"Jumbo" Jet?

[FlaFlier]

What is the criteria for an aircraft to be considered a "jumbo jet"?

I know the term was first coined for the B-747 series, but it now seems to be used indiscriminately for any large passenger a/c.

What's the skinny...
Passenger count? Payload? Wide-body? :confused:

Thanx in advance...

[Noddy Staltern]

As you say, the phrase was coined by the media in the early days of the 747 (interestingly, the Boeing nickname for the aircraft was 'Airbus' but it never caught on)! The term still refers to 747 series aircraft. The media seem to use the phrase indiscriminately to describe any large aircraft, but then what do they know? You often read about the 'massive' or 'gigantic' C-130 - doesn't mean it is!