Secret codeword flight attendants use for attractive passengers

Airline crew members are notorious for having their own secret codes that fly completely over passengers' heads, like the mysterious 'Coke or stroke' phrase. And now, we're being let into a particular 'code' they use to identify 'attractive' passengers.

Thanks to the internet and interviews with flight staff, we're finally learning what these cryptic phrases actually mean. The latest revelation is a specific code cabin crew use to discreetly alert each other when there's an attractive passenger on board.

It's a single word that you'll probably listen out for next time you're on a flight.

You don't want to be labelled a 'Philip'. (KoldoyChris/Getty)

Two flight attendants recently spilt insider secrets to eShores, with one anonymous crew member confirming that yes, they absolutely do gossip about passengers during flights.

"If you hear them refer to someone as 'Bob,' they are using the secret acronym 'babe on board,'" the flight attendant revealed.

But that's not the only flirty signal to watch for.

"When you are disembarking from the aircraft, if the flight attendant says 'cheerio' to you this could also be code they have a secret crush!" they added.

The flight attendant got even more specific about what happens when cabin crew identify an attractive passenger.

"We always run back to the galley and let the rest of the crew know where the sexy passenger is sat," they explained. "We will be extra nice to them and give them freebies. I can confirm phone numbers have definitely been written on napkins!"

So if you're getting unusually attentive service and extra snacks on your next flight, you might be a "Bob" without even knowing it.

If you're getting extra snacks on your flight, you might be a 'Bob.' (Me 3645 Studio/Getty)

Another code is 'mermaid' which is a passive-aggressive nickname for a passenger who sprawls out across empty seats to prevent others from sitting in their row.

Meanwhile, if you overhear yourself being called a VIP by flight attendants, don't get too excited.

A cabin crew expert previously explained that among flight staff, VIP actually stands for 'Very Irritating Person,' so it's decidedly not the impressive title you might assume.

But it's not all bad, as some flight attendants on social media have revealed details about some flight hacks you'd do well to know about. Air hostess Cierra Mistt uses her TikTok videos to share tips on how to fly first class for free, while others share common mistakes people make when booking flights.

Similarly, 'Philip' is a code you definitely don't want to hear applied to you.

"If you're labelled a 'Philip,' then you've done something wrong and should probably expect to get bad service for the rest of the flight," one flight attendant told The Sun. "That name originated from the term PILP - Passenger I’d Like to Punch - but has changed over time to become slightly more subtle."