The Secret Code Flight Attendants Use When They Think You’re Hot

Yes, there’s a real code flight attendants use when they’re into a passenger—and it’s way sneakier than you’d expect.

If you’ve ever walked off a flight thinking, “Was that crew member flirting with me?”—you might not be wrong.

Flight attendants spend hours in the air with hundreds of faces passing through each day.

Naturally, sometimes one stands out. And when that happens, they’ve got a quiet way of letting each other know… without saying a thing out loud to you.

The best part?

It all comes down to a simple, harmless acronym: BOB.

“BOB” Means You’re the “Best on Board”

BOB isn’t a name—it’s a code.

When a flight attendant refers to someone as BOB, they’re calling that person the Best on Board—aka the one they find the most attractive on the plane.

It’s not part of any official airline policy or training. It’s just a bit of fun crew slang that’s floated around for years.

You might hear something like:

“Have you seen BOB in 21F?”

Passengers never catch on because it sounds like they’re talking about a real person. But for those in the know? That’s crew-speak for “someone’s got a crush.”

Why Flight Attendants Use It

Flying can be a high-pressure job.

Long hours. Jet lag. A constant flow of passengers needing attention. Codes like BOB help keep things lighthearted between the crew.

It’s also discreet. Flight attendants are expected to remain professional at all times, and they take that seriously.

So saying someone’s the “Best on Board” is just a subtle way to share a moment of human connection, without crossing any lines.

No one’s making moves or breaking rules. It’s just playful and totally private between crew members.

So… Could You Be a BOB?

Absolutely. And you’d never know.

If you’ve got a great outfit, a kind attitude, or even a friendly vibe, someone on the crew might quietly assign you the BOB title.

You won’t hear about it directly. But behind the curtain? You could be the highlight of someone’s shift.

Is It Always About Looks?

Not necessarily. While BOB usually refers to physical attraction, sometimes it’s about personality.

The person who says “please” and “thank you.” The one who smiles and treats the crew like actual people. That counts for a lot when you’re stuck in the sky with 200 strangers.