| A | B |
|---|
| "A" Flight Attendant | The flight attendant assigned to the forward one-third of the cabin - "A" is responsible for making public announcements, conduction compliance checks, and communicating with the pilots, operations and scheduling. |
| "B" Flight Attendant | The flight attendant assigned to the aft one-third of the cabin. "B" is responsible for setting up the aft galley for service and liquor inventory. |
| "C" Flight Attendant | The "C" flight attendant is assigned to the mid one-third of the cabin. "C" is responsible for checking emergency equipment, exit-seat compliance, and snack service setup. |
| "D" Flight Attendant | "D" Flight attendant (737-800 Aircraft only) The flight attendant assigned to the mid-aft one-fourth of the cabin. |
| A/C | Aircraft - Plural is also aircraft |
| A/C Left | The left side of the aircraft, facing forward - Also referred to as the Captain's side of the aircraft. |
| A/C Right | The right side of the aircraft, facing forward. Also referred to as the First Officer's side of the aircraft. |
| Able-Bodied Assistant (ABA) | A passenger selected by flight attendants to assist in an emergency or security situation |
| Aft | The back portion of the aircraft, towards the tail |
| Airstairs | Portable stairs used to board or deplane customers if a jetbridge is not available |
| APU | Auxillary Power Unit - A small gas turbine engine in the tail of the aircraft that provides power to aircraft systems while on the ground |
| ATC | Air Traffic Control |
| Automated External Defibrillator (AED) | A lifesaving piece of emergency equipment that delivers a shock to the heart in cardiac arrest. |
| Base | Also referred to as a domicile. A Southwest city where flight attendants and pilots begin and end their scheduled work assignments. |
| Base Manager | The inflight services employees who are responsible for overseeing a bsae's operation |
| Cabin | The passenger compartment of the aircraft |
| Cabin Experience | The level of customer service provided to a Southwest customer from the time they board the aircraft until they deplane at their destination. |
| Cabin Services | The employee gourp that jointly deals with inflight services and provisioning. |
| Captain (Capt, Sometimes CAPT or CA) | The pilot who sits in the left flight deck seat. The Captain is the pilot in command and is identified by four stripes on his jacket cuff or epaulets. |
| Charter | An aircraft that has been hired by a private group or the government to operate a non-scheduled flight |
| CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) | It is a peer support program assisting crew members after stressful events |
| CRO Compliant Resolution Official | A specifically trained ground operations employee who is available to assist with issues involving customers with disabilities |
| COS Customer of Size | A customer who requires more than one seat for comfort and safety |
| Crew Scheduling | The inflight services department responsible for ensuring all Southwest flights are staffed with the required number of flight attendants |
| CRS | Child Restraint System. Car seats or other approved devices used onboard to safely secure young children in their seats |
| CS&S | Customer Support & Services - The employee group responsible for making telephone reservations and answering customer questions |
| Culture | How we work at Southwest, based on one simple: follow the Golden Rule - Work hard and celebrate successes! |
| Customer Service Agent (CSA) | A ground operations employee who provides assistance to customers in the terminal. CSA's sell tickets, issue boarding passes, check baggage, and provide flight information. CSA's may work at the ticket counter, gate podiums, or baggage claim |
| Customer Service Supervisor (CSS) | A ground operations leader who can assist with irregular situations. CSS's are available to help resolve customer conflicts or accomodate customers in the event of delays or cancellations. |
| CWA Crew Web Access | The web based flight attendant scheduling program accessed through SWALife. Flight attendants check in for pairings and keep track of their schedules using CWA |
| D/H Deadhead | A crew member may be flown or "deadheaded" from one station to the next as a passenger in order to begin or continue pairing as a working crew member. Deadhead crew members are considered "on duty" |
| DOT | Department of Transportation |
| EAP Employee Assistance Program | Southwests mental health and well-being program |
