You can expect polite questions when checking-in, going

through customs and boarding plans at the airport. Private

questions are asked with 'can' and 'may'. Study vocabulary
related to travel to help you prepare you for speaking
English in airports.

Checking In
1. Good morning. Can I have your ticket, please?
2. Here you are.
1. Thank you. Would you like smoking or non-smoking?
2. Non-smoking, please.
1. Would you like a window or an aisle seat?
2. An aisle seat, please.
1. Do you have any baggage?
2. Yes, this suitcase and this carry-on bag.
1. Here's your boarding pass. Have a nice flight.
2. Thank you.

Passport Control
1. Good morning. Can I see your passport?
2. Here you are.
1. Thank you very much. Are you a tourist or on business?
2. I'm a tourist.
1. That's fine. Have a pleasant stay.
2. Thank you.

Key Vocabulary

Can I have your ticket?

smoking, non-smoking
window, aisle seat
baggage, suitcase, carry-on bag
boarding pass
flight
Can I see your passport?
tourist, business
 Conversation #1 – At the Check-In Desk

Dan is flying from New York to Los

Angeles. When he arrives at the airport, he goes to the check-in desk.

Dan: Los Angeles.

Agent: May I have your passport, please?
Dan: Here you go.
Agent: Are you checking any bags?
Dan: Just this one.
Agent: OK, please place your bag on the scale.
Dan: I have a stopover in Chicago – do I need to pick up my luggage there?
Agent: No, it’ll go straight through to Los Angeles. Here are your boarding passes
– your flight leaves from gate 15A and it’ll begin boarding at 3:20. Your seat
number is 26E.
Dan: Thanks.

Conversation Vocabulary and Phrases

 Instead of “Where are you flying today?” the agent may ask “What’s your final
destination?” The answer will be the same!
 You can say “Here you go” anytime you give something to somebody
 To check your bags means to put them on the airplane inside the cargo
compartment. The small bag you take with you on the airplane is called a carry-on.
You need to put your carry-on bags through the X-ray machine at security.
 The scale is the equipment that tells you the weight of your luggage (45 kilograms,
for example)
 A stopover or layover is when the airplane stops in a different city before
continuing to the final destination
 If the agent says that your luggage will go straight through, it means it will go
directly to the final destination (and you don’t need to pick it up during your
stopover)
 Boarding passes are the tickets that permit you to enter the airplane
 When a plane begins boarding, it means that the passengers start to enter the
plane. Usually boarding time is 30-60 minutes before takeoff (when the plane
leaves)

Other Questions & Phrases for the Airport

 “Excuse me, where is the American Airlines check-in desk?”
 “Where is terminal 4?”
 “Where is gate 36?”
 “How many bags can I check?”
 “Will my luggage go straight through, or do I need to pick it up in [Chicago]?”
 “How much is the fee?”
If your bag is heavier than the weight limits, or if your bag is larger than the size
limits, you may need to pay extra. an oversized baggage fee or overweight
baggage fee (this can be $75 to $300). Some airlines in the United States also
charge a fee for ALL checked bags (usually $15 to $30).
 “Please mark this bag as ‘fragile.’”
Say this if you have fragile or sensitive items in your bag that might break
 “Is the flight on time?”
The agent will respond either “Yes” if the flight is on time, or “There’s a 20-minute
delay” (for example) if the flight will leave later than expected.
 Extra questions in the U.S.
On flights going to or inside the U.S., you will probably be asked some extra
security questions before or during check-in. Here are some sample questions:

Liquids must be 100 mL or less, and stored in a clear plastic bag

Answer YES to these questions:

 Did you pack your bags yourself?
 Has your luggage been in your possession at all times?
 Are you aware of the regulations regarding liquids in your carry-on?

Answer NO to these questions:

 Are you carrying any firearms or flammable materials?
 Have you left your luggage unattended at any time?
 Has anyone given you anything to carry on the flight?
Conversation #2 – Going through Security
There are two pieces of equipment in security: you put your bags through the X-ray
machine, and you walk through the metal detector. The X-ray machine has
a conveyor belt that moves your bags automatically through the machine. You can
put small items like keys or money into plastic bins.

