Gift bag ideas for aircrew on our first flight to Spain

[ToffeePennie]

Hi all,
I am definitely overthinking things but we go on our first flight to Spain in a few weeks. I have an autistic husband and older child (both with scoliosis) and an 8 year old with ADHD. Due to the severity of these conditions I put in a welfare form with Tui, and we are travelling from Manchester airport.
I thought it would be nice to give little gift bags to the aircrew (my brother used to be a flight attendant) to say thank you because I know they work super hard and having to deal with my family will be a lot. I was thinking maybe hand cream, foot cream or lip balms? Any other ideas welcome!

I think this is a bit OTT and likely to be more hassle for them and stuff to carry. They’ll also know you prepped them so it won’t be spontaneously related to what they actually did on the flight will it? A heartfelt thank you as you leave will be fine. And possibly a message to the company mentioning any by name that went above and beyond

This is a TIk Tok craze isn’t it, conjured up by attention seeking content creators in the hope of getting a free upgrade on the flight? Absolutely no need to join in with it and encourage dickhead attention seeking any more.

Please don't give people cream they have enough to cart through the airport without having cream they don't need/want just a thank you and a nice review on the airline and airport Social Media will honestly do.

What does the welfare report via TUI involve?

That must offer some assistance.
Does that mean early boarding or assistance with luggage etc?

You can get escorted assistance through the airport and onto your plane if you need, sometimes there is a specific lane for security. So there is no standing about. And then you can add any specific difficulties.

I did see airport assistance being tipped in Spain, it isn't something i have ever thought of because I didn't think it would be allowed, but the airport staff took it, maybe you could do that with groundstaff op ?

You can get transdermal medication for ADHD.

My daughter has epilepsy and can't take adhd drugs so I do understand. We found the Airlines fine for support. The bigger issue was the airports, particularly the security screening queues.

So four men then?

They can’t be solved or resolved but medication can definitely be used to improve their quality of life.

A big polite 'thank you so much' is enough

Unless the creams are under 100ml, you will more than likely have them confiscated at airport security long before you even board your flight so they won’t even reach the flight crew anyway. Airport security are very strict on liquids and pastes. They even confiscated my SEN child’s squishy toy due to it having liquid inside.

Having flown for many years, I would see it as a bit weird if someone started handing the cabin crew presents. I understand it’s your first flight and are wondering what happens and that you have a child that is likely to have a meltdown but at the end of the day the cabin crew will see this on a daily basis. I think gifts are very personal and not everyone may want/ like what you give them. A verbal thank you would suffice of as a pp suggested, a thank you card. But I wouldn’t recommend anymore than that.

Yes this is a good idea. They would probably appreciate the food and drink way more than creams or personal gifts. Same as you wouldn’t just rock up to catch a train with a bag of gifts for the train staff.

Of course they are. Everyone is allowed to fly as long as they can do so safely ie. sit in a seat with seatbelt on for take off and put their seat belts on if needed during turbulence etc. I don’t know what “meltdown” means and OP hasn’t given much details really about what assistance she needs so difficulty to comment isn’t it🤷🏻‍♀️

Just no.

I’m sorry you’re feeling so anxious. I get it must be really hard especially when you’ve not done this before.

but you say you’re not expecting support - but come on a forum asking for advice and you’ve asked for support from TUI.

people have given you some ideas so hope that helps. I hope the flight goes smoothly and you have a great holiday!

I regularly go through Manchester Airport with my mum who has Alzheimer’s and find their assistance staff the best of any airport we have been to. They are just lovely and endlessly patient. Have a great holiday.

Oh, it's your first flight? Then it's definitely weird and you just don't know it.

OP the cabin crew are highly unlikely to spend any meaningful time with you on a short flight to Spain. It’s 2 hours and their time is fully accounted for. Gift bags is not only unnecessary but a bit cringe and implies that you are bribing them to give you more attention than other passengers.

Ok I think maybe your anxiety is getting on top of you. Try to relax, holidays should be something to look forward to,

no you shouldn’t bother to take gift bags and people can only respond to whay you wrote which was to take gift bags to thank them as dealing with your family will be a lot, people are kindly trying to point out on a short haul flight they won’t be dealing with your family, no more than any other family. Be it the single mum travelling with 3 young kids alone, the passengers with additional needs, both physical and mental on. Not as they don’t want to, just as their time is fully accounted for.

i suspect a lot of this is due to this being your first flight, so you don’t know what to expect, but take it from me, I travel a lot for work, flying short haul is fairly similar to catching any other form of public transport.

get assistance if you need it pre and post flight, for hidden disabilities this will be a sunflower lanyard, for physical there will be wheelchairs etc,

youve done what you can, try to calm yourself down, and relax, it’s a holiday, the first time flying will feel nerve wracking, but you will soon realise it’s very simple.

and if you’re struggling at home, then do speak to a gp or social services who can support you,

It’s such a short flight, why do you think there will be a meltdown?
I don’t think gift bags are necessary or welcome.

have never heard of anyone giving the crew gifts.
Don’t do this, as others have said focus on your family and for the sake of the other passengers make sure they have headphones for their devices.

The OP had already said she wont be doing the gift bags after all. There's really no need for more posts telling her they're a bad idea, cringe worthy, whatever. She's already said she's anxious, there's no need to make her feel worse.

Well this apparently happened! https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/british-airways-cabin-crew-cannabis-sweets-b1270534.html

@ToffeePennie I can understand how anxious you must be. I’ve flown many times and still get nervous about the whole airport experience. Is there anything you want to know in particular about the practicalities of getting through an airport and flying, that posters could help with?