What it means if there is a ‘Jim Wilson’ on a flight
If you consider yourself a bit squeamish or superstitious, you’ll appreciate the intricacies of the airline industry.
An unfortunate part of life is that people die far away from home and it’s sometimes a difficult process to return their body back to their loved ones, or to where their final resting place will be.
For some passengers, learning there is a corpse or human remains on a flight may be distressing, but the need to transport coffins is important and necessary. So, that’s why some airlines use the code words ‘Jim Wilson’, when booking and discussing transporting human remains on a flight.
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The name is said to have originated in the US, serving as an alternative to a name like Jane Doe, however some airline companies prefer to use the acronym HR, for human remains.
Coffins being transported on an aeroplane are placed in a specially designed air tray that is adequately padded to ensure the coffin will be secure.
Most airlines will offer priority loading for the deceased person, as well as having policies in place to handle the coffin with dignity and respect.
People who travel with cremated remains are sometimes able to bring them with them in their carry-on. Note that the material the urn is made of may not pass through the x-ray machines at security as the traditional urns tend to create an opaque image on the x-ray machine. Instead opt for an urn
Article source: https://travel.startsat60.com/articles/what-it-means-if-there-is-a-jim-wilson-on-a-flight