Airline Industry and Southwest Airlines Abbreviations and Terms

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering the abbreviations and specialized terminology used in airline operations and Southwest Airlines procedures as of September 2025.

A/C

Aircraft

ABA

Able-bodied Assistant

AFT

The rear portion of the aircraft

APU

Auxiliary Power Unit

ATC

Air Traffic Control

AED

Automated External Defibrillator

BLND

Blind

CAPT

Captain

CARE

Care-for Emergency use only

CENT

99+ (older than 99 years old)

CHILD

Child

CISM

Critical Incident Stress Management

CPJS

Cockpit Jumpseat

CREW

Deadhead Crew

CRO

Complaint Resolution Official

CRM

Crew Resource Management

CRS

Child Restraint System

CS&S

Customer Support and Services

CSA

Customer Service Agent

CSS

Customer Service Supervisor

CWA

Crew Web Access

D/H

Deadhead

DEAF

Deaf

DEPA

Deportee Escorted

DEPU

Deportee Unescorted

DOT

Department of Transportation

DPNA

Disabled Passenger Needing Assistance

EAP

Employee Assistance Program

EMK

Emergency Medical Kit

ERBD

Early Bird

ETA

Estimate Time of Arrival

ETD

Estimated Time of Departure

EXST

Extra Seat

F/A (or FA)

Flight Attendant

FAA

Federal Aviation Administration

FAK

First Aid Kit

FAM

Federal Air Marshal

FAR

Federal Aviation Regulation

FEDS

Federal Employee

FFDO

Federal Flight Deck Officer

F/O (or FO)

First Officer

FTR

Failure to report

FWD

Forward (a portion of the aircraft)

GSC

Ground Security Coordinator

GNDU

Undisclosed Gender

GNDX

Unspecified Gender

Hazmat

Hazardous Materials

HazCom

Hazard Communication

IEFB

Inflight Electronic Flight Bag

IIOTG

Inflight Info on the Go

INAD

Inadmissible Passenger

INFT

Infant

Inop

Inoperative

IR

Irregularity Report

ISC

Inflight Security Coordinator

JPST

Jumpseat

LAV

Lavatory

LEO

Law Enforcement Officer

LRBL

Least Risk Bomb Location

MAAS

Meet and Assist

MBL

Might Be Late

MX

Maintenance

N/S

No Show

NRSA

Nonrevenue Space Available

OE

Operating Experience

OHB

Overhead Bin

Ops Agent

Operations Agent

Ops

Operations

OTHS

Other Notes

OWWE

Overwing Window Exit

PA

Public Announcement

P.A.W.S.

Pets Are Welcome on Southwest

PAX or PX

Passenger

PBE/Smoke Hood

Protective Breathing Equipment

PED

Portable Electronic Device

PETC

Pet in Cabin

PIC

Pilot In Command

PNUT

Peanut Dust Allergy

POB

Portable Oxygen Bottle

POS

Positively Outrageous Service

PPOC

Portable Oxygen Concentrator

PRBD

Preboard Eligible

Provo

Provisioning

PSU

Passenger Service Unit

PTK

Passenger Transfer Kit

RT (or R/T)

Recurrent Training

Ramper

Ramp Agent

RBF

Read Before Fly

RON

Remain Overnight

STOA

Other Airline Staff

SVAN

Service Animal

TSA

Transportation Security Administration

TWU

Transport Workers Union

UM

Unaccompanied Minor

UMNR

Unaccompanied Minor

UTC

Unavailable to Contact

VSEP

Voluntary Separation

VISF

Cuba Visa

VNDR

Vendor – Cuba Only

WCBS

Customer's Dry Cell Wheelchair