Special Vocabulary for the Cabin Crews

Behind every successful cabin crew, there is a secret. Some of the cabin crews are aware of the fact that while a majority of them do not have any idea about what the secret is. They keep searching for the secret but do not get that until they are told. Actually, this is a very simple issue. If you want to be a successful cabin crew, you are to know the secrets. The secrets are nothing but the use of the special set of vocabulary. The more you will know the words, the more you will have chances to win the luck. The vocabularies are completely different for the ordinary words.

You might have heard some of them but could not understand the meaning of the words. Or the words may appear unfamiliar to you. Yes, this is correct. And it may happen to you if you do not have the prior knowledge about them. So, it is imperative to gain some ideas about the special vocabulary set. The article is intended to make you familiar with some of such vocabularies so that you can apply them in your situations during the flight.

There are some elementary jargon which are used in airlines. The words have no meaning to the passengers but a sharp ear will realise the meaning instantly and work accordingly. The words are mostly used to provide orders or suggestions to deal with any situations. The majority of the people do not notice them. There are numerous words and they have diversified meaning. But only the trained ears will be able to get them. Once you are familiar with them, you will not need to listen to them closely. Only by hearing them, you will be able to work as per the directives.


[Image source: The Independent]

Here are some basic words that may appear familiar to you or may sound mysterious but before reading this article, you were not able to comprehend the meaning of them suitably. The article will demystify the words to you. Let us begin the journey together…

Debrief:

This is a term that is usual to many but contains something special to the cabin crews. They may think it as a word to explain something. But in the world of cabin crews, it bears some other significance to them. It is actually recording everything. This may also refer to a time when everything is recorded. Before the departure of any flight, everything is recorded. The recorded things are kept for a long time. Besides, the term also refers to every records before the departure of a flight. The record might be about any lost bag, it might be about any specific passenger, or about any situation. The record may also be about any problem that appeared before the departure or anything else. But ordinarily, people will have a different meaning of the word.

Boarding pass:

As a cabin crew, you need to collect the boarding pass from the passengers. Actually, this is the part of a ticket that is issued to the passengers. They need to show it or submit it before boarding on an aircraft. The boarding pass is a must and should be shown on the plane entrance. If you do not know about the term, it would be difficult for you to manage the situation.

Airfare:

This term is meant to express the cost of travelling by airplane. The term is generally pronounced speedily and thus many of the passengers may feel strange with this one. But if they pay attention, they would be able to discover the meaning. On the other side, this is a very familiar term to the cabin crews. When they talk about the increase or decrease of the issue, it means that they are talking about the airplane ticket price.  

Demo:

This is another very familiar term in this arena. The meaning of demo is different here. It actually refers to the demonstration of the safety measures. When you are on board on an airplane, the cabin crews show what to do and what not to do during a critical situation or emergency. The act of demonstrating is known as demo. This is an extremely important task for the cabin crews, because the passengers are not aware of what to do in emergencies. So, it is an important issue to train them about the facts and the cabin crews are responsible for the training through demonstration.

Arm and cross-check:

This is another term that is usual for the cabin crews. But if you are novice here, it might be difficult for you to understand. Usually, it refers to check everything before the departure, especially all the exits. The exits are kept in emergency mode before the fly. The cabin crews are responsible to check them if everything is in position. They are to check again and again before the fly so that there are no troubles with the exits. With the cross checking part, it refers that the cabin crews will cross check the exits and emergency exits are okay. If there are any troubles, with the exits or emergency exits, they will report the issue to their higher authority. But the task is simple for the smaller aircraft and you need to cross check for a larger aircraft. Once the cross checking is done, you need to report it to the cockpit. But the meaning is different to the ordinary people.

Hold:

There are two different meaning of this term. Besides, the meanings are also a bit difficult to understand if you do not have the clear idea about the situations. Usually, the term hold refers to the area of an aircraft where the baggage is kept. The part is located on the rear side of an airplane. Simultaneously, the term also refers to an area where the airplanes circle before the landing. So, when the word is pronounced, as a cabin crew you are to understand the meaning carefully. When someone says like this, “Check the hold”, it will mean that you are being asked to check the luggage area for any specific thing. On the other side, when someone tells that the airplane is in the hold, the meaning will be different. It will then refer that the airplane is trying to land and it is circling the airport and communicating with the air traffic control authority.  

Cockpit:

This is the most important place of an aircraft. This is also known as flight deck. Usually, a cockpit houses the pilots or engineers during the flight. But the meaning is different sometimes. It may also refer to the pilots inside the cockpit. But when an ordinary individual hears the term, s/ he would be unable to comprehend the meaning. This is an unfamiliar term for them. On the other side, when a novice also hears the term, it would be difficult to sort out the meaning. In fact, the meaning of term changes based on situations. When someone says, “Is there any problem in the cockpit?” and it may refer that there might be some problems at the cockpit. But when someone will say, “Does the cockpit need anything else?” and in this case the meaning will be different. It will refer that if the pilots need something.

