Question for native speakers

[DonLeslie]

Hi,

how does one correctly introcduce a female F/O in modern, spoken English? Is the distinction between Miss (unmarried) and Mrs still valid or is this outdated? The reason I'm asking is, that e.g. in German we don't make that distinction anymore and the term "Fräulein" for an unmarried woman is considered very oldfashioned, even derogatory.
Hope the native speakers can help.

[Bushfiva]

Depending on context, and in descending order of information something like the following should be fine:

Job title, first name, family name
Job title, family name,
first name, family name
"Ms" family name

You could also ask the person how she prefers to be introduced, but you don't have to follow the person's guidance!

I think German and English (and Swedish) sensibilities are very similar in this.

[cavortingcheetah]

The correct term of use would be to introduce her as:
'My number two'.

If you wished to draw further distinction, as between Upper Bavaria and Lower Bavaria, you could add:
'From London'
or
'From Manchester'
as appropriate.

[redsnail]

In English, I prefer to use Ms.
The reason is that while I am married, I don't use my husband's name. ;)
If a colleague is introducing me and it's a work situation, then Captain reddo redsnail is acceptable.

I don't introduce my colleagues as "Mr David Smith", it's either Captain David Smith or F/O David Smith.
Usually it's "and your Captain today is "David" ".

(Bizjet world, not airline. No locked cockpit doors)

[mad_jock]

I have heard this on German flights.

Captain Mrs xxxx yyyyyyy

Sounds weird to me.

Personally I introduce the lady's exactly the same as I do myself First Name then Family name. In central Europe.

In Scandinavia Northern countries I just use first names as the punters up there are very like Scottish people and don't go for much formality and they you get a better reaction from them all if you give them a more personal introduction. Its not uncommon for them to give you a personal thanks afterwards when you do. They remember up there it can be 6 months between trips with you but they remember. And they have no problem putting pen to paper when they like the flight and when they don't.

Where as further south they seem to prefer for you to refer to yourself by your job title.

As an example the way I would do it from say LGW to DUS with made up names.

"Good evening lady's and gentlemen this is your Captain Andy Jones, joining me on the flight deck today is First Officer Ann Doherty who has the pleasure of flying you today to Dusseldorf. The wx on route ....."

Then from then on only refer to Captain and First officer.

Where as up North I would use.

"Good evening lady's and gentlemen this is Andy your Captain today, joining me on the flight deck is Ann who has the pleasure of flying you to Helsinki. The wx on route ....."

And from then on just use first names and drop the job titles.

[Crazy Voyager]

Depending on context, and in descending order of information something like the following should be fine:

Job title, first name, family name
Job title, family name,
first name, family name
"Ms" family name

You could also ask the person how she prefers to be introduced, but you don't have to follow the person's guidance!

I think German and English (and Swedish) sensibilities are very similar in this.

As a Swede I have never used any titles when speaking or introducing people in Swedish. I would be very very surprised if someone introduced themselfs as anything but "first name, last name" or similar. I've never heard anyone introduce themself as "Mr Andersson" ("Herr Andersson" in Swedish) or similar.

For flight deck introduction (boarding PA etc) normally they seem to use first name, last name, something like

"I'm your captain and my name is A, B, and my first officer today is C, D". No Mr, Mrs, Ms, just job title and name.

I think mad_jock summed it up quite well.

[Bushfiva]

CV, I didn't express myself clearly. With respect to Sweden, I was comparing the deprecated usage of Fräulein in German with fröken.

[SOPS]

I don't know why, but it really irritates me when on KLM flights, the captain says an English PA, "Good afternoon, my name is Van Helder, I am your captain". No first name, just last name. I know in Dutch, that's how you do t, but hater hearing it in English.

[Crazy Voyager]

@Bushfiva

Ah, that makes more sense :)

[DonLeslie]

Thank you very much. :ok:
So it's only job title first name last name. I'll keep that in mind.

Cheers,
DL