Airport English: Phrases for Travel

Quick Answer: The most useful airport English phrases are I'd like to check in for my flight to London, Can I take this as hand luggage?, Where is gate 12?, Is the flight on time? and My luggage didn't arrive. Airport conversations follow the same order every time: check-in, security, gate, passport control and baggage claim.

Key takeaways

• Luggage and baggage are uncountable: say two bags or two pieces of luggage, never two luggages.
• You board a plane at a gate, not a door: Where is gate 12?
• If the plane leaves without you, you missed your flight, not lost it.
• Final call means the gate is about to close.
• At passport control, give short true answers: Tourism. Two weeks. Nothing to declare.
• American English spells canceled with one l; British English uses cancelled.

What airport words do you need?

Word	Meaning
departures / arrivals	the area for leaving / arriving flights
terminal	a building of the airport
check-in desk / counter	where you drop your bags and get a boarding pass
boarding pass	the ticket that lets you board the plane
carry-on / hand luggage	the bag you take on the plane
checked baggage	bags that go in the hold
security	where bags and passengers are scanned
gate	the door where you board the plane
boarding	getting on the plane
layover / connection	a stop between two flights
baggage claim / reclaim	where you collect checked bags
customs	where officials check goods you bring in
delayed / canceled	late / will not fly (UK spelling: cancelled)

Note: luggage and baggage are uncountable. Say "two pieces of luggage" or "two bags", not "two luggages".

What do you say at check-in?

What staff say:

• "Can I see your passport, please?"
• "Where are you flying to today?"
• "Are you checking any bags?"
• "Please put your bag on the scale."
• "Did you pack this bag yourself?"
• "Would you like a window or an aisle seat?"
• "Your bag is two kilos overweight."

What you say:

• "I'd like to check in for the flight to Toronto."
• "I have one bag to check and one carry-on."
• "Could I have an aisle seat, please?"
• "Is it possible to sit together?"
• "Can I take this bag on the plane?"

Many travelers check in online or at a self-service machine (a kiosk) and only use the bag drop desk.

What do security officers say?

Security officers give short instructions. Understanding them keeps the line moving.

• "Please take your laptop out of your bag."
• "Remove any liquids."
• "Take off your belt, jacket and shoes." (rules vary by airport)
• "Empty your pockets."
• "Step through, please."
• "Is this your bag? I need to check it."

You can answer: "Sure", "Yes, that's mine", or ask "Do I need to take my shoes off?"

Finding your way and boarding

• "Excuse me, where is gate 24?"
• "How do I get to Terminal 2?"
• "Is there a shuttle between terminals?"
• "Where can I find a pharmacy / a cafe / free Wi-Fi?"
• "What time does boarding start?"

Typical announcements:

• "Flight BA 312 to London is now boarding at gate 15."
• "We would like to invite passengers with small children to board first."
• "This is the final call for passenger Ahmet Kaya."
• "Flight 207 has been delayed by approximately 40 minutes."

Final call means the gate is closing very soon.

What do you say if your flight is delayed or canceled?

• "Is the flight to Berlin on time?"
• "How long is the delay?"
• "My flight was canceled. What are my options?"
• "I'm going to miss my connecting flight."
• "Can you rebook me on the next flight?"
• "Will my bags be transferred automatically?"

Stay polite but firm. "I'm afraid I really need to be in Paris tonight" is clearer and more effective than shouting.

On the plane

• "Excuse me, I think you're in my seat."
• "Could you help me put my bag in the overhead bin?" (UK: overhead locker)
• "Could I have some water, please?"
• "Can I have a blanket?"
• "Excuse me, may I get past?" (to leave a window seat)

For more polite forms, see how to make polite requests in English.

What questions are asked at passport control?

At passport control (also called immigration), answers should be short and true.

Question	Example answer
What's the purpose of your visit?	Tourism. / I'm visiting family. / Business.
How long are you staying?	Two weeks.
Where are you staying?	At the Riverside Hotel in Manchester.
Is this your first visit?	Yes, it is. / No, I came here two years ago.
Do you have anything to declare?	No, nothing to declare.

What do you say if your luggage is lost?

• "Which carousel is for the flight from Istanbul?"
• "My suitcase didn't arrive."
• "My bag is damaged."
• "It's a large black suitcase with a red tag."
• "Here's my baggage tag."
• "How long will it take to find it?"
• "Can you deliver it to my hotel?"

Then you might need hotel English phrases to explain the situation at reception.

Sample check-in dialogue

• Agent: Good morning. Where are you flying today?
• You: To Dublin. Here's my passport.
• Agent: Thank you. Are you checking any bags?
• You: Yes, just this one.
• Agent: Window or aisle?
• You: Aisle, please.
• Agent: Here's your boarding pass. Boarding starts at 10:15 at gate 32.
• You: Thanks. Is the flight on time?
• Agent: Yes, it is. Have a good flight.

What mistakes do travelers make at the airport?

1. "I have two luggages." - correct: I have two bags or two pieces of luggage.
2. "Where is the door 12?" - correct: Where is gate 12?
3. "I lost my flight." - correct: I missed my flight.
4. "Can I enter the plane?" - correct: Can I board now?
5. Long stories at passport control - keep answers short.

Quick quiz

1. The place where you collect your bags: ___
2. The ticket you need to board: ___
3. A stop between two flights: ___
4. The last announcement before the gate closes: ___

Answers: 1. baggage claim 2. boarding pass 3. layover or connection 4. final call

For a complete travel toolkit, read English for travel. Not sure if your English is ready for a trip? Take our free 5-minute English level test and find the right place to start.

People Also Ask

What questions do they ask at airport check-in?

Common questions are Can I see your passport, please?, Are you checking any bags?, Did you pack your bags yourself? and Would you like a window or an aisle seat?

What is the difference between carry-on and checked baggage?

Carry-on baggage, also called hand luggage, is the bag you take onto the plane. Checked baggage goes in the hold and you collect it at baggage claim after the flight.

What do I say at passport control?

Officers usually ask about the purpose of your trip, how long you are staying and where you are staying. Give short, clear answers like I'm here on holiday for ten days.

What should I say if my luggage is lost?

Go to the baggage services desk and say My suitcase didn't arrive. Give your flight number and baggage tag, describe the bag, and ask how long it will take to find it.

Related Reading

• English for Travel: The Essential Guide
• Hotel English Phrases
• How to Make Polite Requests in English
• How to Ask Questions in English