Hat bin:

This the term has something different in meaning. Initially it may sound that there are some bins to place your hats. But it was similar in the early days of air travel. Now the meaning of the term is not similar to the days of past. In fact, in the days of 1960s, people used to travel in airplanes not for necessity but to show exhibit their wealth mostly. It was glamorous as well to travel in airplane. Besides, it was considered as a symbol of high social status. But in these days, this is a necessity. Hat bins were placed in the 60s to preserve the hats and protect them from being crushed. But in the present day, the hat bins are used to place small bags and other accessories. Actually they are the overhead lockers in the airplanes. But the term has remained the same as before.

Hot bit:

What do you think about this? Certainly this is not an element for gossip. This has a meaning that you cannot imagine. When a cabin crew pronounces the term hot bit, it refers that this is a part of a meal and the part was in the oven. Sometimes, the cabin crews need to make the foods hot for the passengers, pilots or for themselves. So, they use this term for foods which have been in the oven for a period of time. Initially, it may sound something exciting. But if the meaning is not understood, someone may make a great mistake with the term. When someone external comes to know about the term, they may not comprehend the meaning. 

Landing lips:

Landing lips is the other amazing term that is used by the cabin crews in the industry across the world. This is a semi-professional term for applying some lipsticks before saying good bye to the passengers. In fact, during the flight, the make-ups and other necessary arrangements might not be okay. So, reapplying the lipstick for the last minute is done so that the female cabin crews get back their look. It is really necessary when you are on the job of cabin crew. Actually, the passengers will not allow someone to appear before them who is not neat and clean and without a good look. Besides, this is beyond the professional norms to appear before the passengers without a good look.

Gash bag:

The terms are appearing weird, aren’t they? This is another term for you that regularly used by the cabin crews or the insiders of an airline. When someone tells you to collect the gash bag, certainly you will feel surprised with the term if you do not have familiarity with the term. In fact, you are being asked to collect the garbage bag. This is the informal term which is used throughout the airlines around the world. If you want to work as a cabin crew, you need to be familiar with such terms. This is also an informal military term that is used inside various forces. The term is used by the cabin crews before the passengers so that they do not feel embarrassed with the issue. It may happen that many of the passengers might feel awkward when the cabin crews will speak about the garbage bins before them. This is the word that is able to prevent such issues.         

PA:

Public Announcement is often termed as PA. This is the public addressing system inside the aircraft. With the system, basically, necessary information is shared with the passengers and other crews of the aircraft when they are on the fly. Besides, the PA is also used to share the information about the arriving destinations, flight height, weather conditions or if there is any emergency. Anyone related to the aircraft cannot operate the PA. It is reserved only for the designated staffs, but the system is flexible during the emergencies. 

Plonkey Kits:

These are small bags that contain the essential elements for the cabin crews. In fact, this is a must for every cabin crews. They need to carry such small bags which will contain the necessary stuffs they might be in need during a flight. Usually the bag contains the gloves, oven gloves, mobile phone charger, brush, clothes, cream, lotion, facewash, uniforms, clippers, playing cards, shaving kit, sewing kit, first aid kits or at least few regularly used tablets and more other things. The cabin crews always carry the bag with them and use the things they carry. This is like a backup to them.   

Wagon train:

This is a familiar term to the cabin crews. This term is used when two trolleys are followed together. One of the trolleys contains the foods and beverages while the other one contains the other necessary things for the passengers. Since it looks like a train, the name has been done so. But during this time, the cabin crews need to remain aware of the movement. As there are two trolleys together, they need to move slowly. Besides, they distribute the stuff and foods and drinks among the passengers. Another unnecessary movement is disallowed at this time. 

Aisle seat:

This is the seat that is located on the side of an aisle. Such seats are useful if you have babies with you. You can walk on the aisle with the babies. But if you do not know the meaning of the word, it would be difficult to ask for such a seat. The cabin crews are familiar with the term and frequently use it to point on such seats or passengers on the seats.

To know the basics of the special vocabulary is one of the basic tasks for a cabin crew or flight attendant. To be skilled in this profession and move forward in your career, you need to apply the words to your regular activities. Besides, there are many other terms are available for the cabin crews and they will come to know about them gradually. The basics are compiled here so that they could communicate effectively with the other cabin crews or with the pilots. But when they are communicating with the passengers, they need to be polite and avoid using such terms as they (the passengers) might be unable to understand the complete meaning.

By exercising the vocabularies, someday you would be able to be a skilled cabin crew and can communicate without any hesitation. In fact, the communication gap will be reduced to a great extent.

 

Wish your success with the vocabularies in your cabin crew career.