The 'notable' way flight attendants show their gratitude to frequent flyers

26.07.2024 - 11:19 / thepointsguy.com / Delta Skymiles / Clint Henderson

As we were preparing to land at Orlando International Airport (MCO) during a recent Delta Air Lines flight, a friendly attendant handed me and a few other passengers a card with a handwritten thank-you note on the back. I had never received such a note, nor had I known they existed. I immediately texted my trusted co-worker and fellow frequent flyer Clint Henderson for some insight.

He told me that receiving a handwritten thank-you note from the flight attendants is rare and that I should hang on to it as a souvenir. I was already feeling lucky after my newly earned SkyMiles Silver Medalion status scored me a last-minute complimentary upgrade to Comfort+ for the two-hour flight to Orlando. But I really felt like a VIP after receiving this sweet note.

The reporter in me immediately wanted to learn more about these elusive notes. Here's what I found out.

When I asked my co-workers and TPG Lounge Facebook group members, I received dozens of responses 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 perk for flying in business- or first-class cabins.

Several people who responded said the notes they received thanked them for being an elite member. Whether they were upgraded like I was or they paid outright (using cash or miles), most also said they were sitting in a premium cabin when notes were bestowed upon them. On the day I received mine, I only saw the flight attendants handing out notes to passengers in first-class or Comfort+ seats.

Some passengers found notes waiting for them in their seats when they boarded, but others, like me, received their notes near the end of the flight. In my case, we experienced turbulence, so there was no inflight service. Though it's pure speculation, I guessed the flight attendants used the extra time to craft a few thank-you notes.

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

One flight attendant responded to the post that he prefers thanking travelers in person versus passing them a handwritten note; several flyers said they have also encountered this. One traveler who has been a Delta SkyMiles member for more than 40 years and has flown over 2 million miles shared that flight attendants occasionally stop by his seat to thank him.

Whether a note or a friendly "thank you" and a handshake, most of the people who responded said they've only received this kindness a handful of times. If you ever find yourself among them, know it's a rare treasure.

While it's nice to be recognized for your loyalty to a particular airline, that is far from the only reason a flight attendant might recognize you