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The language you need to know if you want to impress airline employees
Samantha Rosen
Contributor
Samantha was one of the first 20 employees at TPG. She started as the site's first full-time social media editor and also served as its lifestyle editor.
Jan. 10, 2020
•
3 min read
The language you need to know if you want to impress airline employees
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Editor's Note
This post was originally published on Sept. 8, 2019.
Have you ever called an airline — or any company, really — in need of customer service only to flounder a bit when asked to spell out your record locator, booking code or name? "No, B, not T ... B as in boy, not toy ...."
Well, not anymore.
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The next time you call an airline for any reason at all, you're going to want to have these words memorized, especially when they ask for your record locator (airline speak for confirmation code). It's called the phonetic alphabet (sometimes, the pilot's alphabet) and a version of this particular alphabet has been in use since the International Air Transport Association (IATA) proposed it in the 1950s for civil aviation use. Though tweaks were made — the code word for the letter N was particularly contentious — the alphabet was eventually adopted by NATO and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Each letter of the alphabet has a code word that is unlikely to be mispronounced and should be understood by virtually any English speaker. All pilots around the world are required to know both English and the phonetic alphabet, and you'll most likely hear it if you listen in to a conversation between a pilot and Air Traffic Control (ATC).
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It goes a little something like this:
- A is for Alpha
- B is for Bravo
- C is for Charlie
- D is for Delta
- E is for Echo
- F is for Foxtrot
- G is for Golf
- H is for Hotel
- I is for India
- J is for Juliet
- K is for Kilo
- L is for Lima
- M is for Mike
- N is for November
- O is for Oscar
- P is for Papa
- Q is for Quebec
- R is for Romeo
- S is for Sierra
- T is for Tango
- U is for Uniform
- V is for Victor
- W is for Whiskey
- X is for X-Ray
- Y is for Yankee
- Z is for Zulu
Yes, that's where Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot comes from. Tina Fey would be proud. I mean, it's pretty hard to misinterpret "foxtrot," don't you think?
For example, if your record locator is "ABCDEF," you would say, "alpha, bravo, Charlie, delta, echo and foxtrot." If your record locator is "SBRZH," you would tell the agent on the phone it's "sierra, bravo, Romeo, Zulu and hotel."
Get it?
Yes, you might get some weird looks from people on the street next time you use it, but at least you'll know you're one step closer to being the savviest traveler you know. Plus, airline employees are guaranteed to appreciate the gesture — or, at least, the clarity.
If you're frequently crossing time zones, you can also start using the universal "Zulu time" to avoid any pesky mishaps when discussing the hour of the day. Oh, and if you have the number nine in your record locator, that's "niner" to you now.
Can't get enough of these alphabet hacks? Check our ultimate travel glossary next. You'll be using phrases like "fifth-freedom flight" and "hidden-city ticket" — the latter of which can help you get where you're going on a cheaper, but longer, itinerary — before you can say wheels up.
Featured image by Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.