Not only do cabin crew often speak other languages than their own, they have their own 'language' that they use onboard. However, that often overlaps into everyday life, depending on how long they've been flying. The terms are a mix of shortened words, terms that are well known in the aviation industry but also just funny names they use. It does vary between airlines, but listen out for yourself on your next flight.

10 U/S or inop

This is used when an item of equipment is not working properly or at all. It could be the beverage maker in the galley or an oxygen bottle, for example. Anything in the cabin can be marked after a flight with a label saying U/S (unserviceable) or inop (inoperative) as well as being written in the cabin defects log. The engineers will then fix or replace the item before the next flight.

9 Chix

Cabin crew often shorten words, so chicken becomes chix. You'd be surprised that many cabin crew still use this when writing a shopping list!

8 Unmin

An unmin is not a new cartoon character - it is, in fact, a child traveling alone (unaccompanied minor). Cabin crew are charged with looking after the unmin whilst onboard the aircraft, making sure that they are ok and have everything they need.

7 Ferry

Cabin crew may have a ferry, it doesn't mean a stint on a ship but means that they are operating a flight with no passengers. This might happen if an aircraft has 'gone tech,' and another aircraft is sent out to replace it.

6 Gone tech

The aircraft has some issue or is not working correctly and has to be temporarily grounded.

5 Plonky kit

This is a kit that some cabin crew used to carry around for use during the bar service (plonky coming from the slang 'plonk' meaning alcohol). It would include such items as a corkscrew, ice tongs and a service apron, and possibly a tool for making garnishes for drinks. Nowadays, these kinds of items are provided by the airline and already on the aircraft as security might identify some items as weapons. However, some crew use the term to describe their own personal kit for staying neat on the flight and may include toiletries, make-up, comb and Band-aids.

4 Honey truck

This is the name affectionately given to the truck that collects the lavatory waste at the end of the flight.

3 Galley FM

This term is used to describe gossip or rumors in the galley during slower spells. What is heard in the galley stays in the galley. Galley FM is a bit like social media - you never know if it's entirely true.

2 Codpies

Codpies are not referring to the meal onboard but the usage of the over wing exit row. The acronym makes it easier to remember when checking the exit row passengers. Passengers who cannot sit on the over wing exit row are: children, obese, deportee, passenger with reduced mobility or disabled, infants, elderly and sick or pregnant. This varies from airline to airline.

1 Delsey diner

This refers to the cabin crew and pilots who'd rather stay in their hotel room on a layover and save their allowances. They tend to bring their own food with them in their suitcase (therefore Delsey). Hence, they become known as a 'Delsey diner'.