Vistara (Indian airline). Just be a decent human and don’t be an asshole to flight attendants.
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u/potheadmed 18d ago
Or tell them your significant other is a flight attendant for a competing airline, and become enemies
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u/DarkPolumbo 18d ago
Flight attendants tomorrow: Man, a lot of people are suddenly interested in my profession
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u/nouniqueideas007 18d ago
I’d look at the manifest. You are a full fare pax & not using the travel benefits. That’s sus.
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u/maxbud06 18d ago
"Luckily this is a work trip and they paid for the ticket. I'd have never made it onto this flight as a standby."
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u/SeattleBrother75 18d ago
I get the same treatment just by being polite, having manners, and not being a douche
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u/chucky17_ 18d ago
I was literally about to say just be courteous and smile. Ive gotten tons of free drinks. One time on a long flight from Germany a flight attendant even gave me unopened bottles of beer to put in my carry on and take home with me!
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u/2wheelmoron69 18d ago
Husband of a flight attendant here….
They probably won’t care. They can also see if you are flying as a revenue or non revenue passenger so it’ll be super easy to see you are lying. It also tends to piss them off that you expect a ton of free see or upgrades (something they can’t do) or preferential treatment.
You will be much better off giving the crew a dozen donuts or $5 gift cards to Starbucks.
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u/wisepunk21 18d ago
I just bring some fun sized candy with me and give everyone greeting me a piece or two. Look them in the eye and say "hi!I hope we all have a great flight!"
Kindness goes a long, long, long way with victims of abuse.
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u/HighlandsBen 18d ago
"Nice plane you got here, shame if something happened to it". Then hand over the candy while staring into their soul.
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u/nycsavage 18d ago edited 18d ago
I gave them a big bag of sweets in my last flight. Guess what happened?
The seat back tv wasn’t working (7 hour flight), and the call button was ignored.
Never again haha
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u/Key-County6952 18d ago
you can already get extra drinks and snacks if you just politely but firmly ask for what you want............
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u/HighlandsBen 18d ago
Protip: be gay (or pretend). Best service ever from male attendants.
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u/justmedownsouth 18d ago
Well, if that were the case, they're may want to know where your SO is based, what kind of schedule they have (reserve, etc), if you are flying non rev (free) on employee passes, and other things like that. Make sure you have enough of an idea about this stuff to fake it!
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u/viewofone 18d ago
Being polite to flight attendants will go a long way. While on my last international flight I asked if they had anything available for purchase because I was starving. I slipped in that I’m a weightlifter and eat ~3k calories a day. She check for extras and proceed to not bring me one, but THREE sandwiches. Not all heroes wear capes, but they certainly do fly.
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u/PrimitiveThoughts 18d ago
Did you know you can get more drinks and snacks by simply asking?
They usually let me go grab whatever I want from what’s left, when I want, after they’ve passed out drinks and snacks to everyone.
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u/thechicfreak 17d ago
I’ve found that just being polite and kind gets me free drinks hahaha
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u/pineapplewin 17d ago
Right??!? I mean, surely you're more likely to reward the person who isn't wasting your time talking at you while you're just trying to get on with your job.
" Sure buddy, whatever story you like. Here's your free snack now. Please leave me alone so I can get on with it"
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u/_netscape_navigator 18d ago
My twin sister used to be a flight attendant and I loved telling that to staff on her airline, I always got special treatment, extra drinks and snacks etc and once got invited to hang out with the crew in the staff only area, they wanted travel tips about my home city(where the flight was headed.) One of the crew announced to the others “she’s one of us!” On a long boring flight that was so exciting.
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u/orangeorchid 18d ago
When I fly, I buy a nice box of chocolates at the airport and give it to the flight crew upon boarding. They love it, and I get better all-around service.
Note: we have Sees candy here in Californa, and they have stands at most of the airports here. It's really good.
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u/Mynaga 18d ago
Just being nice is the only hack , they have a computer that tells them if you are an employee or spouse or associates with an employee.
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u/Mother-Zucchini2790 18d ago
I came here to say this. If you are a spouse you are quite likely flying standbye and if so they know it.
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u/doobied 18d ago
Ultra unethical life pro tip : tell them your dad just died of cancer
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u/DrejmeisterDrej 18d ago
Used to fly twice a week, every week for a client for 9 months. Even just being jovial will due.
