At the Airport
1️⃣ Check-in & Luggage
When you arrive at the airport, the first stop is the check-in desk. Here, an airline representative will:
✅ Weigh your luggage – Most airlines allow 20kg, but if your bag is heavier, you may need to pay for excess baggage (extra fees for overweight luggage).
✅ Check your ticket – They will confirm your flight details and issue you a boarding pass with your seat number.
✈ Hand luggage (carry-on bags) → You can take this with you on the plane and store it under your seat or in the overhead locker above your seat.
2️⃣ Passport Control & Security
Before heading to your flight, you must go through:
✅ Passport control – A border officer checks (NOT controls!) your passport.
✅ Security check – You put your bags through a scanner and may need to remove liquids and electronics.
Once you pass security, you enter the departure lounge – a waiting area with duty-free shops where you can buy perfume, alcohol, cigarettes, and gifts.
3️⃣ Boarding & Take-off
About 30–40 minutes before the flight, an announcement tells passengers to go to their boarding gate (e.g. Gate 14).
🚪 At the gate, passengers wait before boarding (getting on) the plane.
🎟 On board, you find your seat and stow your hand luggage.
Before departure:
✅ The plane taxis (moves slowly) to the runway.
✅ Once the pilot gets permission, the plane accelerates and takes off.
💡 Note: The verb to taxi is mainly used for planes moving on the ground before take-off.
✨ Key Vocabulary Recap
🔹 Check-in desk → Where you get your boarding pass
🔹 Excess baggage → Extra fee for overweight luggage
🔹 Passport control → Where officials check your passport
🔹 Departure lounge → Waiting area before your flight
🔹 Duty-free → Shops selling tax-free goods
🔹 Gate number → The place where you board the plane
🔹 Overhead locker → The storage area above your seat
🔹 Taxi (v.) → When a plane moves slowly to the runway
🔹 Take off (v.) → When a plane leaves the ground
🛄 Typical Conversations at the Airport
Read these dialogues will to help you navigate real-life airport scenarios with confidence.
1️⃣ At the Check-in Desk
Check-in Agent: “Good morning. Can I see your passport and ticket, please?”
Passenger: “Of course, here you go.”
Check-in Agent: “Are you checking in any luggage?”
Passenger: “Yes, I have one suitcase.”
Check-in Agent: “Please place it on the scale… That’s 24kg. The baggage allowance is 20kg, so there is a fee for excess baggage.”
Passenger: “Oh, I see. How much is it?”
Check-in Agent: “That will be €40.”
Passenger: “Okay, I’ll pay by card.”
Check-in Agent: “Thank you. Here is your boarding pass. You will be departing from Gate 12, and boarding starts at 10:30 AM.”
Passenger: “Great, thank you!”
2️⃣ Security & Luggage Screening
Security Officer: “Good morning. Did you pack this bag yourself?”
Passenger: “Yes, I did.”
Security Officer: “Has anyone given you anything to carry?”
Passenger: “No, they haven’t.”
Security Officer: “Has your bag been unattended at any time since you packed it?” (unattended means *left alone without supervision*)
Passenger: “No, I’ve had it with me the whole time.”
Security Officer: “Please place your bag on the conveyor belt for screening. Also, remove your laptop and any liquids over 100ml.”
Passenger: “Okay, here you go.”
(After scanning…)
Security Officer: “Everything looks fine. You can collect your belongings now. Have a nice flight!”
Passenger: “Thanks, you too—oh, I mean, thank you!” 😅
3️⃣ In the Duty-Free Shop
Passenger: “Excuse me, do you sell perfume?”
Shop Assistant: “Yes, the perfumes are over there near the cosmetics section.”
Passenger: “Is this duty-free?”
Shop Assistant: “Yes, but only if you are traveling outside the EU.”
Passenger: “Oh, I see. How much is this one?”
Shop Assistant: “That’s €45, but we have a special offer—two for €80.”