Agent: Please lay your bags flat on the conveyor belt, and use the bins for small
objects.
Dan: Do I need to take my laptop out of the bag?
Agent: Yes, you do. Take off your hat and your shoes, too.
(he walks through the metal detector)
[BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP]
Agent: Please step back. Do you have anything in your pockets – keys, cell phone,
loose change?
Dan: I don’t think so. Let me try taking off my belt.
Agent: Okay, come on through.
(he goes through the metal detector again)
Agent: You’re all set! Have a nice flight.
The phrase “you’re all set” is a common expression that means “you’re finished and
everything is OK.”
 Phrasal Verbs: SET OFF and GO OFF
When the alarm sounds, we say “the alarm went off.” To describe what caused the
alarm to sound, we say “set off” – for example, “My keys set off the alarm” or “My
keys set off the metal detector.”
Announcements at the Gate

Airports are divided into terminals (the

major sections of the airport) and each terminal has many gates. The gate is the
door you go through to enter the airplane. Here are a few announcements you
might hear while you are at the gate, waiting for the plane to board.
 “There has been a gate change.”
(this means the flight will leave from a different gate)
 “United Airlines flight 880 to Miami is now boarding.”
(this means it’s time for passengers to enter the plane)
 “Please have your boarding pass and identification ready for boarding.”
 “We would like to invite our first- and business-class passengers to board.”
 “We are now inviting passengers with small children and any passengers
requiring special assistance to begin boarding.”
 “We would now like to invite all passengers to board.”
(this means everyone can enter the plane)
 “This is the final boarding call for United Airlines flight 880 to Miami.”
(this means it is the FINAL OPPORTUNITY to enter the plane before they close the
doors)
 “Passenger John Smith, please proceed to the United Airlines desk at gate
12.”
Conversation #3: On the plane

The people who work inside the

airplane serving food and drinks are called flight attendants. Both men and
women who have this job are called flight attendants. Listen to this conversation
that Dan has with the flight attendant when dinner is served on the flight.

Flight attendant: Chicken or pasta?

Dan: Sorry?
Flight attendant: Would you like chicken or pasta?
Dan: I’ll have the chicken.
Flight attendant: Anything to drink?
Dan: What kind of soda do you have?
Flight attendant: Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Orange, and Dr. Pepper.
Dan: A Diet Coke, no ice, please.
Flight attendant: Here you go.
Dan: Thanks.

Conversation Tips:
If you didn’t understand what the flight attendant said, you can
say Sorry? or Pardon? to ask him or her to repeat it.
If you want to ask for something, you can use the phrase “Can I
have…?” or “Could I have…?” Practice your pronunciation with these common
requests:
 “Can I have a pillow?”
 “Can I have a blanket?”
 “Can I have a pair of headphones?” / “Could I have a headset?”
 “Could I have some water/coffee/tea?”
 “Could I have some extra napkins?”

Finally, if you need to stand up, but there is a person sitting between you and the
aisle, you can say Excuse me and make a motion to start standing up. The person
sitting next to you will understand and stand up to let you get out of your seat.
You’ve finished Lesson 16! Now take the quiz to test how well you remember the
phrases. In tomorrow’s lesson, you’ll learn English phrases for arriving at the
destination airport, going through immigration, and dealing with common travel
problems.
 TRAVELLING BY PLANE
airport captain check in customs flight landed
stewardesses took took off was reading
Last month I decided to visit my relatives in Great Britain. I travelled from New
York to London by plane. I arrived at New York an hour before
my . First I had to and then I went through . My
plane at 2 pm. There was no delay. After a few minutes the
greeted us aboard and wished us a pleasant . Three pretty
started to serve meals and drinks. Then I a book for an hour or so
and a short nap. After about four hours we at Heathrow Airport in
London.