Abbreviations & Explanations

*
  • *A: Star Alliance (UA, LH, NZ etc.)
  • *O: oneworld Alliance (QF, AA, BA, CX etc.)
  • *S: Skyteam Alliance (DL, AF etc.)
oneworld
  • *O: "oneworld"
  • *E: oneworld Emerald (QF WP, AA EXP, CX Diamond, BAEC Gold etc.)
  • *S: (oneworld context) oneworld Sapphire (QF SG, AA Plat, BAEC Silver, etc.)
  • *R oneworld ruby (QF PS, AA Gold, AEC Silver, etc.)
Star Alliance
  • *A: "Star Alliance"
  • *G: Star Alliance Gold (NZ *E/*G etc. ...)
  • *S: (Star Alliance context) Star Alliance Silver (NZ *S etc.)
A
  • A: Discounted First booking class (see also F)
  • AA: American Airlines (see also LOC)
  • AC: Air Canada
  • ADL: Adelaide airport
  • AF: Air France
  • AFAIK: "As Far As I Know"
  • AFF: Australian Frequent Flyer forum - a.k.a. THIS forum.
  • AKL: Auckland airport
  • ALTEA: An Amadeus product to assist in the planning/loading of Passenger Flights
  • AM: Aeromexico
  • AMADEUS: A GDS - Qantas use this as their booking system.
  • AOC: Air Operator’s Certificate (see also OC)
  • AONE4: A (First) ONE (OneWorld Explorer) 4 (4 Continents)
  • APEX: Advance Purchase Excursion fares, usually the lowest available.
  • AS: Alaska Airlines
  • ASA/ASR: Qantas Frequent Flyer "Any Seat Awards/Rewards" - QFF Point redemption bookings that earn QFF points and SC's
  • ATC: Air Traffic Control
  • AVML: Asian vegetarian meal
  • AVOD: Audio Visual On Demand
  • AY: Finnair
  • AZ: ITA Airways
B
  • B6: JetBlue Airways
  • BA: British Airways
  • BFOD: Best Fare of The Day - Cheapest fare that is available at the time of booking [could be any carrier]
  • BiB: "Butt in Bed" e.g. I earned my Hotel status through BIB stays, I was not Comped!
  • BiS: "Butt in Seat" e.g. BIS miles = actual miles flown, excluding bonuses.
  • BNE: Brisbane airport
  • BR: EVA Airways
  • BTW: "By The Way"
  • BUTI: "Booking under the "influence" (Seemed like a good idea at the time .., Hic!.)
C
  • CA: Air China
  • CASA: Civil Aviation Safety Authority (a.k.a. CAA)
  • CBR: Canberra airport
  • CC: Credit Card
  • CI: China Airlines
  • CIP: Commercially Important Passenger
  • CIR: Circle Pacific fare
  • CL: Chairman’s Lounge – QF’s highest member tier/ lounge (also QFCL).
  • CLPO: Chairmans Lounge Platinum One [Cabin Crew Parlance]
  • CNS: Cairns airport
  • Comped: Being granted extra-ordinary elite status without achieving normal set criteria.
  • CR: Classic Reward
  • CS: Customer Service. Add an "A" for Agent, "M" for Manager or "R" for Rep.
  • CX: Cathay Pacific Airways
  • CZ: China Southern Airlines
D
  • D: Discounted Business booking class (see also J)
  • DL: Delta Air Lines
  • DONE4: D (Business class) ONE (OneWorld Explorer) 4 (4 Continents)
  • DRW: Darwin Airport
  • DVT: Deep Vein Thrombosis
  • DYKWIA: "Do/Don't You Know Who I Am"? (Generally arrogant in context)
E
  • EI: Aer Lingus
  • EL: Executive Lounge (Generally found in upmarket hotels)
  • Enhancement: Used to describe a change by an airline that removes/degrades advantages or benefits previously available
  • EQM: Elite Qualifying Miles - see also "Q Miles".
  • ETA: Electronic Travel Authority
  • ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival
  • EXP: Executive Platinum on American AAdvantage.
F
  • F: Full-fare First booking class OR generic First (see also A)
  • F/O: First Officer, a.k.a. Co-Pilot
  • FA: Flight Attendant
  • FAA: Federal Aviation Administration
  • FF: Frequent Flyer
  • FFP: Frequent Flyer Program
  • FI: Icelandair
  • FIM: Flight Interrupt Manifest - Instrument between carriers to pay for a seat on another airline in the case of IRROPS
  • FL¹: AA Flagship Lounge
  • FL²: First Class lounge (general)
  • Flounge: First Class Lounge
  • Flounging: Using/Enjoying the benefits of a first class airline lounge
  • FOC¹: Free of Charge
  • FT: Abbreviation for FlyerTalk at FlyerTalk - The world's most popular frequent flyer community
  • FTers: FlyerTalkers -- all members who participate in FlyerTalk forums.
