Airportisms (airport English)
Apr 20, 2004, 5:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 420
Airportisms (airport English)
OK, let's lighten things up a bit! 
Those of you who spend a lot of time in airports (that's those of you in this group) have surely heard (and Shirley may have heard, too
) the English language used in ways one does not hear in other places. Here are some of my favourite examples: (Feel free to add yours)
"B]This will serve[/B] as the final boarding call for flight 123 to East Podunk..."
Just what does that mean?
"Once again this is the final call for flight 123 to East Podunk"
If they are saying it "once again", there must have a previous "final call"". Since they are saying it again, the final call was, then, not really the final call.
In fact, the "final call" will, almost certainly, be made more than once.
All passengers on flight 123 should now be on board. This flight is now closed for boarding
To whom, exactly, is this annoucement directed?
Where else do you hear At this time we are boarding rows 20 to 25 for flight 123.
What is the matter with the perfectly good word "now"?
One more of my favorites (really heard on planes, not at airports.)
The F/A says We'd like to welcome you to East Podunk.
But then they don't.
Those of you who spend a lot of time in airports (that's those of you in this group) have surely heard (and Shirley may have heard, too
) the English language used in ways one does not hear in other places. Here are some of my favourite examples: (Feel free to add yours)"B]This will serve[/B] as the final boarding call for flight 123 to East Podunk..."
Just what does that mean?
"Once again this is the final call for flight 123 to East Podunk"
If they are saying it "once again", there must have a previous "final call"". Since they are saying it again, the final call was, then, not really the final call.
In fact, the "final call" will, almost certainly, be made more than once.
All passengers on flight 123 should now be on board. This flight is now closed for boarding
To whom, exactly, is this annoucement directed?
Where else do you hear At this time we are boarding rows 20 to 25 for flight 123.
What is the matter with the perfectly good word "now"?
One more of my favorites (really heard on planes, not at airports.)
The F/A says We'd like to welcome you to East Podunk.
But then they don't.
Apr 20, 2004, 5:42 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2003
Programs: MP, 1K 1MM
Posts: 1,255
How to make UAL 100K on the cheap
Currently UAL 100K from last year, have only flown 28K thus far for 2004.
I'll have 3 weeks of vacation to spend before 12/31/04 which is what I assume is the 100K accrual cutoff date, no?
So, with 4 days required for family in Toronto and 5 days for family on Maui,
how do I make 100K flying out of LAX, and the least expensively, at that?
I'll have 3 weeks of vacation to spend before 12/31/04 which is what I assume is the 100K accrual cutoff date, no?
So, with 4 days required for family in Toronto and 5 days for family on Maui,
how do I make 100K flying out of LAX, and the least expensively, at that?
Apr 21, 2004, 2:21 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Doylestown, PA, USA
Programs: UA Platinum Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 549
Don't know if they still do it....
But I used to love Atlanta's announcements. I lived in Fort Walton Beach and always connected there on Delta.
They used to have one that went "Unless you are in a designated area, no smoking, or holding lighted cigarettes is allowed in the airport"
Can't you see the guy standing there with a cigarette lit up, talking to the security guard saying "Hey man, they said no smoking, and I ain't smokin'"
Funny
They used to have one that went "Unless you are in a designated area, no smoking, or holding lighted cigarettes is allowed in the airport"
Can't you see the guy standing there with a cigarette lit up, talking to the security guard saying "Hey man, they said no smoking, and I ain't smokin'"
Funny
Apr 21, 2004, 3:16 pm
#7
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
Originally Posted by Dont call me Shirley
"This will serve as the final boarding call for flight 123 to East Podunk..."
Just what does that mean?
"Once again this is the final call for flight 123 to East Podunk"
If they are saying it "once again", there must have a previous "final call"". Since they are saying it again, the final call was, then, not really the final call.
In fact, the "final call" will, almost certainly, be made more than once.
All passengers on flight 123 should now be on board. This flight is now closed for boarding
To whom, exactly, is this annoucement directed?
Just what does that mean?
"Once again this is the final call for flight 123 to East Podunk"
If they are saying it "once again", there must have a previous "final call"". Since they are saying it again, the final call was, then, not really the final call.
In fact, the "final call" will, almost certainly, be made more than once.
All passengers on flight 123 should now be on board. This flight is now closed for boarding
To whom, exactly, is this annoucement directed?
Apr 22, 2004, 9:53 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: UA Premier 1K: PlAAtinum; DL SM, MM; Marriott Gold; CO Plat Emeritus; NW Plat Emeritus
Posts: 4,776
"We will be landing shortly" (umm... sooon?)
"Now boarding through the doorway marked X" (umm... through doorway X? Or gate X?)
"Now boarding through the doorway marked X" (umm... through doorway X? Or gate X?)
Apr 22, 2004, 12:02 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2003
Programs: former MD-88 jumpseat Medallion. DL FO, AA PLT PRO. Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 752
Then the pilot's gotta get on the radio and give you his whole spiel about what he's gonna do...and here's how he's gonna do it. "I'm gonna take it up to 20,000. Then I'm gonna make a left by Chicago. Then I'm gonna go south..." And we're all sitting in the back going, "Yeah...fine. do whatever you gotta do, I dont know what the hell is going on up there!" Just, end up where it says on the ticket, okay?
Do I come up to the cockpit in the middle of the flight and knock on the door? "I'm having the peanuts now."
~Seinfeld
Do I come up to the cockpit in the middle of the flight and knock on the door? "I'm having the peanuts now."
~Seinfeld
Apr 22, 2004, 12:06 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: SJC, SFO, NYC
Programs: 1K, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 1,030
Boarding pass
My favorite... "A boarding pass is now required to enter the secure area." (PIT airport)
The announcement is made in the gate area - presumably, everybody there has a boarding pass - how else could they be sitting at the gate?
The announcement is made in the gate area - presumably, everybody there has a boarding pass - how else could they be sitting at the gate?
Apr 22, 2004, 12:48 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: BNE
Posts: 2,622
At LGW, BA seemed to cancel their Newquay service virtually every other day.
This was frequently accompanied by the following announcement:
"Would all passengers travelling to Newquay on the cancelled BA flight xxx please present their boarding passes at the flight information desk to receive their food + beverage voucher".
How the hell it is possible for anybody to travel on a cancelled service???
This was frequently accompanied by the following announcement:
"Would all passengers travelling to Newquay on the cancelled BA flight xxx please present their boarding passes at the flight information desk to receive their food + beverage voucher".
How the hell it is possible for anybody to travel on a cancelled service???