qfcabin - I believe you are quite correct to be uneasy about the widespread and unnecessary use of this derogatory term for our customers and therefore our ultimate paymasters. I am a manager in an airline, as well as a PPL holder and a passenger like many others. I have only been employed in the aviation sector for a few years but in that time have been constantly amazed at the appallingly poor service and plain rudeness that many passengers have to endure. The habitual use of terms such as self loading freight is indicative of a general antipathy within the sector towards excellence in customer care and towards respect for people, both passengers and staff. Even the abbreviated 'pax' sounds more like a reference to a sexually transmitted disease rather than to fellow human beings who happen to be paying our wages. Those airlines that do not genuinely respect the needs of their employees and their customers will not stand the ultimate test of time in this highly competitive service industry.service Let's drop 'slf' and how about using 'passengers', 'customers' or even 'guests' - for while these people are at our check-ins, in our lounges, or on-board our aircraft that is precisely how they should be treated by everyone involved in the air travel industry.
Call me old-fashioned if you like but good quality service sells itself - always has and always will.