The things crew say that mean the opposite: the polite phrases, the galley code, the purser's tone and how to translate a briefing after a year

Ryanair Stansted, number one, and Aisha wrote about the BA indirectness for the non British crew. Every airline has a version of this: the phrases that mean the opposite of what they say, that the new crew take literally and the old crew hear correctly. Here is a starter list from the Ryanair galley and the crew rooms I have been in. Add your airline's.

'Whenever you get a chance'

Means now. The number one who says 'whenever you get a chance could you do the aft galley check' means the aft galley check is late and she is being kind about it. New crew say 'sure' and carry on. Old crew put down the cup.

'You might want to think about'

Means do it. The BA version, but it is everywhere. 'You might want to think about the trolley' is 'move the trolley'. The Scandinavian crews say 'move the trolley', which is why the Nordic threads describe the culture as direct and the British threads describe it as a puzzle.

'Interesting'

Means wrong. A purser who says 'that is an interesting way to stack the cart' is going to restack it after the flight.

'We are all a bit tired'

Means you are being slow. Said by a senior to a junior at hour nine. The junior thinks it is sympathy. It is a gentle push.

'Let's just get through this sector'

Means the crew has decided something has gone wrong and nobody is going to discuss it until the ground. The junior who tries to discuss it in the galley is the one who has not learned the phrase.

'I will mention it to the cabin manager'

Means I will not, unless you do it again.

'No worries'

Means worries, at some airlines. At the Australian carriers it means no worries. Context.

'Have you flown this type recently'

Means I noticed you hesitate at the door. It is a question with a note attached.

'Great effort'

Means it did not work. The service that ran late, the sale that did not close. Great effort. Try a different way next time.

'Are you sure'

Means no. The purser who says 'are you sure you want to give him a second bottle' is not asking.

The purser's tone

The words are polite at every airline. The tone is the message. A briefing delivered fast and flat means the purser is worried about the flight. A briefing with jokes means the purser is relaxed and the sector will be easy. The crew who read the tone in year one are the ones the pursers want to fly with.

Why it exists

Because the cabin is small and the crew are stuck together for a day, and a direct order at hour nine starts an argument that nobody can leave. The code is how crew correct each other without conflict. It takes a year to learn and it is the most useful language on the aircraft.

Add yours. Especially the Gulf and Asian ones, which I hear are more elaborate.