At the aeroport- If you are traveling and need to visit an airport, you can

expect polite questions when checking in, going through customs, and boarding a

plane. You should always remember to be polite especially when speaking to
customs officials and security officers. Knowing the socially appropriate things to
say will help you speed through the check-in and boarding process.

To prepare for your trip to the airport, study vocabulary related to travel and

practice these basic English dialogues with a partner. Afterward, take a quiz to
test your verbal skills related to airport travel.

Important Questions at Check-In

Expect these questions when checking in at an airport. Before practicing the

dialogue below, familiarize yourself with the terminology and phrasing of these
questions.

 Can I have your ticket, please?

 May I see your passport, please?
 Would you like a window or an aisle seat?
 Do you have any baggage?
 What is your final destination?
 Would you like to upgrade to business or first class?
 Do you need any help getting to the gate?

Check-In Practice Dialogue

The following dialogue between a passenger service agent and a passenger is

fairly typical of a discussion you might encounter at an airport. Take one of the
roles, find a friend of fellow student to take the other role, practice the dialogue,
and switch roles.

Passenger service agent: Good morning. Can I have your ticket, please?

Passenger: Here you are.
Passenger service agent: Would you like a window or an aisle seat?
Passenger: An aisle seat, please.
Passenger service agent: Do you have any baggage?
Passenger: Yes, this suitcase and this carry-on bag.
Passenger service agent: Here's your boarding pass. Have a nice flight.
Passenger: Thank you.

Going through Security

After you've checked in, you'll need to go through airport security. It's important
to follow instructions carefully and understand these requests:

 Please step through the scanner. > Asked when you are passing through
metal detectors at the airport.
 Please step to the side. > Asked if a security officer needs to question you
further.
 Please raise your arms to the side. > Asked when you are inside a scanner.
 Empty your pockets, please.
 Please take off your shoes and belt.
 Please take any electronic devices out of your bag.

Security Practice Dialogue

Things move quickly at an airport once you reach the security checkpoint. Use
this dialogue practice to help you speed through the process.

Security officer: Next!
Passenger: Here's my ticket.
Security officer: Please step through the scanner.
Passenger: (beep, beep, beep) What's wrong?
Security officer: Please step to the side.
Passenger: Certainly.
Security officer: Do you have any coins in your pocket?
Passenger: No, but I have some keys.
Security officer: Ah, that's the problem. Put your keys in this bin and walk
through the scanner again.
Passenger: OK.
Security officer: Excellent. No problem. Remember to unload your pockets
before you go through security next time.
Passenger: I'll do that. Thank you.
Security officer: Have a nice day.

Passport Control and Customs

If you take an international flight, you'll have to pass through passport control
and customs. Here are some of the most common questions you can expect:

 Can I see your passport?

 Are you a tourist or here on business? > Asked at customs to determine the
purpose of your visit.
 Do you have anything to declare? > Sometimes people need to declare
things they have bought in other countries.
  Have you brought any food into the country? > Some countries do not
allow certain foods to be brought into the country.

Passport Control and Customs Dialogues

You may have different experiences at the passport-control and customs sections
depending on the laws of the country you are visiting as well as the type of items
you are bringing in.

Passport official: Good morning. Can I see your passport?

Passenger: Here you are.
Passport official: Thank you very much. Are you a tourist or here on business?
Passenger: I'm a tourist.
Passport official: That's fine. Have a pleasant stay.
Passenger: Thank you.

Customs official: Good morning. Do you have anything to declare?

Passenger: I'm not sure. I have two bottles of whiskey. Do I need to declare
that?
Customs official: No, you can have up to 2 quarts.
Passenger: Great.
Customs official: Have you brought any food into the country?
Passenger: Just some cheese I bought in France.
Customs official: I'm afraid I'll have to take that.
Passenger: Why? It's just some cheese.
Customs official: Unfortunately, you are not allowed to bring cheese into the
country. I'm sorry.
Passenger: OK. Here you are.
Customs official: Thank you. Anything else?
Passenger: I bought a T-shirt for my daughter.
Customs official: That's fine. Have a nice day.
Passenger: You, too.