  • FWIW: "For What It's Worth"
G
  • GDS: "Global Distribution System" - Major CRS operation that books and sells tickets for airlines
H
  • HA: Hawaiian Airlines
  • HBA: Hobart airport
  • HH: Hilton Honors - the Hilton frequent stay program
  • HIP: Higher Intermediate Point
  • HLO: Hand Luggage Only (Preferred method of many Frequent Flyers)
  • HUACA: Hang Up and Call Again - If you're not getting what you want from a Telephone Agent, politely end the call and redial.
  • HVC: "High Value Customer" - Term used by ailines to indicate those they make the most nett revenue from.
I
  • I: Deep discount (heavily restricted) business booking class (see also J, D) (NB: I represents other classes/ codes too e.g. *A business award & upgrade booking code)
  • IANAL: I am Not a Lawyer (Disclaimer, generally placed before "But, <legal stuff>"
  • IATA: International Air Transport Association
  • IB: Iberia
  • ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organisation
  • IFE: In Flight Entertainment (also AVOD IFE)
  • IHG: Intercontinental Hotels Group (See PC)
  • IIRC: "If I Recall Correctly"
  • ILS: Instrument Landing System (bad weather)
  • IME: In My Experience
  • IMO: "In My Opinion" or
  • IMHO -- "In My Humble/Honest Opinion"
  • INSPass: A pass allowing expedited passage - US Customs/ Immigration.
  • ISTR: "I seem to recall/remember"
  • IVML: Indian vegetarian meal
J
  • J: Full-fare Business booking class OR generic Business (see also D)
  • JASA: Qantas Frequent Flyer "Any Seat Award" in Business class (earns SC's)
  • JL: Japan Airlines
  • JQ: Jetstar
  • JQi: Jet Star International
K
  • KE: Korean Air
  • KL: KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines
  • KUPP: "Instant Upgrade" fare available in the USA. "Economy" fare that books into First/Business class. (See HUPP/YUPP)
  • KVML: Kosher vegetarian meal
L
  • LA: LATAM Airlines
  • LAG(
  • S): Liquid(s), Aerosol(s) and Gel(s) - Pertains to travel restrictions
  • LCC: Low Cost Carrier
  • LH: Lufthansa
  • LMAO: "Laughing My @rse Off"
  • LM: Lifemiles (Avianca Frequent Flyer Scheme [good for reasonable priced mile purchase for *A award redemptions])
  • LO: Lot Polish Airlines
  • LOL: "Laugh(ing) Out Loud"
  • LOTFAP: Land Of The Free And Paranoid a.k.a. The U.S.A.
  • LX: Swiss International Air Lines
  • LY: El Al Israel Airlines
M
  • MASA: Qantas term for Marginal Any Seat award (Includes JASA, FASA, WASA and YASA)
  • MCT: Minimum Connection Time
  • MEL: Melbourne airport
  • MH: Malaysia Airlines
  • MHC: Mile High Club
  • MPM: Maximum Permitted Mileage (e.g. RTW fares have MPM limits).
  • MR¹: Mileage Run, extended flight trip/segments to increase one's FF Miles/Status
  • MR²: Mattress Run, multiple stays at hotels to increase one's Hotel Elite Status
  • MS: Egyptair
  • MSC: Most Significant Carrier-Checked luggage allowance for multi carrier trip - IATA Res.302
  • MU: China Eastern Airlines
N
  • NB: "Nuthin/Noob" Bronze – A Bronze member of QFs FF program (also QFNB).
  • NH: All Nippon Airways, also known as ANA.
  • NRSA: Non-revenue space available e.g. unpaid airline staff travel.
  • NZ: Air New Zealand
O
  • O&D: Origin & Destination
  • ODU: On Departure Upgrade - available in QP's for Qantas Domestic flights on eligible fares
  • OLCI: On-Line Check In
  • OMG: Oh My God e.g. OMG o'clock = very very early.
  • ONE: OneWorld Explorer fare (also OWE)
  • O/W: One way
  • OW: One World alliance – Qantas, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, AA etc.
  • OWE: OneWorld Explorer fare (also ONE)
  • OOL: Gold Coast (cOOLongatta) airport
  • OP¹: Original Post - first post of a thread.
  • OP²: Original Poster - the person who started the thread.
  • Op-up: Short for operational upgrade or Bump.
  • OS¹: Austrian Airlines
  • OT: "Off Topic"
  • OTTOMH: "Off the top of my head"
  • OZ¹: Asiana Airlines
  • Oz/OZ²: Ozstralia!
P
  • P1: Platinum One (the top status with Qantas)
  • PAX: Short for passenger(s). See also SLF.
