Word list · Teens & Adults
Airport and Travel Vocabulary in English
From check-in to baggage claim: the words of every flight.
- Age
- Ages 13+
- Level
- A2–B2
- Skill
- Vocabulary
- Format
- Interactive
- Travel
- 25 words
Practise
Three ways to learn the list. Nothing is saved: start again whenever you like.
0 of 25 learned
boarding pass
noun
The list
Tap the speaker to hear each word.
boarding pass
noun · A2
a card or phone code that lets you get on a plane
Please have your passport and boarding pass ready at the gate.
check in
phrasal verb · A2
to show your ticket and leave your bags at the airport desk before a flight
You need to check in two hours before an international flight.
hand luggage
noun · A2
a small bag you can take with you onto the plane
You can take one piece of hand luggage on the plane for free.
gate
noun · A2
the door at an airport where you get on your plane
Flight BA215 is now boarding at gate 14.
delayed
adjective · A2
happening later than planned
Our flight was delayed by three hours because of fog.
cancelled
adjective · A2
stopped from happening; not going to happen
All flights to Paris were cancelled because of the strike, so we took the train.
departures
noun · B1
the part of an airport where passengers wait to leave
Go upstairs to departures and look for the information screens.
arrivals
noun · B1
the part of an airport where passengers come out after landing
I'll meet you in arrivals as soon as your plane lands.
customs
noun · B1
the place at a border where officers check what you are bringing into a country
An officer at customs asked to look inside my suitcase.
passport control
noun · B1
the place where officers check your passport when you enter or leave a country
The officer at passport control stamped my passport and wished me a good trip.
security check
noun · B1
the place where your bags and body are checked for dangerous items before a flight
Take your laptop out of your bag at the security check.
aisle seat
noun · B1
a seat next to the narrow passage that runs between the rows
Could I have an aisle seat, please? I like to stretch my legs.
window seat
noun · A2
a seat next to the window on a plane, train or bus
I always book a window seat so I can look at the clouds.
connecting flight
noun · B1
a second flight you take to continue a journey
We only had forty minutes to catch our connecting flight in Frankfurt.
jet lag
noun · B1
the tired feeling you get after flying to a place with a very different time zone
I had terrible jet lag for three days after flying to Tokyo.
one-way ticket
noun · B1
a ticket for a journey to a place but not back again
I bought a one-way ticket because I don't know when I'll come home.
return ticket
noun · A2
a ticket for a journey to a place and back again (American English: round-trip ticket)
A return ticket to the airport is cheaper if you buy it online.
baggage claim
noun · B1
the place at an airport where you collect your bags after a flight
Our suitcases were the last ones to come out at baggage claim.
take off
phrasal verb · B1
(of a plane) to leave the ground and start flying
The plane took off twenty minutes late.
land
verb · A2
(of a plane) to come down to the ground at the end of a flight
We landed in Lisbon just after midnight.
on board
phrase · B1
on a plane, ship or train
Hot meals and drinks are available on board.
itinerary
noun · B2
a detailed plan of a journey, with places and times
The travel agent emailed us a day-by-day itinerary for the trip.
duty-free
adjective · B1
(of goods) sold at airports without the usual taxes
She bought some perfume at the duty-free shop.
overweight
adjective · B1
(of luggage) heavier than the airline allows
My suitcase was overweight, so I had to pay an extra fee.
layover
noun · B2
a period of waiting at an airport between two flights
We have a six-hour layover in Dubai, so we're going to visit the city.
Use it: speaking task
For pairs or small groups, about ten minutes.
Work in pairs. Tell your partner the story of a real or imaginary journey by plane, from leaving home to arriving at your hotel. Use at least eight words from the list; your partner ticks them off.
- Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat? Why?
- Have you ever had a flight that was delayed or cancelled? What did you do?
- What is the longest layover you've ever had, or could imagine having?
- How do you deal with jet lag?
- What do you always put in your hand luggage?
Printable worksheet
One page of matching and gap-fill, the speaking task, and an answer key on a separate page.
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Name: ______________________ Date: ____________
A. Match each word with its meaning.
- 1. boarding pass ____
- 2. hand luggage ____
- 3. delayed ____
- 4. departures ____
- 5. customs ____
- 6. security check ____
- 7. window seat ____
- 8. jet lag ____
- 9. return ticket ____
- 10. take off ____
- a) happening later than planned
- b) the part of an airport where passengers wait to leave
- c) the place where your bags and body are checked for dangerous items before a flight
- d) a small bag you can take with you onto the plane
- e) the tired feeling you get after flying to a place with a very different time zone
- f) a card or phone code that lets you get on a plane
- g) a seat next to the window on a plane, train or bus
- h) (of a plane) to leave the ground and start flying
- i) a ticket for a journey to a place and back again (American English: round-trip ticket)
- j) the place at a border where officers check what you are bringing into a country
B. Complete the sentences with words from the box.
aisle seat · arrivals · baggage claim · cancelled · check in · connecting flight · gate · landed · one-way ticket · passport control
- 1. You need to two hours before an international flight.
- 2. Flight BA215 is now boarding at 14.
- 3. All flights to Paris were because of the strike, so we took the train.
- 4. I'll meet you in as soon as your plane lands.
- 5. The officer at stamped my passport and wished me a good trip.
- 6. Could I have an , please? I like to stretch my legs.
- 7. We only had forty minutes to catch our in Frankfurt.
- 8. I bought a because I don't know when I'll come home.
- 9. Our suitcases were the last ones to come out at .
- 10. We in Lisbon just after midnight.
C. Use it: speak
Work in pairs. Tell your partner the story of a real or imaginary journey by plane, from leaving home to arriving at your hotel. Use at least eight words from the list; your partner ticks them off.
- Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat? Why?
- Have you ever had a flight that was delayed or cancelled? What did you do?
- What is the longest layover you've ever had, or could imagine having?
- How do you deal with jet lag?
- What do you always put in your hand luggage?
Answer key
A. 1f · 2d · 3a · 4b · 5j · 6c · 7g · 8e · 9i · 10h
- B.
- 1. check in
- 2. gate
- 3. cancelled
- 4. arrivals
- 5. passport control
- 6. aisle seat
- 7. connecting flight
- 8. one-way ticket
- 9. baggage claim
- 10. landed