Lesson
Air travel vocabulary
Text
This lesson introduces essential vocabulary used when travelling by air. You'll learn words and phrases for the airport, flights, baggage, and procedures. These terms are common in travel emails, booking confirmations, and business trips.
Table
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| boarding pass | A ticket that allows you to board the plane; shows seat and flight details | Please print your boarding pass before arriving at the airport. |
| carry-on | Small luggage you bring into the cabin with you | She kept her laptop in her carry-on bag. |
| checked baggage | Luggage handed over at check-in and stored in the plane's hold | Checked baggage may be subject to additional fees. |
| gate | The location in the terminal where passengers board the plane | The flight to Paris will board at Gate 12. |
| layover | A short stop between flights before continuing to the final destination | We had a two-hour layover in Amsterdam. |
| customs | The official procedure for declaring goods when entering a country | After landing, go through customs before collecting your bags. |
| security | Checks at the airport to ensure passenger safety (e.g., X-ray, metal detectors) | Remove liquids and laptops before going through security. |
| departure lounge | Area where passengers wait before boarding the aircraft | The team met in the departure lounge to review the presentation. |
| baggage claim | Area where passengers collect their checked luggage after a flight | Collect your suitcase at baggage claim carousel 4. |
| boarding | The process of getting passengers onto the plane | Boarding starts 30 minutes before departure. |
Tip
Remember how different forms and collocations are used:
Pay attention to hyphens and word order: small differences change meaning.
Example
I kept my laptop in my carry-on during the business trip.
Please arrive at the gate 30 minutes before boarding time.
We had a short layover in Frankfurt before continuing to Tokyo.
After landing, go through customs and then pick up your checked baggage.
Tip
Watch out for these universal errors when using travel vocabulary:
Focus on word form (noun vs verb), register (formal vs informal), and correct article usage.
Quiz
Choose the correct definition of 'layover':
Hint: Think about transfers between two flights
Correct!
A 'layover' is a short stop between flights when you change planes.
Incorrect
The correct answer was: A short stop between flights
A 'layover' is a short stop between flights when you change planes.
Quiz
Complete: Please show your _____ at security.
Hint: Think about the document with your seat and flight number
Correct!
'Boarding pass' is the document you present at security and at the gate to board the plane.
Incorrect
The correct answer was: boarding pass
'Boarding pass' is the document you present at security and at the gate to board the plane.
Quiz
Choose the correct sentence:
Hint: Focus on correct collocations for baggage and check-in
Correct!
The correct collocation is 'check my luggage' and 'check-in counter' (noun).
Incorrect
The correct answer was: I will check my luggage at check-in counter.
The correct collocation is 'check my luggage' and 'check-in counter' (noun).
Vocabulary
A document or electronic pass that shows your flight and seat and allows you to board the plane.
Please print your boarding pass before you arrive at the airport.
Vocabulary
Small luggage that passengers are allowed to take into the airplane cabin.
Keep important documents in your carry-on bag.
Vocabulary
Luggage that is handed to the airline at check-in and transported in the plane's hold.
Checked baggage may take longer to arrive at the carousel.
Vocabulary
A short stop between flights when changing planes during a trip.
We had a four-hour layover before the connecting flight.
Vocabulary
The area in the airport terminal where passengers board the aircraft.
The flight to New York will board at Gate 7.
Vocabulary
The official procedure to declare and inspect goods when entering a country.
Declare any goods if asked by customs officers.
Vocabulary
Checks and procedures to ensure passenger safety, such as X-rays and metal detectors.
Please remove laptops and liquids before passing through security.