  • PCV: "Perceived Customer Value" a figure calculated by Airlines to prioritise passengers.
  • PER: Perth Airport
  • PNR: Passenger Name Record, used as a reference to a specific reservation.
  • POTUS: President Of The United States of America
  • PP: Priority Pass - Paid Airport Lounge access scheme, not Aligned with any Airline
  • PR: Philippine Airlines
  • PS: "Plebian" Silver – A Silver member of QFs FF program (also QFPS).
  • PUTI: Posting under the "influence" (can result in less rational posts than normal - Hic!)
Q
  • Q MILES: Qualifying miles counting towards Elite status - also EQM.
  • QC: Qantas Club (see also QP) or Quick Check-in.
  • QF: Qantas Airways
  • QFCL: Qantas CL member (with access to QF’s Choice Liquor).
  • QFF: Qantas Frequent Flyer Program
  • QFWP: Qantas "W*nker" Platinum - A platinum member of QFs FF program.
  • QFSG: Qantas "Scum" Gold – A Gold member of QFs FF program.
  • QFPS: Qantas "Plebian" Silver – A Silver member of QFs FF program.
  • QFNB: Qantas "Nuthin" Bronze – A Bronze member of QFs FF program.
  • QP: Qantas Pub a.k.a. QC or Qantas airport departure lounges.
  • QR: Qatar Airways
R
  • RO: Tarom-Romanian Air Transport
  • RPT: Regular Public Transport
  • RT: Round or Return Trip
  • RTW: 'round the World ticket
  • RVML: Raw vegetarian meal
S
  • S7: S7 Airlines
  • SA: South African Airways
  • SACL: Sydney Airports Corporation Limited
  • SATS: Singapore Airport Terminal Services
  • SC: Status Credit
  • SCRUN: Status Credit "Run" - Qantas' version of MR¹
  • SFSC: Self Funded Status Chaser
  • SG: "Scum" Gold – A Gold member of QFs FF program (also QFSG).
  • SK: SAS - Scandinavian Airlines System
  • SLF: Self Loading Freight - flight crew lingo for Passengers.
  • SN: Brussels Airlines (formerly Sabena)
  • SO: Significant Other, referring to one’s partner.
  • SPG: Starwood Preferred Guest
  • SQ: Singapore Airlines
  • SR: Status Run
  • SSR: Special Service Request in relation to a booking. (e.g. special meal, wheelchair, ...)
  • SSSS: Selected for Secondary Security Screening
  • ST: Sky Team alliance
  • SV: Saudi Arabian airlines
  • SWP: South West Pacific
  • SWU: System Wide Upgrade (for any segment in an airline's route system)
  • SYD: Sydney Airport
T
  • T-80: The time (or shortly afterwards, 3⅓ days) when more seating may get opened up on Qantas flights
  • T/O: Take off
  • TA: Travel Agent
  • TATL: Trans-Alantic (flight)
  • TBIT: Tom Bradley International Terminal - the main International terminal as LAX (Los Angeles)
  • TCP: "To Complete Party" - term used when bookings/PNR's are "linked"
  • TG: Thai Airways
  • TK: Turkish Airlines
  • TODA: Take Off Distance Available - Runway distance available for Takoff after Aircraft lines up to do so
  • TP: TAP - Air Portugal
  • T-Pac: Trans-Pacific (flight)
  • TR: Trip Report
  • TSA: Transportation Security Administration
  • TSV: Townsville Airport
  • TT: Trans-Tasman
U
  • UA: United Airlines
  • UC: Upgrade Credit
  • UD: Upper Deck on larger aircraft, like the 744.
  • UM: Unaccompanied Minor, or a child traveling alone.
  • UG: UpGrade - such as from economy to business, or business to first.
V
  • VA: Virgin Australia
  • Velocity: Virgin Australia's Frequren Flyer Scheme
  • VFR: Visual Flight Rules (good weather)
  • VS: Virgin Atlantic Airways
  • VV: Vice versa (Often used here to represent the reverse of a routing)
W
  • WHY - Generic Economy/Coach class - see Y (as in Why am I here?)
  • WN: Southwest Airlines
  • WP: "W*nker" Platinum - A platinum member of QFs FF program (also QFWP).
  • WRT: "With Regards To"
  • WT+: BA's World Traveller Plus (premium economy class)
Y
  • Y: Full-fare Economy booking class OR generic Economy.
  • YASA: Qantas Frequent Flyer "Any Seat Award" in Economy class (earns SC's)
  • YMMV: "Your Mileage May Vary"
  • YUPP: "Instant Upgrade" fare available in the USA. "Economy" fare that books into First/Business class. (See HUPP/KUPP)
Z
  • ZL: Rex Airlines
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