Passenger: “Hmm… I think I’ll just take one. Can I pay by card?”
Shop Assistant: “Of course! Here’s your receipt. Enjoy your flight!”
Passenger: “Thank you!”
The Flight
✈ The Flight – Onboard Announcements & Travel Vocabulary
Once you’re on board, you’ll hear important announcements from either the captain (pilot) or the cabin crew (flight attendants). These messages help ensure a safe and comfortable flight.
1️⃣ Safety Instructions & Take-off
Shortly before departure, you might hear:
✔️ “Please fasten your seatbelt and put your seat in the upright position.”
✔️ “Make sure all electronic devices are switched to airplane mode.”
💡 Fasten = to secure (e.g. fasten your seatbelt = put it on properly [pronunciation note: fasten = fasun]).
2️⃣ During the Flight
Once the plane reaches cruising altitude, you may hear:
✔️ “We are now cruising (flying smoothly) at an altitude (height) of 10,000 metres.”
✔️ “The cabin crew will now be serving drinks and snacks.”
💡 Cruising = The stage of flight when the plane is flying at a steady speed and altitude.
3️⃣ Landing & Arrival
As the plane begins its descent, announcements will remind passengers about:
✔️ “Please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened until we come to a complete stop.”
✔️ “May we remind passengers that there is no smoking until you are inside the terminal building.”
✈ If you’re arriving in a country that requires immigration paperwork, the flight attendants will:
✔️ “Now be coming round with landing cards (forms to fill in before immigration).”
💡 Cabin crew = Flight attendants who take care of passengers on board.
✨ Key Vocabulary Recap
🔹 Fasten your seatbelt → Secure your seatbelt for safety
🔹 Upright position → A vertical seat position for take-off & landing
🔹 Cruising altitude → The height the plane flies at during the journey
🔹 Cabin crew / Flight attendants → Staff who assist passengers
🔹 Terminal building → The airport area where flights arrive & depart
🔹 Landing card → A form some countries require passengers to complete before arrival
🛫 Onboard Announcements – Some Short Dialogues
💡 Listen out for these typical announcements during a flight!
🎙️ Pre-Flight Safety Announcement
Flight Attendant: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard Flight YS123 to London. Please fasten your seatbelt, place your seat in the upright position, and ensure your tray table is stowed. Thank you!”
Passenger: “Excuse me, where should I put my bag?”
Flight Attendant: “Your hand luggage can go under your seat or in the overhead locker.”
✈️ Mid-Flight Announcement
Captain: “Good afternoon, this is your captain speaking. We are now cruising at an altitude of 10,000 metres. We expect a smooth flight with clear skies ahead.”
Flight Attendant: “The cabin crew will now be coming round with drinks and snacks. Please have your payment method ready if purchasing refreshments.”
🛫 In-Flight Announcements – Turbulence Alert
Captain: “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We are currently experiencing some turbulence. Please remain seated with your seatbelts securely fastened.”
Flight Attendant: “For your safety, we kindly ask that you stay seated and avoid using the lavatories until the seatbelt sign has been turned off.”
Captain: “This turbulence should pass shortly, and we will update you as soon as conditions improve. Thank you for your cooperation.”
🔹 Turbulence → Sudden movement of the aircraft caused by air currents
🔹 Remain seated → Stay in your seat
🔹 Securely fastened → Seatbelt is correctly and tightly in place
🛬 Landing Announcement
Flight Attendant: “Ladies and gentlemen, we are now beginning our descent into London Heathrow. Please return to your seats, fasten your seatbelt, and ensure your seat is in the upright position.”
Captain: “We expect to land in approximately 20 minutes. May we remind passengers that smoking is not permitted until you are inside the terminal building.”
Flight Attendant: “Passengers arriving from outside the UK, please have your passports and landing cards ready for immigration.”
🛬 Arrival – What Happens After Landing?
Once the plane lands (touches down on the ground), passengers must remain seated with their seatbelts fastened until the aircraft comes to a complete stop.
✈ After landing, here’s what happens next:
1️⃣ Disembarking & Entering the Terminal
🚪 When the plane has landed and come to a complete stop, passengers must wait for the seatbelt sign to turn off before standing up.
✈ Before leaving your seat:
✅ Take your luggage out of the overhead lockers carefully (Be aware of shifting items during the flight!).
✅ Check your seat area to make sure you haven’t left anything behind (passport, phone, jacket).
✅ Wait patiently for your turn to disembark – passengers at the front exit first.
Once the cabin doors open, you disembark (get off the plane) by either:
- Walking through the jet bridge (the covered walkway connecting the plane to the terminal).
- Taking an airport shuttle bus (if the plane is parked on the tarmac).
🛄 In some airports, you may need to take a shuttle train or walk a long distance to reach passport control.
2️⃣ Collecting Your Luggage
🛄 Inside the arrival terminal, passengers go to baggage reclaim (also called baggage claim) to collect their checked luggage.
📍 Look for electronic screens showing which carousel (luggage belt) your flight’s bags will arrive on.
3️⃣ Passing Through Customs & Border Control
🛂 Before leaving the airport, you must pass through:
🔹 Passport Control – Your passport is checked by an immigration officer.
- Non-EU travelers may need to show a visa or answer questions about their stay.
🔹 Customs – You declare any goods you’re bringing into the country.
- Green Lane = Nothing to declare
- Red Lane = Goods to declare (items subject to taxes or restrictions)
- Blue Lane = European Union citizens (for fast-track entry in some airports)
💡 Tip: If you are unsure whether you need to declare something, ask an official.
4️⃣ Leaving the Airport
🚖 Getting to the City: Most airports offer several transport options:
✅ Taxis – Usually available outside the arrivals hall
✅ Airport Buses – Cheaper, but may take longer
✅ Trains – Often the fastest option for reaching city centers
✅ Car Hire (Rental) – Available at airport kiosks
💡 British English Tip:
- Hire = Short-term (e.g., hire a room for an event)
- Rent = Longer-term (e.g., rent a flat for a year)
- For cars, both “hire” and “rent” are used interchangeably.
🛂 Mini-Dialogue – Passport Control & Customs
💡 At international airports, travelers must pass through passport control and sometimes customs. Here’s a typical exchange:
1️⃣ At Passport Control
Immigration Officer: “Good evening. Can I see your passport, please?”
Passenger: “Of course. Here you go.”
Immigration Officer: “What is the purpose of your visit?”
Passenger: “I’m here on holiday.” / “I’m here for business.”
Immigration Officer: “How long are you staying?”
Passenger: “Two weeks.”
Immigration Officer: “Where will you be staying?”
Passenger: “At a hotel in the city center.”
Immigration Officer: “Do you have a return ticket?”
Passenger: “Yes, my return flight is on the 20th.”
Immigration Officer: “Thank you. Enjoy your stay.”
Passenger: “Thank you!”
2️⃣ At Customs (Declaring Goods)
Customs Officer: “Good afternoon. Are you bringing any goods to declare?”
Passenger: “No, just my personal belongings.”
Customs Officer: “Are you carrying any alcohol, cigarettes, or large amounts of cash?”
Passenger: “No, I’m not.”
Customs Officer: “Did you pack your bags yourself?”
Passenger: “Yes, I did.”
Customs Officer: “Has your luggage been left unattended at any time?”
Passenger: “No, it’s been with me the whole time.”
Customs Officer: “Okay, you may proceed. Welcome to the country!”
Passenger: “Thank you!”
Let’s see what you remember – Do the quiz
Press Submit to check your answers—correct ones turn green, incorrect ones pink. Fix mistakes and submit again until all are green! ✅
🛫 Airport Vocabulary Quiz