I thought this was a myth, but I actually saw one on a flight recently:

As I was waiting to use the facilities, I notices a peice of computer printout that looked like it came off an old daisy wheel printer sitting on the counter in the galley. It had every name of every passenger on it and included mine with my status on it. Bunch of other codes as well. any idea what they were?

I'm not sure what (or why) passenger lists you think are a myth. Every airline I've ever flown with has them and yes, they do contain FF information and other codes that alert the crew to whether, for example, you paid for your ticket in Business Class or it's as a result of an upgrade (information courtesy of an on-board manager with QF). They also state whether you have a special meal request and if so, what it is. Frequent Flyers are usually only listed if they have status ie. P2, P1 or 1K as on some flights the majority of passengers would be FF and frankly the airline doesn't care if you're someone of no status (and therefore little value to them)

Why would you ever think it's a myth? It's called a "passenger manifest", and every airline uses them.

That's just the flight's manifest. They've been around since the beginning of commercial flight.

The list, or manifest, is helpful to the purser when s/he makes out the list to ask each F class pax by name what they would like to eat...

The manifests are just a part of the paperwork handled for each flight. There's a lot more, from what I've seen. Very interesting stuff....

I will say, not ever having seen the document myself, that a couple of FA's this year thanked me for being a UA FF, even though I had not attained any status at that point. I'm sure they weren't flirting with me, so perhaps there's other information there. In any event, it was nice to hear.

Pat

I've never seen that information on a United manifest before. Is it new?

AFAIK, and based on the manifests I've taken a look at, the purchased fare class / original cabin is not on there.

They do have MP status from Mileage Plus (general member) through Global Services. There is also some special meal info and connection info there as well I believe.

i have also seen things like "ceo xyz company" on the manifest. i thought it was a fluke but i saw it more than once (and also when i happened to sit next to the ceo of a well known bay area company and got curious on my way to the lav in f-there it was on the manifest "plane" as day)

I think the OP was referring to QF, which does display this information on their manifest. They show full fare/paid/op-up/miles upgrade & award ticket next to each name, and there is a hierarchy as to who gets their meal choice first as well. They also show status, as well as VIP/CIP.

On UA, yes, I agree.
Other *A status is shown too. *G BD, *S LH, etc.

Eastern Airlines used to call it the "spin list."

This info was varified by by UA purser on my flight from Nrt-SFO in Sept.No type of fare paid.
Only Status.

It would probably be fair to say that manifests have been around as long as there has been commercial transport in general. Ships were using them long before airplanes took flight.

The passenger list is part of the load manifest required under federal regulations for operators of "domestic, flag and supplemental" aircraft. see 14 CFR 121.693(e), below:

14 CFR Sec. 121.693 Load manifest: All certificate holders.

The load manifest must contain the following information concerning the loading of the airplane at takeoff time:
(a) The weight of the aircraft, fuel and oil, cargo and baggage, passengers and crewmembers.
(b) The maximum allowable weight for that flight that must not exceed the least of the following weights:
(1) Maximum allowable takeoff weight for the runway intended to be used (including corrections for altitude and gradient, and wind and temperature conditions existing at the takeoff time).
(2) Maximum takeoff weight considering anticipated fuel and oil consumption that allows compliance with applicable en route performance limitations.
(3) Maximum takeoff weight considering anticipated fuel and oil consumption that allows compliance with the maximum authorized design landing weight limitations on arrival at the destination airport.
(4) Maximum takeoff weight considering anticipated fuel and oil consumption that allows compliance with landing distance limitations on arrival at the destination and alternate airports.
(c) The total weight computed under approved procedures.
(d) Evidence that the aircraft is loaded according to an approved schedule that insures that the center of gravity is within approved limits.
(e) Names of passengers, unless such information is maintained by other means by the certificate holder.