Airport and Travel English: Words and Phrases

Airports are crowded, fast and full of announcements, which makes them one of the hardest places to use a second language. The good news is that airport English is very repetitive. The same signs, phrases and questions appear again and again, so a small amount of preparation covers a large share of what you will meet. This guide follows a trip in order. Rules at airports differ between countries and change often, so check your airline and the airport or security authority for current requirements before you travel.

Booking and before you go

When you book, you will see flight, itinerary, departure, arrival, one-way, return or round trip, direct or non-stop, connection or layover, economy, business class, fare, baggage allowance, carry-on, checked baggage, seat selection and booking reference. Learn the verbs too: book a flight, change a booking, cancel a flight, confirm a reservation, check in online.

Before you travel, read the documents. Look for the name on the booking, which must match your passport, the dates and times, and the airport code. Note the terminal and the gate, though the gate often changes later.

Check-in

You may check in online, at a kiosk or at a desk. The desk is called the check-in desk or counter. You will be asked for your passport and booking reference, and for questions such as "Are you checking any bags?", "Did you pack your bags yourself?", "Do you have anything sharp or dangerous?" and "Would you like a window or an aisle seat?"

You receive a boarding pass. Cambridge Dictionary defines it as a card or document that you must show to be allowed onto a plane. It shows your name, flight, seat number, gate, boarding time and sometimes a boarding group. Useful phrases: "I would like to check in for the flight to Toronto." "Can I have an aisle seat, please?" "How much is the baggage allowance?" "My bag is slightly over. Can I pay for the extra weight?"

Words about baggage: suitcase, carry-on bag (also hand luggage in British English), weight limit, overweight, fragile, baggage tag and baggage claim.

Security

At security you put your belongings through a scanner and walk through a screening point. The TSA, which runs airport security in the United States, publishes plain-language pages about the process. It says passengers should follow what it calls the 3-1-1 rule for liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on bags, and that larger electronics such as laptops, tablets and e-readers generally need to be taken out of bags for X-ray screening. Rules and equipment differ between countries and airports, so look at the signs and listen to the staff.

Phrases you may hear: "Please place your bag in the tray." "Take out your laptop." "Remove your belt and jacket." "Do you have any liquids?" "Step forward, please." "Please step to the side." Useful things to say: "Do I need to take out my tablet?" "Where do I put my coat?" "I have a medical device. What should I do?" You can also ask staff to explain anything you do not understand.

At the gate and announcements

After security you find your gate, which is the numbered door where you board. Screens list departures, flight number, destination, gate and status. Statuses to know include on time, delayed, cancelled, boarding, final call and gate closed. The word delay is a common one, and "How long is the delay?" is a useful question.

Announcements are fast and often hard to catch, so a few habits help. Listen for your flight number and your destination first, and for the words gate change, boarding, delay and final call. Check the screen when you are not sure. If you miss something, ask staff: "Excuse me, could you tell me whether flight 482 has changed gates?"

Boarding is usually in groups. Phrases you will hear: "Boarding is now open for rows 20 to 30." "Passengers with young children may board now." "Please have your boarding pass and passport ready."

On the plane

On board, a flight attendant or cabin crew member helps passengers. Words for the seat area: seat, seat belt, overhead locker or overhead bin, tray table, window seat, aisle seat, middle seat, exit row, aisle, call button. The announcements include safety instructions, so listen carefully. Phrases to use: "Excuse me, I think this is my seat." "Could I have some water, please?" "Could you help me with my bag?" "What time do we land?" "Do you have a blanket?" "I would like the vegetarian meal, please."

Words for the flight: take off, land, turbulence, cruising altitude, flight time, local time, time zone and arrival time.

Arrival, immigration and customs

When you land, you follow signs to arrivals. If you are entering a new country, you may go through immigration or passport control, where an officer checks your passport and visa and may ask questions. Typical questions: "What is the purpose of your visit?" "How long will you be staying?" "Where will you be staying?" "Do you have a return ticket?" Short, honest answers are best: "I am visiting for tourism." "I will stay for two weeks." "I will be at this hotel, and here is the address."

Then you collect your bags at baggage claim and go through customs, where you may be asked what you are bringing in. Words to know: declare, duty-free, restricted items, customs form and nothing to declare. If your bag is missing, go to the lost luggage desk: "My suitcase did not arrive. Here is my baggage tag."

Entry rules for each country are set by its government, so check the official travel information for your destination before you go. USAGov's travel pages are one example of a government source that points travelers to such guidance for the United States.

Asking for help

Airport staff deal with confused travelers every day. Phrases that work in many situations: "Excuse me, where is gate 24?" "Could you tell me how to get to baggage claim?" "I have missed my connection. What should I do?" "Could you speak more slowly, please?" "Could you write that down?" "I do not speak English very well. Is there someone who speaks my language?" Politeness helps: Excuse me, Could you, Please and Thank you open many doors.

Practicing before you travel

Airport words are easiest to learn at home. Make a list of about thirty words from this guide, learn them over two weeks, and say several phrases aloud. Listen to a recorded announcement or a short video of someone going through an airport, and note the words you catch. How spaced repetition works explains why spreading your learning over days helps, and the moving abroad guide covers the practical English of arriving to stay.

How Wordabulary fits in

Wordabulary can help you build the general vocabulary around this topic. Words are tagged by level, practice shows definitions and example sentences, and every word can be heard in British or American English, which helps with the speed of announcements. It does not replace current information from airlines, airports and governments, and it works best alongside them.