An anonymous British flight attendant has disclosed the covert language used by cabin crew to identify difficult passengers. Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, the air hostess revealed that the term 'precious' is used to flag individuals who are acting rudely or entitled.
The flight attendant explained: 'There are a lot of things and icks from passengers that we can overlook, but if we say the word 'precious' it generally means that they're acting like a ****.' Once labelled 'precious', the passenger is recognised throughout the crew, potentially affecting the service they receive.
Different airlines may have their own codes. In a separate interview with The Sun, another flight attendant mentioned the term 'Philip', which originated from 'PILP' – Passenger I'd Like to Punch. Being called a 'Philip' signals that a passenger has done something wrong and can expect poor service for the rest of the flight.
On a lighter note, crew members may use the word 'cheerio' instead of 'goodbye' to discreetly flirt with attractive passengers. The flight attendant noted: 'Obviously, we have to be discreet and cannot outwardly be like 'hey, you're hot', but that's a fun way to secretly flirt.'
For operational efficiency, cabin crew refer to passengers by their seat numbers using the phonetic alphabet, rather than by name. For instance, a passenger in row 50, seat D, would be called '50 Delta'. This system helps avoid confusion and gossip, ensuring smooth service.
Passengers should not be alarmed by these codes, as they are simply tools for the crew to provide the best assistance. However, if you hear yourself referred to as a 'precious Philip', it might be time to reconsider your behaviour.