1. Could I please see your __________ before you get on the airplane?
 bag
 cat
 boarding pass
 board ticket

2. Please put your keys in the __________ and walk through the
__________.
  bin... scanner
 hole... scanner
 holder... hall
 bin... security

3. Do you have any __________?

 luggage
 bags
 carry-ons
 All of the answers are correct

4. May I see your ___________? Are you a __________ or are you

traveling on business?
 suitcase... tourist
 ticket... passenger
 passport... airline worker
 passport... tourist

5. Do you have anything to __________? Any presents or alcohol?

 say
 tell me
 declare
 hide

6. Please ________ to the side and empty your pockets.

 step
 stand on
 move away
 hop

7. Would your prefer an __________ seat or a ___________?

 window... aisle
 aisle... window
 aisle... window one
8. I have one suitcase and a __________.
 carry-on
 backpack
 pocketbook

Air Travel Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

Airport: I went to the airport to catch a flight to San Francisco.

Check-in: Make sure to get to the airport two hours early to check in.
Fly: I like to fly on the same airline to get mileage points.
Land: The airplane will land in two hours.
Landing: The landing took place during a storm. It was very scary!
Plane: The plane is packed with 300 passengers.
Take off: The airplane is scheduled to take off at 3:30 p.m.

Vacation Travel Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

Camp: Do you like to camp in the woods?

Destination: What is your final destination?
Excursion: I'd like to take an excursion to the wine country while we're in
Tuscany.
Go camping: Let's go to the beach and go camping next weekend.
Go sightseeing: Did you go sightseeing while you were in France?
Hostel: Staying in a youth hostel is a great way to save money on vacation.
Hotel: I'll book a hotel for two nights.
Journey: The journey will take four weeks and we'll visit four countries.
Luggage: Can you carry the luggage upstairs?
Motel: We stayed in a convenient motel on our way to Chicago.
Package holiday: I prefer to buy package holidays, so I don't have to worry
about anything.
Passenger: The passenger felt ill during the voyage.
Route: Our route will take us through Germany and on to Poland.
Sightseeing: The sightseeing in this town is rather boring. Let's go shopping.
Suitcase: Let me unpack my suitcase and then we can go swimming.
Tour: Peter went on a tour of vineyard.
Tourism: Tourism is becoming an important industry in almost every country.
Tourist: Every May many tourists from around the world come to see the flower
festival.
Travel: Travel is one of his favorite free time activities.
Travel agent: The travel agent found us a great deal.
Trip: The trip to New York was lovely and interesting.
Vacation: I'd love to take a nice long vacation on the beach.
Overland Travel Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

Bicycle: One of the best ways to see the countryside is to ride a bicycle.
Bike: We rode a bike from shop to shop.
Bus: You can catch a bus for Seattle at the bus station.
Bus station: The bus station is three blocks from here.
Car: You might want to rent a car when you go on vacation.
Lane: Make sure to get into the left lane when you want to pass.
Motorcycle: Riding a motorcycle can be fun and exciting, but it's also
dangerous.
Freeway: We'll have to take the freeway to Los Angeles.
Highway: The highway between the two cities is quite lovely.
Rail: Have you ever traveled by rail?
Go by rail: Going by rail offers the opportunity to get up and walk around as you
travel.
Railway: The railway station is down this street.
Road: There are three roads to Denver.
Main road: Take the main road into town and turn left at 5th Street.
Taxi: I got in a taxi and went to the train station.
Traffic: There's a lot of traffic today on the road!
Train: I like riding on trains. It's a very relaxing way to travel.
Tube: You can take the tube in London.
Underground: You can take the underground in many cities throughout
Europe.
Subway: You can take the subway in New York.

Sea / Ocean Travel Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

Boat: Have you ever piloted a boat?

