What did I learn today?

Today I learned that, at least from the perspective of a flight attendant, my cup is not merely a cup, but a "service item." I wonder what that makes me. Am I a service item too? They're serving me, supposedly. Or is there another bit of jargon to refer to customers? I once asked my dentist if they had funny names for the dental instruments when they were in dental school, but he refused to answer. I'm guess this would be the same kind of thing.

There's been more than enough written about air travel, so I don't really want to do more than acknowledge what a truly odd experience it is. Where else can you buy a bottle of water, walk 30 feet or so, then walk back towards the place where you bought it but have to surrender it before you can return to the shop? But that's what happens if you buy it beyond security, walk outside of security and then walk back in. 'Nuff said.