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Passenger

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A passenger is a person who travels in a vehicle.

Bicycle in The Hague 50
Bicycle in The Hague 50

They do not do the work needed to move the vehicle. They do not drive or pilot the craft. They are also not the crew members on duty.

Passengers in Amtrak lounge car of San Joaquin (train) 2014
Passengers in Amtrak lounge car of San Joaquin (train) 2014

For example, a flight attendant is not a passenger while working. A person working in a ship's kitchen is also not a passenger. However, an employee in a company car is a passenger. This is true even if they are traveling for work.

Passengers on a Boat
Passengers on a Boat

Many vehicles carry people. This includes bicycles, buses, cars, and trains. You can also be a passenger on airliners, ships, or even snowmobiles.

Laws help keep people safe during their trips. Most places have rules for vehicle owners and drivers. Drivers often have a duty of care to their passengers. This means they must act safely to protect them. Some laws even limit how passengers can sue a driver after an accident.

Passengers on a Boat
Passengers on a Boat

Many cars use air bags to protect people inside. These are special safety tools for passengers. Every vehicle also has a seating capacity. This is the legal limit of how many people can ride. It tells us how many seats are available for travelers.

Travel companies use special terms to talk about trips. A revenue passenger is someone who pays for their travel. This does not include people traveling for free. For example, airline employees on free passes are not revenue passengers. Babies or children without their own seats are also not included.

Passengers in Amtrak lounge car of San Joaquin (train) 2014
Passengers in Amtrak lounge car of San Joaquin (train) 2014

However, people using mileage awards can be revenue passengers. Companies use these terms to track their business. They look at how many people are actually paying for trips.

Math helps companies measure how much work they do. They use terms like revenue passenger kilometers (RPK). They also use revenue passenger miles (RPM).

Passengers in Amtrak lounge car of San Joaquin (train) 2014
Passengers in Amtrak lounge car of San Joaquin (train) 2014

To find these numbers, they multiply the paying passengers by the distance. If a bus makes many stops, they calculate each part separately. These numbers help airlines see how much they produce. They can also compare these numbers to the total available seats. This helps them understand their costs and their income.

Sometimes, a vehicle travels without any people at all. This is called a "no pax" trip.

PATH Train with No Pax
PATH Train with No Pax

A bus might show a "no pax" sign at the start of a shift. This means it is out of service. This also happens when a plane is just moving cargo. In Britain, trains are also sorted into different groups. Express trains go between big cities at high speeds. Semi-fast trains stop at some busy places. Local trains stop at every station for the people living nearby.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Passengers on a Boat.JPG
Passengers on a Boat.JPG
File:Passengers_in_Amtrak_lounge_car_of_San_Joaquin_(train)_2014.jpg
Passengers_in_Amtrak_lounge_car_of_San_Joa...
File:Bicycle in The Hague 50.JPG
Bicycle in The Hague 50.JPG
File:PATH Train with No Pax.jpg
PATH Train with No Pax.jpg
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