I Worked for Emirates – These Are the Secret Codes Crew Use for Passengers They Think Are Attractive… and Irritating
Jay Robert, a senior cabin crew member for Emirates has spilled the beans on the secret language of flight attendants.
He has shared the playful nicknames they use fr passengers they find irritating, attractive and more.
Jay told the Mail Online: “When you’re confined to a plane for long hours, boredom kicks in, prompting many crew members to tune into what we call CCFM, or cabin crew radio, for the latest gossip from the aisles.”
If you ever hear the crew refer to you as an HOB, you should take it as a compliment.
The acronym stands for ‘Hotty On Board’ – indicating that you have caught the eye of the flight attendants for your looks.
On the flip side, being dubbed a VIP does not mean that you are a ‘very important person’.
Instead, the cheeky nickname stands for ‘Very Irritating Person’ suggesting that you might be causing a stir in the cabin.
But there are more codes that go beyond attractions and annoying people.
ABP, which officially stands for ‘Able Bodied Passenger’ is used to identify passengers who could assist in case of an emergency.
Jay explained: “Crew unofficially use this code to describe a passenger they are attracted to and think is fit and able-bodied.
“BOB can also mean Babe On Board – another flirty abbreviation that some flight attendants will use to inform each other who they’re secretly crushing on.”
SVML or ‘Suddenly Vegetarian Meal’ refers to a person who suddenly claims to be a vegetarian to get a different meal.
POS describes a ‘Passenger Of Size’ which is someone who requires an extension seatbelt.
And the term ‘mermaid’ is refers to ‘a passenger who lays across empty seats to prevent others from sitting in their row’.
Mr Robert also shared that flight attendants use acronyms for Special Services Requests to handle sensitive situations.
He said: “Specific SSR codes serve as a discreet way for airline staff to handle sensitive situations regarding passengers’ privacy.”
DEPA or DEPU is discreetly used to say that a passenger is being deported.
And INAD is used for an individual that has been denied entry to a country.
Jay continued: “Other common SSR codes you might hear used on a plane are UM (a child travelling alone), MEDA (a medical case), DPAX (disruptive passenger), DND (Do Not Disturb), EBL (Eat Before Landing) and CIP – to signify that a person is of commercial importance to the airline.”
So the next time you are flying, it might be worth listening closely to the cabin crew to catch a glimpse of their secret language.
