Behave on Those Aircraft, Cobber

Flying while different in the US is more and more dangerous as security personnel, flight attendants, etc all practice greater levels of awareness (or paranoia, depending on your perspective) in this crazy post-September 11 world of ours.

The latest story is about an Australian woman called Sophie Reynolds, who when told by a SkyWest flight attendant there were no more pretzels (d'oh), said "fair dinkum." Apparently, the flight attendant (who hasn't read my blog with its valuable Australian language tips) took this for some sort of obscenity and had security ready to meet the aircraft when the plane landed in Pittsburgh. In this context - Reynolds was apparently frustrated - it means something like "sheesh" or "rats" or maybe "oh heck". It isn't an obscenity.

Airline officials said Reynolds had been "aggressive" too. Who knows? But for any Aussies planning a trip to the US - best avoid "fair dinkum" on aircraft or while in lines at the airport. And if you find you can't get any pretzels, definitely don't say "bugger".