Swiss International Airlines - What's a Romeo in LX Lingo?

When boarding my flight today, the gate agent told the purser that there is a HON and a Romeo on board. Are there also Juliets? And what is better? HON or Romeo? :)

Romeo = R = Booking class for business class travel by employee? :confused:

"Romeo" refers to the letter R (ICAO phonetic alphabet) and is short for WCHR which is an aviation-typical abbreviation for "Wheel chair to Ramp". The gate agent basically informed the purser that there will be two special pax - the HON and one pax who required a wheel chair (and who will probably board the airplane first).

For further information and further codes please check here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_service_request_code

Is there any reason for this code lingo?

There are about 4-5 types of WCH out there...

There are about 4-5 types of WCH out there...

And surely there are tonnes of codes with R not referring solely to ramp... The purser said something in the line of "We have a HON and a Romeo..".

Clearly it was understood (now I know) that a wheelchair user was approaching the plane but could have meant something else. So, Romeo means wheelchair approaching the plane.

Why not just say "We have a wheel chair coming our way" or must it be so mysterious when we get to the airport-airplane?

;)

"Romeo" refers to the letter R (ICAO phonetic alphabet) and is short for WCHR which is an aviation-typical abbreviation for "Wheel chair to Ramp". The gate agent basically informed the purser that there will be two special pax - the HON and one pax who required a wheel chair (and who will probably board the airplane first).

For further information and further codes please check here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_service_request_code

Thanks. In that case I prefer to stay HON :)

Gabribkk's response is correct.

WCHR = Romeo
WCHC = Charlie
WHCS = Sierra
... and so on

Why not just say "We have a wheel chair coming our way" or must it be so mysterious when we get to the airport-airplane?


It's got nothing to do with mystery. Since there are several types of wheelchair categories, saying "Romeo", "Charlie" or "Sierra" is more precise than just "wheel chair coming our way".

Just clarify some more: some WCH can walk to the jetway and sit in a wheelchair themselves, othe types may require assistance to get up and be carried down the aisle to the door etc.

Just clarify some more: some WCH can walk to the jetway and sit in a wheelchair themselves, othe types may require assistance to get up and be carried down the aisle to the door etc.

WCHR - Wheel Chair to Ramp - Pax can ascend/descend steps and make own way to/from cabin seat, but requires wheelchair for distance to/from aircraft
WCHS - Wheel Chair to top of Steps - Pax is able to walk but unable to ascend or descend stairs
WCHC - Wheel Chair in Cabin - Pax is paraplegic/quadriplegic, requires an on-board wheelchair and must be carried to/from cabin seat

courtesy of Wikipedia;)