The secret lingo flight attendants use
<p>Ever listened to a flight attendant at the start or beginning of a flight and wondered what expressions like, “cross-check complete” mean? Well, looks as though the secrets are going to actually leave the flight cabin for the first time ever.</p>
<p>Writing for the <a href="http://www.bbc.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">BBC</span></strong></a>, former flight attendant Beth Blair has run through some of the most important examples. Here are 10 of the best secret lingo examples:</p>
<p><strong>1. “Cross-check” and “cross-check complete”</strong></p>
<p>As part of preparation for arrival or departure, the aircraft’s doors must be engaged and ready for an evacuation. “Cross-check” means the flight attendants are checking, and “cross-check complete” means the doors are good to go.</p>
<p><strong>2. “Jump seat”</strong></p>
<p>This is the small seat flight attendants use during takeoff, landing and turbulence. As Blair notes, “When he or she stands up, the seat automatically closes, or ‘jumps’.”</p>
<p><strong>3. “Bulkhead”</strong></p>
<p>This is the dividing wall on the aircraft that separates cabin seating from the bathroom. As Blair notes, “Some passengers appreciate these rows due to the extra legroom.”</p>
<p><strong>4. “Extender”</strong></p>
<p>Larger passengers who cannot connect a standard lap belt can receive a seatbelt extension, which can actually increase the belt length by up to 60 centimetres.</p>
<p><strong>5. “Demo”</strong></p>
<p>This is the actual name for the classic pre-flight passenger safety briefing, where the flight attendants take passengers through the various safety processes.</p>
<p><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/28310/image__498x245.jpg" alt="flight lingo" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p>
<p><strong>6. “Deadhead”</strong></p>
<p>A deadhead is a crew member who is technically on duty, but flying as a passenger. This is because they’re heading home after a flight, or to another airport to catch one. As Blair notes, “If a crew member calls out sick, the airline’s crew scheduling system will ‘deadhead’ a pilot or flight attendant to the city to replace the absent employee.”</p>
<p><strong>7. “Equipment”</strong></p>
<p>In the industry, “equipment” actually refers to the aircraft. So “Equipment looks good” would mean the plane has no issues or mechanical problems holding it back.</p>
<p><strong>8. “Runners”</strong></p>
<p>A “runner” is someone coming from another flight that was late. The expression, “We’re waiting for runners”, means according to Blair, “They need to get the passengers’ bags stowed and the people seated as fast as possible so they can depart on time.”</p>
<p><strong>9. “Redeye”</strong></p>
<p>You’ve probably heard about this one before, but “redeye” refers to an overnight flight which for crew members means having to work through the graveyard shift.</p>
<p><strong>10. “Spinner”</strong></p>
<p>A spinner is a passenger who has arrived at the last moment and can’t figure out where they’re sitting. As Blair notes, “This can result in a flustered passenger standing in the aisle, spinning as they search. You may hear a flight attendant call their cohort on the intercom or announce over the PA to a crew member, ‘We have a spinner mid-cabin. Are there any seats in the back?’.”</p>
<p>Were you aware of the meaning behind all these terms? When’s the last time you took a flight? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear from you.</p>
<p><strong>Related links:</strong></p>
<p><a href="/travel/international/2016/08/7-things-never-to-do-on-a-plane/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>7 things never to do on a plane</strong></em></span></a></p>
<p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/ways-to-win-over-your-flight-attendant/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">4 clever ways to win over your flight attendant</span></em></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/things-you-can-ask-for-on-a-plane/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>10 things you didn’t know you could ask for on a plane</strong></em></span></a></p>