Cruise: We will stop at three destinations during our cruise through the
Mediterranean.
Cruise ship: It's the most elegant cruise ship in the world!
Ferry: Ferries allow passengers to take their cars with them to their destination.
Ocean: The Atlantic Ocean takes four days to cross.
Port: There are all kinds of commercial ships in the port.
Sailboat: The sailboat requires nothing but the wind.
Sea: The sea is very calm today.
Set sail: We set sail for the exotic island.
Ship: Have you ever been a passenger on a ship?
Voyage: The voyage to the Bahamas took three days.

Travel Vocabulary Quiz

Test your knowledge by taking this short quiz.

1. Can you pick me up at tomorrow morning? My flight _____ at 7:30.

 arrives
 comes
 departs

2. Could I ask what your final _____ is?

 goal
 country
 thought
 destination

3. You should change _____ to pass this car.

 clothes
 lanes
 your mindset
 quickly

4. I'd love to take a fancy _____ and travel through the Bahamas.
 hat
 dog
 cruise
 man

5. The _____ was very bumpy. I was afraid.

 flight
 camel
 pavement
 conversation

6. It's best not to take too much _____ with you on your trip. The airline
might lose it!
 candy
 medicine
  luggage
 gin

7. I think the _____ is a great way to get around a big city.
 car
 rail
 pogo stick
 subway

8. You can catch a _____ and take your car to the island.
 ferry
 fairy
 fairway
 furry

9. Be sure to _____ at least two hours before your flight.

 have a beer
 eat
 check in
 deplane

10. Many _____ missed the flight to New York.

 people
 passengers
 travelers
 all answers are correct

11. I think traveling by _____ is the best way to see the countryside. You
can walk around, have dinner, and just watch the world go by.
 bus
 car
 motorcycle
 train
12. Let's rent a _____ for the day and row around the lake.
 ship
 boat
 raft
 surfboard

13. The _____ is a 747 by Boeing.

 airport
 car
 plane
 helicopter

14. Let's just stay at a cheap _____ along the highway.

 hotel
 motel
 lodge
 all the answers are correct

15. There's nothing like a _____ ride on a spring day to get in shape.

 bike
 motorbike
 motorcycle
 short

16. If you want to save money, take a hike and _____ in the mountains.
 sleep
 run
 camp
 hunt

17. I hope your _____ was pleasant.

 voyage
 trip
 journey
  all answers are correct

Do you have an e-ticket or a paper ticket?

When you first get to the airport you will need to check in to let the airline know you are
going to be boarding the flight. If you have an e-ticket, you only need to show a printed
version of your booking confirmation and your identification. Some airlines let you check
in online and pick up your boarding pass when you get to the airport. A paper ticket is a
physical document. Just like a concert ticket, if you lose it, you have to buy another!

Are you checking in baggage or carrying on?

Your baggage is the things you’ve brought with you – suitcases, backpacks, boxes. If
you have large items or lots of baggage, you need to check it in – that is, have it stored
in the airplane’s cargo hold. Carry-on is the smaller bags you are allowed to take on the
plane with you.

Would you like a window or aisle seat?

Think about which part of the plane is most comfortable to you. If you enjoy looking out
the window then say you want a window seat. Or if you’d rather be free to get up and
stretch your legs, tell them you’d like an aisle seat. If you would prefer to sit near the
front or the back of the plane, let the staff know when you are checking in to see if they
can find you your perfect seat.

May I see your boarding pass?

Your boarding pass is the document given to you when you check in at the airport which
contains your seat number and departure gate information. You need it in order to pass
through security and get on your flight.

Which gate should I board from?

When it’s time to for your flight to depart, you need to know where to go to get on the
plane. The gate is the area where you go to board the plane and go through a final
security check.
Is my flight delayed or on-time?
If your flight is going to be late departing, you’ll hear that it has been delayed. On-time
means your flight will leave as scheduled. If your flight is cancelled, you may be entitled
to compensation – the airline might pay the cost of finding a new flight or give you some
money to make up for any inconvenience caused.

Do you have anything to declare?