| EMK Emergency Medical Kit | A kit containing medications used to treat illnesses |
| Entry Door | Doors on aircraft left, used for customer boarding and deplaning |
| Escape Slide | A self inflating ramp that provides a means of rapid egress from the cabin in an emergency |
| ETA | Estimated Time of Arrival |
| ETD | Estimated Time of Departure |
| Exit Seat | A seat on the aircraft that has direct access to an exit without having to enter the aisle. There are certain restrictions on which customers may sit in exit seats. |
| F/A or FA | Flight Attendant |
| FAA | Federal Aviation Administration |
| FAM | Federal Air Marshal - A Department of Homeland Security employee responsible for preventing hijackings. |
| FAR | Federal Aviation Regulation |
| Ferry | An aircraft flown from one station to the next with no revenue passengers on board |
| FFDO | Federal Flight Deck Officer - A Pilot with specialized training who is permitted to carry a firearm when working as Captain or First Officer |
| FAK First Aid Kit | A kit containing supllies like bandages used to treat injuries |
| First Officer F/O or FO | The Pilot who sits in the right flight deck seat. The first officer is second-in-command and assuems PIC responsibilities in the absence of the Captain. Identified by three stripes on the jacket cuff or epaulets. |
| Flight Deck | The control department where pilots operate the aircraft. |
| FTR Failure to Report | A flight attendant who misses their trip sign - in report time, but who could make the departure time. |
| FWD | Forward - Towards the nose of the aircraft |
| Galley | Areas on the aircraft forward and aft of the cabin that provide storage and worksapce for inflight beverage and snack service |
| Ground Operations | The employee group responsible for the customer experience at the airport. This group includes operations agents, ramp agents, customer service agents and Skycaps. |
| GSA Ground Security Coordinator | A ground operations employee responsible for coordinating the response to security threats while the aircraft is at the gate or on the ground |
| Hazmat - Hazardous Materials | Chemicals or other substances that may pose a risk to health or safety when transported |
| HHD Hand Held Device | A wireless credit card reader used by flight attendants to inventory and collect payment for beverages purchased on board |
| Inflight Services | The employee group that deals directly with the flight attendant job function. Part of the cabin services group |
| Inflight Supervisor | The inflight services employees assigned to a base to assist flight attendants and evaluate their job performance |
| Irregular Operation | Any flight that operates in a manner that may negatively impact our customers, irregular ops include delays, cancellations, emergencies, security threats, diversions etc... |
| Irregularity Report (IR) | An electronic report submitted by flight attendants providing details and explanations for irregular operations or events. |
| ISC Inflight Security Coordinator | The Captain, who is responsible for coordinating the response to security threats while the aircraft is airborne. |
| Jetbridge | The tunnel like structure that connects the airport terminal to the aircraft. Used to board and deplane customers |
| LAV | Lavatory - The restrooms on the aircraft |
| LEO | Law Enforcement Officer - A traveler who is permitted to carry a firearm onboard the aircraft. |
| LRBL Least Risk Bomb Location | A designated area of the aircraft where explosives can be positioned in order to minimize damage to the aircraft if detonated |
| LUV | Southwest Airlines stock ticker symbol. Also our preferred spelling of "Love" |
| LUV Jet | The nickname for a Southwest Airlines Aircraft |
| MBL Might be late | A flight attendant who alerts crew scheduling that they will miss their scheduled check in time but arrive at the airport before their scheduled flight departs |
| MX | Maintenance |
| N/S | No Show A flight attendant who misses a scheduled check in |
| NRSA | Non-revenue Space Available - Travel without charge if a seat is a available on the flight |
| OHB | Overhead Bins - Enclosed Storage Compartments in the passenger cabin running along the cabin walls over the passenger seats |
| Operations (Ops) Agent | A ground operations employee who is responsible for the unloading and loading of an aircraft. Operations agents screen and board customers, coordinate baggage and cargo loading, compute weights and balances calculations, and ensure the aircraft is secure while at the gate |
| Ops | Operations |