One time a flight attendant (male) came to me (male) on a night flight and just dropped a bunch of mini-jack daniels in the seat next to me
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u/ModsDoItForFreeLOL 18d ago edited 18d ago
I think I've paid for a half dozen drinks on planes in my life. Just be friendly, smile and let them know that you're aware they're busy. You don't have to pay for stuff on airlines.
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u/UniqueIndividual3579 18d ago
It used to be your ticket was NRSA and the ticket code was MM. An employee spouse isn't paying for a ticket.
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u/Justsoundsnasty 18d ago
I always make little gift bags for each of the flight crew. Usually they are between 5 and $10 a piece and include things like emergen-c packets, Mentos because they aren't allowed to chew gum, lip balm, hand cream, and some nice chocolates. I give all of them to the FA who is greeting upon boarding and they pass them out to the rest of the crew. Usually they will come by my seat individually and thank me and give me drinks or snacks for free. Of course I don't do it for the rewards but traveling is so stressful and not all passengers are kind and respectful. Being a flight attendant is a really hard job and if you can put a little bit of effort into brightening someone's day why wouldn't you?
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u/jpegisthename 18d ago
I always let them know I support their right to a fair Union contract and where their negotiations are at. I also offer Union solidarity as a fellow Union member. I am always prepared to pay but often don’t have to. Sincere support for the unpaid labor they do and the right to a fair wage goes far.
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u/LittlePooky 17d ago
Plot twist: You're not using a companion pass-they they know you made that up.
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u/pachetty 17d ago
Kind of unrelated but one time I was on a 4hr flight, didn’t have time to get food during my layover, and was sooo hungry. Flight attendant came around with a menu, I ordered, but they only took credit cards not debit. She said sorry. I can’t recall if they had free snacks?? I think not. Anyway, not long after, she came back with the two things I had asked for and said it was on her 🥹 “just don’t tell anyone!”. Absolute angel
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u/_iamtinks 17d ago
We once had to get on an 5 hour international flight with a kiddo who had serious food aversions and was starving (there was an unfortunate combination of a short layover and unforeseen terminal renovations which closed all the food options and torpedoed our McDonald’s plans).
He wouldn’t eat anything on the Economy menu or snack bar. I will never forget the fantastic attendants who kept smuggling him plain bread rolls from first class - the only thing on the plane he could eat. I reckon he ate 10 or 11.
However, do not recommend as a strategy for free food.
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u/tinysand 18d ago
My sister was a FA for 45 years. On long flights I tell them and bring a bag of chocolates. Free drinks and snacks all flight.
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u/occasionally_toots 17d ago
Gay it up for the gay flight attendants. It’s easy for me (source: am gay).
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u/hankbobstl 18d ago
Got told by a flight attendant family friend that they love when guests bring them snacks. Like a bag of cookies from the gift shop could get you free drinks on the flight.
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u/TakcnelExpress 18d ago
I was courteous to a flight attendant on a Frankfurt to SFO flight, stuff like organizing my trash, having requests ready before the cart arrived, sometimes I made idle conversation when they weren't busy.
I mentioned I really liked these little pastry/hot pocket things they served for lunch and wanted to know what they were called. They told me and moments later they gave me and my brother 5 each. I told them "this is unexpected, a little too much, but very much appreciated"
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u/messiah76 18d ago
I got to sleep with about 6 flight attendants recently. I was on a fight from Chicago to Dublin and not really noticing what was going on around me. Suddenly approached by an FA to ask would I like to move as plane wasn't full and I was kind of isolated at the back.
I was comfortable at the time so said no I'm fine here honestly she kinda said are you sure? It'll be no hassle so I said not at all I'm fine and she left me to it. I nodded off to sleep and when I woke about an hour later I looked around and was basically in the middle of an FA bedroom lol.
All the seats around me had been taken up by flight attendants for their snoozes and here's me snack bang I'm the middle of them all like a dope! Great times!!
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u/breakthetree 18d ago
The first time I flew with a baby was miserable. The flight attendant gave me a free drink and said, “I’ve been there!” That was about 8 years ago and I still think about her!
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u/geeceeza 17d ago
Recent flight the FA literally said have as much as you like it's free anyway.
I don't get the theatrics, just don't be a dick. Be friendly.
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u/mashem 18d ago
Plot twist for singles: you and the flight attendant start hitting it off but now you can't ask them out.