I just saw a post about tipping a pilot...is that customary?! I've never tipped a pilot in my life - and haven't seen any one tip a pilot as I'm exiting the plane...when and how is this done?

During the flight...just knock on the door.

Hi A,

The whole thread is a joke.

Do go read the other thread, it's hilarious!

It is not a joke.

On my last flight, the ticket was $300, and I tipped the pilot $45. He seemed angry and noted that "20% is customary."

I once tipped a pilot. He became very angry, said he preferred to remain upright.

I've heard that to tip the pilot the best thing to do is to loiter at the front galley area with cash in hand.

Although with the new regs, maybe they just want you to slip an envelope through the slot in the cockpit door.

This all started on an ancient galley ship when someone asked, "How much should I tip the drummer?"

Well the thread might be a joke but a long time ago, I got a seat on a totally booked Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu to Delhi by buying the pilot a bottle of Johnny Walker Black and bringing it into India for him. I sat in the cockpit for the flight and we became friendly with the pilot and his family and visited them on subsequent trips to Delhi. This sounds crazy but it is true..I even have a pic of myself someplace in the cockpit with the pilot's hat perched on my head.

great story ek. did the bottle arrive at the arrival airport still full?

According to this article, you might want to tip the flight attendant:

http://tinyurl.com/ja7ya

Yes, the bottle arrived full or at least I think it did. At that time it was a great status item to have on full view in one's house...

When to tip? See the sign "fasten your seat belts"? If you want it off, walk over to the cockpit with a little something in your hand.