Before you leave the airport when you get to your destination you need to let the
customs officials know if you are carrying anything that you might need to pay tax on.
Check what you are allowed to bring with you into the country and if a customs official
asks whether you have anything to declare you can say “Yes” if you are bringing
anything that might be restricted or that you might need to pay tax on. If you don’t have
anything to declare say “No” and carry on with your journey or allow the customs official
to check your bag.

May I see your passport and travel documents?

When you go through immigration, the immigration officer will ask to see your passport
and travel documents. This includes a visa, if you need to get one beforehand to enter
the country and any immigration forms you need to complete if you do not need a visa
to enter the country.

Now you know what questions to expect when you fly, it’s time to relax and enjoy the
flight!

We’re going flying in today’s lesson and we have a very special guest. Rachel of the
wonderfulo Rachel’s English channel is here to help us. If you haven’t subscribed to
Rachel’s YouTube channel yet, do it right away. It’s the best place to improve your
pronunciation. OK, let’s check in for our flight.

Good afternoon
Hi. Hi, we need to check in.
The machine didn’t recognize my passport.
I can help. Where are you flying to today?
Rio Recife
We’re flying to Rio and then we have a connecting flight to Recife.
What are you looking for?
My reading glasses.
They’re on your head.
Oh. I had a bottle of water.
I threw that away. Why? You can’t take liquids on the plane.
Are you checking any bags?
Yes, just one
Can you put it on the scale?
Sure. Did you pack my gloves?
Gloves?
Well it could be cold.
No, it’s summer in Recife.
Oh, of course. Can you check our bag through to Recife?
No, I can’t. You’ll need to pick it up in Rio to go through customs.
And then we have to check it in again for Recife?
That’s right
How much time do we have? How long is our layover?
About two and a half hours.
That’s plenty of time.
I need to ask you some security questions. Who packed your bags?
Me. Me. We both did
When did you pack it?
Last night.
And has it been with you since you packed it?
Yes. Yes.
And are you carrying anything for anybody else?
No. No.
Great. Here are your boarding passes. Thank you.
Your flight leaves from gate 19 and boarding begins at 11:20.
11.20. Yes. Your seat numbers are 16E and 16F.
Do we have an aisle seat?
Yes, you have an aisle seat and a middle seat.
And how do we get to the gate?
You follow the signs to Departures
OK. Thank you very much.
Have a great trip. We will.
I’ve got another security question.
What?
Did we lock the front door?

Let’s look at some language again. Passengers often check in at machines that print
their boarding passes – the document they need to get on a flight.
Passengers can take small bags onto the plane with them as carryon luggage – but not
big ones.

This bag’s too big for carry on. Well yes.

Large bags must be checked in.

Are you checking any bags?
Yes, just one
Can you put it on the scale?
Sure.

Bags are usually checked through to the final destination, but not always.

Can you check our bags through to Recife?

No, I can’t. You’ll need to pick it up in Rio to go through customs.
And then we have to check it in again for Recife?
That’s right

We had connecting flights with a layover. A layover is a short stay between parts of a
journey.

How much time do we have? How long is our layover?

About two and a half hours.
That’s plenty of time.

The check in clerk asks security questions. They could be WH- questions, so questions
that begin with words like these.

I need to ask you some security questions. Who packed your bag?
Me. Me.

Who packed your bag?

When did you pack it?
Where was it packed?

Other times they ask questions you need to answer yes or no.

Has your bag been with you since you packed it?
Yes
Are you carrying anything for anyone else?
No.

Listen carefully. Here are some more questions you’ll need to answer ‘no’.

Has your bag been out of your sight at any time?

Does it contain any prohibited or dangerous articles?
Are you carrying anything for anyone else?
Has anyone given you anything to carry for them on this flight?
She told us the gate number. A gate is the place where passengers wait to get on their
flight.

Your flight leaves from gate 19 and boarding begins at 11:20.

The boarding time is the time passengers start getting onto the plane.

Do we have an aisle seat?

Yes, you have an aisle seat and a middle seat.

We will have an aisle seat and a middle seat. We won’t have a window seat. But first we
need to go to departures.

And how do we get to the gate?

You follow the signs to Departures
OK. Thank you very much.
Have a great trip.
We will.