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PhrasesOn the PlaneBuongiorno, come sta?
A1formal

Buongiorno, come sta?

Good morning, how are you?

Pronunciation

buon-GIOR-no — stress on second syllable. STA — single syllable, from 'stare'.

When to use it

When greeting cabin crew as you board the aircraft — a small gesture that goes a long way.

What it means

'Come sta?' is the formal 'how are you?' — appropriate when addressing cabin crew you don't know. The informal version is 'come stai?' The greeting 'buongiorno' (good morning) is replaced by 'buonasera' (good evening) after approximately 2pm in Italian convention.

Variations

Buonasera, come si chiama?

Good evening, what is your name?

Asking for the crew member's name personalises the interaction

Arrivederci e grazie!

Goodbye and thank you!

Said when disembarking past the crew at the door

È il suo primo volo oggi?

Is this your first flight today?

Friendly conversation starter with crew

Mini Dialogue

— Buongiorno, come sta? — Molto bene, grazie! Benvenuto a bordo. Il suo posto è nella zona B. — Grazie. Il volo è puntuale? — Sì, partiamo in orario. Buon volo!

— Good morning, how are you? — Very well, thank you! Welcome on board. Your seat is in zone B. — Thank you. Is the flight on time? — Yes, we are departing on schedule. Have a good flight!

Cultural Note

Italians consider it rude not to greet people you interact with, even briefly. Cabin crew will always exchange greetings with boarding passengers. Using 'buongiorno' or 'buonasera' and a brief 'come sta?' is considered courteous and sets a positive tone for the flight. The formal 'lei' form is appropriate with strangers.