Originally Posted by
Christopher
It is often abbreviated to "hostie".
You Aussies
love to abbreviate anything and everything and
always manage to end it in "ie"...
Originally Posted by
Christopher
The word "purser" would not be used — in ordinary speech — of the senior member of the cabin crew on a plane. (It would be used by members of the general public of the senior passenger-facing crew member of a cruise ship.) It might be used officially by airlines, although they now seem to refer to these people as "in-flight supervisors" or "senior flight attendants".
I've only ever heard it at UA and never at any other U.S. carrier.
The word "flight attendant" is both official and common usage over here (except for Pa Kettle, who probably still calls them "stewardesses") as evidenced by the captain's announcement, "Flight attendants please prepare for arrival," whereas on BA, they say, "Cabin crew, please prepare the aircraft for landing." What do they say in Oz? (I flew QF a few years ago but don't recall.)