When the stewardesses talk about “Blue Juice”, “Hugo” or “Bin”, we often don’t know what they mean. Is everything okay or are there difficulties? We reveal what the most common code words on airplanes mean.
We use code words when we want to gossip with our friends about the person at the next table, to calm ourselves down in a stressful situation or to express “stop” in relationships. Certain professional groups also use a “secret language”. Have you ever wondered what the stewardesses on board your plane mean by “Baby Jesus” and other expressions? Here comes the answer.
20 common airplane code words
“Boarding completed. Ready to take off.” We can all understand that the crew wants to tell us that boarding is complete and we are ready to take off. Things get more difficult with the following terms:
- “Baby Jesus”: The constantly crying baby
- “Am”: luggage under the seats
- “Blue Juice”: Water in airplane toilets colored blue by the disinfectant
- “Bob”: Someone particularly attractive
- “Cross watch”: The stewardesses check whether all passengers are wearing seatbelts
- “Cross check”: Check whether the doors are closed properly
- “Dead Head”: Flight attendant as a passenger flying off-duty to the next location
- “Ditch”: emergency landing on water
- “Galley”: The galley
- “Holding Pattern”: “Queue” in which one circles over the target and waits for clearance to land
- “Hugo” or “Jim Wilson”: There is a dead person on board
- “Cactus”: Medical emergency (risking life)
- “Landing Lips”: Time to touch up your makeup just before landing
- “Paperwork:” Delay before departure
- “Pax”: A passenger
- “Philip”: Difficult, rude guest
- “RON” or “Terminator”: Overnight stay for the crew before moving on/back
- “Slam Clicker”: The crew member who would rather be alone in the hotel room than do anything with the others
- “Sterile cockpit”: Nobody is allowed to disturb the pilot, unnecessary conversations are limited so that one can concentrate
- “Tom Cruise”: tea and coffee position on the trolley, “T” for “Tom” for tea on the left and “C” for “Cruise” for coffee on the right
Sources used: explore.com, pointswithacrew.com, fluge.de