What Does 'Slam-Click' Mean?

The Crew Term for Skipping Social Plans

If you've spent any time around flight crews, you've probably heard the term slam-click tossed around. But what exactly does it mean?

In short, slam-clicking is when a crew member gets to their layover hotel, slams their door shut, clicks the lock—and stays in for the night. No dinner meetups, no exploring the city, no late-night shenanigans. Just pure, uninterrupted hotel room hibernation.

The phrase is a little tongue-in-cheek, sometimes used with admiration (someone prioritizing rest!) and sometimes with a bit of mockery (“come on, you can't even grab a quick bite?”). It's become part of airline culture, especially among those who have worked long-haul flights or had brutal trip sequences.

Why Do Crew Members Slam-Click?

• Fatigue: After working back-to-back flights or changing time zones, nothing sounds better than blackout curtains and room service.

• Safety: In some cities, especially late at night, staying in is simply the smartest move.

• Personal preference: Not everyone is a social butterfly after a day spent packed into an aluminum tube with hundreds of passengers.

Slam-clicking isn't just limited to pilots and flight attendants, either. Nonrev travelers on tight layovers might also find themselves adopting the slam-click lifestyle once in a while—especially if they're banking precious sleep before a standby gamble the next morning.

What Slam-Clicking Says About You

Nothing bad, we promise! In the crew world, it's understood that everyone slam-clicks sometimes. Sometimes you're the party planner. Sometimes you're the slam-clicker. Balance.

Next time you hear someone say they're going to "slam-click," you’ll know: they’re off-duty, off-the-grid, and officially off-limits for dinner invites.