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Flight attendant reveals secret code name crew use for passengers they fancy

Cabin crew members have a very important role of making sure passengers have a smooth flight - but they also have their own code words to talk about travellers

[Cabin crew member on a plane]

Your crew members will discuss passengers and the flight without you realising (Image: Getty Images/Hero Images)

A flight attendant has revealed the secret code name they use for passengers they find attractive while on board. Cabin crew staff play a crucial role in ensuring passengers have a comfortable journey, serving food and drinks to travellers.

However, when things get tough, like everyone else, they sometimes need to let off steam. To communicate with each other, they use specific language about passengers. Over time, flight attendants have developed their own set of code words.

In his 2014 book Confessions of a Qantas Flight Attendant, cabin crew member Owen Beddall spilled the beans on these secrets. He disclosed that the workers would use the term "Bob" to refer to passengers who were on board.

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But don't be fooled into thinking it's just a name to remember you by, it actually stands for "Best On Board". Other flight attendants have previously revealed that there's a game called "Cheerio" played in the cabin. One worker posted on a cabin crew forum: "There's the cheerio game you can play when passengers disembark."

[Flight attendant serving champagne to woman in first class on airplane]

Flight attendant serving champagne to woman in first class on airplane(Image: Getty Images/Caiaimage)

The worker further explained: "When you're standing there going 'bye, thank you, take care', when you see someone you fancy, you say 'cheerio'. You need to do it with a buddy and the challenge is to keep a straight face."

In the past, crew members have also shared that they use a special code to comfort scared passengers. For those who are fearful of flying, the cabin crew might use "Air Pocket" to alert each other that turbulence is expected. The term refers to turbulence but may help reassure those who find flying an anxious experience.

So the next time you hear the pilot talking about an air pocket, just know the journey might be a little bit bumpy. Plus, it's not just passengers that they like that get talked about in code.

[Young air stewardess suffering from headache on an airplane]

Young air stewardess suffering from headache on an airplane.(Image: Getty Images)

A flight attendant explained: "If you're labelled a Philip then you've done something wrong and should probably expect to get bad service for the rest of the flight. That name originated from the term PILP Passenger I'd Like to Punch but has changed over time to become slightly more subtle."

A cruise worker who has lived on huge passenger ships since she was just 19 years old claims that crew members use secret codes to get a break while onboard. Lucy Southerton, 28, from Birmingham, UK, told Daily Star: "WOFT is an acronym that stands for 'waste of f*****g time' and crew members will usually say this if they are going on an unscheduled break." She noted that they use the code to get a little time to themselves when working.

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