How do pilots and flight attendants celebrate the holidays when they have to work?

The holiday season is a time for family gatherings, and many travelers return to their hometowns to reunite with loved ones. However, some prefer to ring in the New Year in a paradise or celebrate in some ski resort with grapes in hand during ski season. That said, while most people enjoy the festivities, many pilots and flight attendants are working during the holidays. Let's discover how they celebrate while in the air.

Air routes don't recognize New Year's Eve, Christmas, or New Year's Day, and flights continue to depart; in fact, frequencies increase to meet the growing demand. According to the Statista data portal, a global data and business intelligence platform, in 2022, residents of Spain made around 8.7 million holiday trips during Christmas.

Generally speaking, while flight frequencies increase during the holiday season, there are usually fewer flights during key moments (Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas lunch, New Year's Eve, or New Year's Day), but there are always pilots and flight attendants who have to work.

Almost all airlines offer special menus to celebrate the holidays at 12,000 feet in the air, and although it's true that the kitchens or catering services of different airlines prepare these meals with special care, they can never surpass an intense family meal (brother-in-law included).

Christmas is celebrated very differently depending on where you were born and family traditions. The same goes for airlines, as some stand out for having a beautiful Christmas spirit. Years ago, for example, the now-defunct Air Berlin decorated its planes with special motifs, from Santa hats to decorated trees.

Airports also become much cozier, and in places where Christmas is celebrated, there is always a tree or a nativity scene decorating the terminals. Shops and duty-free businesses also get festive, and travelers can find tinsel and other types of Christmas decorations to brighten their wait.

Pilots and flight attendants spend these holidays away from their families, and yet they must show their best selves. For this reason, it is common for passengers to hear special greeting messages through the plane's PA system as soon as they board.

It is also common for passengers to receive small tokens, such as a Santa hat, Christmas-themed headbands, or a necklace made of tinsel. Both flight attendants and pilots (depending on the airline) customize their outfits with something that reminds them of the holiday season.

In addition to the special menus we have already mentioned, it is common for pilots, flight attendants, and passengers to enjoy some Christmas treats during the flight. Nougat, marzipan, and even a slice of Roscón de Reyes when the New Year starts.

One of the most notable days on the Christmas calendar is New Year's Eve, the moment to welcome the New Year. And that should be celebrated, even at 30,000 feet. The problem is that on transatlantic flights, passengers pass through different time zones and can end up somewhat confused.

The solution, however, is quite simple, as pilots follow GMT time and they decide, based on the departure or arrival point's time, when to officially end the year.

Both passengers and crew members become a big family when it comes to saying goodbye to the year. A few minutes before the countdown begins, the crew distributes champagne glasses among the passengers for a toast, and generally, the captain becomes the presenter of the countdown.

What is not usual is to consume the 12 grapes that we eat in Spain, as this is a 'typically Spanish' tradition. However, if the crew is Spanish, they will likely have arranged grapes for the passengers.

In short, pilots, flight attendants, and travelers become one big family celebrating the most special holidays at 30,000 feet. Although it's not easy to be away from loved ones during these notable dates, flying over the holiday season is undoubtedly a unique experience.