| Outstation | A city served by Southwest with no crew base or provisioning station. Basic cabin services, like trash removal and ice are provided. |
| OWWE | Overwing Window Exit - Hatches on either side of the aircraft above the wing that are used for emergency evacuations |
| PA | Public Announcement |
| Pairing | Also referred to as a trip - A scheduled sequence of flights assinged to flight attendants to work |
| PAWS | Pets are Welcome on Southwest - Southwest program accepting small dogs and cats for transport in the cabin. |
| PAX | Passenger Southwest prefers to use the term customer when possible |
| PED | Portable Electronic Device Any device which runs on battery like a cell phone, laptop, media player etc... |
| PIC (Pilot in Command) | The pilot who is directly responsible for and is the final authority as to the operation of the aircraft. This is the Captain. In the Captain's absence, the first officer is PIC |
| POB (Portable Oxygen Bottle) | A bottle of compressed gaseous oxygen with an attached mask that can be used by flight attendants during a medical emergency or following a decompression. |
| Probation | For flight attendants, a 6 month period following the hire date during which the emplyees leaders evaluate performances and provide mentoring to ensure he/she is a good fit for the position and company |
| PBE/Smoke Hood (Protective Breathing Equipment) | An enclosed hood that provides breathable atmosphere to enable flight attendants to workin the presence of smoke or flumes |
| Provisioning | The employee group that directly deals with the provisioning agent job function. A part of the cabin services group |
| Provisioning (Provo) Agent | The employee responsible for stocking galley supplies, removing trash and recyclables and cleaning the lavatory and galley floors at provisioning stations |
| Provisioning Station | Also called a Provisioning location. Cities served by Southwest that support a warehouse and have prvisioning agents who fully stock the aircraft. |
| PSU (Passenger Services Unit) | A panel fitted over passenger seats containing air vents, reading lights, flight attendant call buttons, and emergency oxygen masks |
| PTK (Passenger Transfer Kit) | A sling and sliding board used to assist moving customers with disabilities from wheelchairs to the aircraft seat. |
| RT or R/T Recurrent Training | Required annual training fligt attendants must attend to remain qualified to fly |
| Ramp Agent or Ramper | A ground operations employee responsible for servicing the aircraft at the gate. Ramp agents marshal aircraft into and out of the gate area, load and unload baggage and cargo, fuel the aircraft, and service lavatories. At outstations, ramp agents remove trash and stock ice onboard |
| RBF (Read Before Fly) | Briefing Memos flight attendants are required to read before reporting to the aircraft for duty |
| Reserve | A block on one, two or three days in which a flight attendant is on call to work pairing as needed. |
| RON (Remain Overnight) | Time away from base at non-base cities scheduled for flight attendants working multi-day pairings. Also refers to aircraft parked at the airport overnight. |
| Southwet SPIRIT | Our employees desire to go above and beyond to meet operational challenges and provide the best customer service while having fun. |
| SWA | Southwest Arilines |
| SWALife | Southwest's Employee website which provides company news and information. CWA is accessed through SWALife |
| Sweeper | A ground operations employee asssigned to assist with unaccompanied minors. |
| three-day | A scheduled pairing with two-overnights |
| TSA | Transportation Security Administration. The government departmnet responsible for Passenger screening and airport/aircraft security |
| Turn | A scheduled pairing with no overnights. A turn originates and returns to the base in the same day |
| Two -Day | A scheduled pairing with one overnight |
| TWU Transport Workers Union | The union representing Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants. The local chapter for SWA Flight Attendants is 556 |
| UM | Unaccompanied Minor, Children between the ages of 5 through 11 traveling alone |
| UTC | Unavailable to Contact - A flight attendant who misses and does not return a call to crew scheduling. |
| YT (Young Traveler) | A passenger age 12 -17 traveling alone. They may need extra assistance, but are not classified as unaccompanied minors |
| WN | Southwest Airlines International Air Transportation Association code |
| WX | Weather |
