Happy landing

[Winwin2011]

My boss from my head office is now in my office. He is taking a flight to return UK four hours later. When he leaves my office, is it natural to say "Happy landing"? What else can I say?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Have a good trip.

 

[Winwin2011]

Thanks Mike. If I am not at the airport, is it unnatutal to say "Happy landing"?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Not common.

 

[Matthew Wai]

http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/bon-voyage?q=bon+voyage
I found 'bon voyage' above, but I don't know whether it is common.

Not a teacher.

 

[MikeNewYork]

That is usually used for travel by ship.

 

[emsr2d2]

In BrE, we use "bon voyage" for all sorts of forms of transport. It's the distance being travelled that dictates its use. I would probably only say it to someone in the UK if they were travelling to another country. In the original context, I would say "Have a good trip" or "Travel safely".

 

[Matthew Wai]

May I say 'Happy journey' in the OP's context?

 

[emsr2d2]

That's not natural in BrE.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Nor AmE.

 

[Rover_KE]

'Have a good/safe flight.'

I was going to say that 'happy landings' is the more common expression – even if only one landing was expected – but I was wrong.

Click here to see why. Note the years when both phrases spiked.

 

[tedmc]

With all the air disasters on the news these days, it is common to wish somebody "have a safe journey" before a flight.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Does it make sense to say 'Have a smooth flight'?

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes.

 

[SoothingDave]

I'm OK with "bon voyage" being used. Wishing me a "happy landing" makes me wonder what you think is going to happen when we land. It just seems very odd to me.

 

[Matthew Wai]

In Die Hard 2, Stewart said both 'bon voyage' and 'happy landing' to McClane when the former pushed the latter off the plane, according to https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Die_Hard_2:_Die_Harder

Not a teacher.

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

I know that I am being too sensitive, but as soon as I read WinWin's question, I said to myself: Considering all the recent airplane tragedies (which Tedmc also referred to in his post), it might be a good idea NOT to mention "landings."

In fact, it might be a good idea NOT to refer to the flight itself in any way.

Of course, you have to say something to your boss. So maybe it should refer to his recent visit ("We hope to see you again very soon. We really enjoyed your visit.") or to his destination ("I'm sure the home office [in London] will find your findings very helpful." / "I hear that the weather in London is really nice at this time of the year." (Say anything that will take his mind off the actual flight.)

 

[emsr2d2]

I agree with the first part of TheParser's post - he's being too sensitive! Unless I know someone is afraid of flying, I would have no hesitation in mentioning the forthcoming flight to them.

 

[Barb_D]

These days, with so many canceled and delayed flights and just general mayhem at the airport I tend to wish people an "uneventful journey" (although I recognize that not many others would).


"Safe travels!" Or "Hope you have a smooth trip" would also work.

With people I know well and who are close to my age, I often say also "Have fun storming the castle!" This is a reference to the movie The Princess Bride and it usually makes people laugh

 

[lotus888]

Does it make sense to say 'Have a smooth flight'?

Or, "Have a good flight".


--lotus