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Why do we "deplane"?
Posted by: Sean O'Neill, Thursday, Oct 8, 2009, 10:50 AM

Where do flight attendants come up with these words? Take "deplane," for example.

Why do we "deplane"?

We don't "de-car."

I asked some frequent travelers.…

Alexander Basek responded: Cause we enplaned first?

Connie Heveron wondered: Is it a "Fantasy Island" thing?

Jon Sullivan said: de-bed, de-bike, de-run… I think you are onto new Americanisms!

Esther Schindler pointed out: We do debark. Why not deplane?

Dan Saltzstein noted: And we drive on a parkway, but park in a driveway.

Pardon me while I collect my "personal belongings"—are there any other kind of belongings?—and head for the plane's exit.

Heard any odd travel words lately?

Reader Comments

Not to be crass, but I seriously think "de-planing" is the alternative for saying "getting off."

Posted By David Dobson on October 8, 2009, 11:23 AM

Bryan Garner, author of Garner's Modern American Usage, also deplores "deplane," calling it airline jargon, but it dates back to at least 1923. After eighty-odd years, it's clear that the word is here to stay, so it's probably time to move on and get annoyed about something else.
Thomas Berger
Copy Chief
Budget Travel

Posted By Thomas Berger on October 8, 2009, 12:12 PM

LOL!

Posted By Sean on October 8, 2009, 12:15 PM

I'd rather be "de-planed" than being "de-fenestrated"

Posted By Rich on October 13, 2009, 2:29 PM

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