Sarah Steegar, a flight attendant with a majorUScarrier for the past 15 years, explains the hidden meaning behind many of the words.

 

Bidding: 'This is the monthly process of telling the airline what you'd like for your next work schedule -- a competition based on seniority.'

 

Deadhead: Everybody loves this one, but few use it correctly. It means flying as a passenger -- as a company assignment.

 

Basically, the airline needs you to be somewhere other than where you are, and you cannot or are not needed to work the flight. Best guess is it's an old theatre term.

 

Furlough: When airlines need to shrink, most don't 'lay off,' they 'furlough.'

 

If the business bounces back within a certain amount of time, the airline has to offer you your job back before they can hire new stews¹ or pilots off the street.

 

Pax: 'Passengers'.

 

Slam-click(er): When a crew member goes to the hotel and does not emerge again until it's time to leave.

 

As in: slamming the door and clicking the lock. End of story. Can be used as a noun or a verb. ('I'm so tired I'm just gonna slam-click.' or 'You won't see her for dinner. She's a slam-clicker.)'

 

Coach roach: Used wryly², usually for flight attendants who prefer working in the main/coach cabin. 'Business? No thanks. I'm a coach roach all the way, baby!'

 

Blue juice: The blue water in the toilets. Not to be confused with your bonus term, 'crew juice', a special cocktail³ to be enjoyed on the van ride to a long layover hotel, usually as a sort of sleep-aid after an all-night flight.

 

Recipes vary and may be subject to competitive secrecy⁴.

 

Crotch watch: Nickname for walking through the cabin to do a seatbelt check. Also called a 'groin scan'.

 

Landing lips: To put on 'landing lips' is to refresh one's make-up at the end of a flight.

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