Why OZ?
 

I've been hanging around FT for a few months now. In my years of travel and in reading the various threads, I think I've picked up on most of the jargon and abbreviations.

I'm stumped on this one: why is Australia called "OZ"? Or is it? Does it refer to one of the airport codes? I've never seen that reference anywhere buT here of FT (maybe I should get out more http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif ) but can anyone tell me where it comes from?

Just taking a guess here but I think it may be connected to the slang "Aussie" i.e. a short form of "Australian".

"Aussie", after a few cans of Fosters and VB then evolved into "Ozzie" and hence "Australia" became know as "Oz"

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

Australian's are known as Aussies. In Australian dialect, it soulds more like Ozzie, than Aussie, as Americans would pronounce it.

I assume there is a correlation there. Ozzies come from Oz...

Short answer - Australians are the world's laziest speakers of English. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

We abbreviate EVERYTHING possible to one syllable if we can.

We can't even get around to saying "Good Day". It became 'g'day'. Etc, etc. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

OZ-TRAL-IA is 3 syllables, and that is two too many for us. It is OZ.

The largest internet email provider here is called OZ email. Hence I use it. I sell stamps for a living, hence my handle. My email address surprise, surprise is [email protected]

To vainly keep this connected to a TRAVEL related thread lest it be drop-kicked into OMNI, let me add this little travel related piece.

The newest member to the Star Alliance partners are Asiana Airlines.

Do you know what the 2 letter airline code for Asiana is?

OZ

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

(How DARE they???!!!!!!!!!)

------------------
~ Glen ~

Come visit HERE the most ** FRIENDLY FORUM ** on FlyerTalk. No flame wars, no personal abuse, no substance abuse. Not much of anything really!

As posted by Ozstamps:
"Do you know what the 2 letter airline code for Asiana is?"

You are quite right. How dare they use OZ? But think of what their options were?

As to the Aussies being "the laziest speakers of English" ? Could you please tell me what the "baybugs" I ate on Hayman were?

[This message has been edited by obscure2k (edited 04-28-2003).]

Moreton Bay Bugs

Oz - right down the bottom of the page...

[This message has been edited by willyroo (edited 04-28-2003).]

My attorneys are working on this serious matter now. Ten x First Class tickets SYD-Seoul and we may drop the action. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

One wonders WHERE these zany airline codes come from at times.

We all know the 2 obvious ones for Asiana are long gone - AS (Alaskan) and AA, but where the heck does "OZ" derive from? http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...m/confused.gif

------------------
~ Glen ~

Come visit HERE the most ** FRIENDLY FORUM ** on FlyerTalk. No flame wars, no personal abuse, no substance abuse. Not much of anything really!

[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 04-28-2003).]

Maybe the same place as Oztralia, i.e., pronounced (more or less) as Oziana Airlines?

I'll be ****ed ... nobody really knows! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore...

BB

Victoria Bitters-Mmmmm...

IATA http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif