English airport vocabulary, phrases, and communication dialogues

English airport vocabulary

Pronunciation

Check-in Counter

/ˈtʃekˌɪn ˈkaʊntər/

Boarding Pass

/ˈbɔːrdɪŋ pɑːs/

Security Check

/sɪˈkjʊərɪti tʃek/

Gate

/ɡeɪt/

Baggage Claim

/ˈbæɡɪdʒ kleɪm/

Customs

/ˈkʌstəmz/

Immigration

/ˌɪmɪˈɡreɪʃən/

Luggage Trolley

/ˈlʌɡɪdʒ ˈtrɒli/

Departure Lounge

/dɪˈpɑːtʃər laʊndʒ/

Carry-On

/ˈkæri ɒn/

Priority Boarding

/praɪˈɒrɪti ˈbɔːrdɪŋ/

E-Ticket

/iː ˈtɪkɪt/

Terminal

/ˈtɜːmɪnl/

English airport vocabulary

Pronunciation

Cabin Crew

/ˈkæbɪn kruː/

Turbulence

/ˈtɜːbjʊləns/

Overhead Bin

/ˈoʊvərˌhed bɪn/

In-Flight Service

/ɪn flaɪt ˈsɜːrvɪs/

Emergency Exit

/ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi ˈeksɪt/

Seat Belt

/siːt belt/

Landing Gear

/ˈlændɪŋ ɡɪər/

Aisle Seat

/aɪl sit/

Window Seat

/ˈwɪndəʊ sit/

Cockpit

/ˈkɒkˌpɪt/

Legroom

/ˈleɡˌruːm/

In-Flight Magazine

/ɪn flaɪt ˈmæɡəˌziːn/

English airport vocabulary

Pronunciation

Wheelchair Access

/ˈwiːlˌtʃeər ˈækses/

Duty-Free Shop

/ˈdjuːti friː ʃɒp/

Connecting Flight

/kəˈnektɪŋ flaɪt/

Unaccompanied Minor Service

/ˌʌnəˈkʌmpənid ˈmaɪnər ˈsɜːrvɪs/

Vegetarian Meal

/ˌvedʒɪˈteəriən miːl/

Medical Assistance

/ˈmedɪkəl əˈsɪstəns/

Lounge Access

/laʊndʒ ˈækses/

Pre-Boarding

/priː ˈbɔːrdɪŋ/

Red-Eye Flight

/ˈred ˈaɪ flaɪt/

Transit Visa

/ˈtrænzɪt ˈviːzə/

English airport vocabulary

Pronunciation

Budget Airline

/ˈbʌdʒɪt ˈeəˌlaɪn/

First Class

/fɜːst klɑːs/

Economy Class

/ɪˈkɒnəmi klɑːs/

Business Class

/ˈbɪznɪs klɑːs/

Non-Stop Flight

/nɒn stɒp flaɪt/

Frequent Flyer Program

/ˈfriːkwənt ˈflaɪə ˈproʊɡræm/

English airport vocabulary

Pronunciation

Final Call

/ˈfaɪnl kɔːl/

On-Time Departure

/ɒn taɪm dɪˈpɑːtʃə/

Lost and Found

/lɒst ænd faʊnd/

Baggage Allowance

/ˈbæɡɪdʒ əˈlaʊəns/

Please Have Your Passport Ready

/pliːz hæv jɔːr ˈpɑːspɔːrt ˈredi/

Flight Attendant Call Button

/flaɪt əˈtendənt kɔːl ˈbʌtn̩/

Fasten Your Seat Belts

/ˈfæsən jɔːr sit belts/

Gate Change

/ɡeɪt tʃeɪndʒ/

No Smoking in the Cabin

/noʊ ˈsmoʊkɪŋ ɪn ðə ˈkæbɪn/

Airport idioms in English

Pronunciation

Meaning

Miss the plane

/mɪs ðə pleɪn/

To arrive too late to catch it

On autopilot

/ɒn ˈɔːtəˌpaɪlət/

Doing something without thinking about it or without making an effort

Up in the air

/ʌp ɪn ðə ɛər/

To be uncertain, often because other matters have to be decided first

Smooth flying

/smuːð ˈflaɪɪŋ/

Without any difficult

Land on your feet

/lænd ɒn jɔːr fiːt/

Have good luck or success, especially after risk or trial

No.

Communication phrases at the airport

1

Excuse me, where is the check-in counter for [airline]?

2

May I see your passport and boarding pass, please?

3

Do I need to take my laptop out of my bag for security?

4

Which gate is my flight to [destination] departing from?

5

How long is the flight to [destination]?

6

Where can I find a restroom?

7

Is there free Wi-Fi available in the terminal?

8

Could you please tell me where the baggage claim area is?

9

Do I need to go through customs before boarding?

10

Is there a duty-free shop in this terminal?

11

Excuse me, where can I purchase a SIM card?

12

What time does boarding for flight [number] begin?

13

Is there a lounge I can access with my ticket?

14

Is my flight delayed or on time?

15

How do I get to the city center from the airport?

English communication dialogues at the airport

• Agent: Good afternoon! Where are you flying to today?

• Anna: Korea.

• Agent: May I have your passport, please?

• Anna: Here you go.

• Agent: Are you checking any bags?

• Anna: Just one, please.

• Agent: OK, please place your bag on the scale.

• Anna: I have a stopover in Singapore – do I need to pick up my luggage there?

• Agent: No, it’ll go straight through to Korea. Here are your boarding passes – your flight leaves from gate 18A and it’ll begin boarding at 4:30. Your seat number is 5A.

• Anna: Thank you.