Inside secret cabin crew lingo and how to tell if your flight attendant might actually be insulting you
IF you’ve ever heard a flight attendant say something you don’t understand, they’re probably talking in secret code.
Cabin crew tend to use their own language on the job – and may be insulting you in the process.
An anonymous Qatar Airways air hostess called ‘Anna’ spoke to MSN and gave a breakdown of the terms used onboard.
Pax
Pax means passengers.
Used in a sentence, it may be: “We have 20 pax on board.”
If the term ‘payload’ is used with pax, it translates to the combined weight of passengers and cargo.
Gate lice
This lingo may offend those who like to make sure they’re one of the first to board the plane.
The term refers to over-eager passengers who gather around the gate before boarding has even been announced.
Briefing
If you hear this, it means crew may be meeting for the first time and discuss the flight ahead.
Anna said: “We discuss flying time and flight level, country and airport requirements for passenger and crew service.
“Supervisors ask safety and first aid questions from the cabin crew, to ensure their knowledge is up-to-date.
“We also discuss the number of children on board, frequent flyers, passengers who require assistance and any kids travelling alone.”
ABP
ABP translates to ‘able bodied passengers’.
These are individuals that the crew seek out just in case of an emergency.
Crew may look for any person who is physically strong and able to follow instructions – like policemen or military personnel.
Runners
Runners are those who sprint from one connecting flight to another because their first flight was late.
It usually costs airlines thousands of pounds to delay a flight so despite the warning, the plane may still leave without the runners.
Spinner
This term relates to somebody who turns up late without an assigned seat.
Crew dubbed them ‘spinners’ as they usually look flustered as they search for a seat and space in the overhead lockers.
Sin bin
We may have all been stuck on a plane as we watch others take off.
This is known as the ‘sin bin’ which is the area the plan has to wait in to allow room for another aircraft to pass through.
Blue juice
The odd term refers to the liquid used to flush the contents of the plane loo.
This bizarre liquid gets refilled by cabin crew.
Crotch watch
This hilarious lingo is what crew do to check you have got your seat belt fastened before takeoff and landing.
