Learn the Main Language of Flight Attendants With This Handy Glossary
If you’ve ever wondered what flight attendants mean when they say things like “prepare doors for departure” or “check completed,” this glossary explains everything you need to know.
Beth Blair, a former BBC flight attendant, has compiled a glossary of terms and phrases that flight attendants use every time they fly. Here are some prime examples:
- “Prepare doors for departure / arrival”: In order for the escape slides to work in an emergency, the flight attendants must “arm” the doors before take off. They must then be deactivated after landing so that the gate agent does not accidentally open the armed door and the bolt pops out.
- “Cross-check” and “Cross-check completed”: This means that the plane and doors have been checked twice by another flight attendant. You may hear: “The doors are delivered, the check is complete.”
- “Equipment”: This is an airplane. Thus, a phrase like “The equipment looks good” means that the aircraft and all of its components have no problems or mechanical problems. But a phrase like “We need to replace equipment” means that you will be changing planes.
- Fidget Spinner: a passenger who arrived late and did not get a seat, so he stands in the aisle and spins around looking for an empty seat. You might hear something like, “We have a spinner in the middle of the cabin.”
Now you will know what they are talking about the next time you take to the sky. And if you tend to be nervous , inquiring a little more about what’s going on around you can help reduce your anxiety. You can find the complete glossary at the link below.