Flight attendants have a clever way of signaling to each other if there is an attractive passenger onboard. When working in the confined space of an aircraft at cruising altitude, there is limited opportunity to discuss passengers or move around with a food trolley. This is why flight attendants use two specific code words to indicate their romantic interest discreetly.
According to an anonymous flight attendant, the use of the name “Bob” signifies a “babe on board,” while saying “cheerio” during disembarkation could indicate a secret crush. The crew often shares information about attractive passengers, going as far as providing them with special treatment and even sharing contact details on napkins.
Sherry Martin Peters, a seasoned flight attendant and the founder of Atlas and Wild, emphasizes that the reality of a flight attendant’s life is more complex than the polished image passengers see. She describes how airline jargon becomes a distinct language among crew members, with trips identified by cities rather than days, and a lifestyle that blurs time zones and normalizes traveling across continents within short periods.
Flight attendants have various codewords to discreetly communicate about passengers. These codes help them maintain a sense of connection and routine despite the constantly changing environments they work in.