Travelling by plane is currently one of the most common forms of transportation to get to overseas destinations However, making reservations and buying tickets are only the first steps. Actually, you should know what to do and what to say once you are in an airport or in a plane. In this unit you will learn some of the common words and phrases that you may need to use when you go to an airport and when you travel by plane. This unit also provides you with exercises and quizzes that will enable you to test and reinforce your airline vocabulary skills.
Word/Phrase |
Meaning | Example |
airfare |
cost of a plane ticket | The cost of the airfare is $300. |
aisle |
corridor in the plane between the seats | Could you please keep your bags out of the aisle? |
aisle seat n. |
the seat that is next to the aisle | I’ll give you an aisle seat in case you need to walk around with the baby. |
baggage n. |
the bags and suitcases that travellers put their belongings in | I’m afraid your baggage got on the wrong airplane. |
baggage, luggage claim n. |
part of the airport where you you pick up your luggage after you arrive at your destination airport | The announcement will direct you to the baggage claim. |
blanket n. |
warm covering | If the baby feels cold I can get you a blanket. |
boarding pass n. |
special ticket showing that the passenger has checked in and may board plane | Your must present the boarding pass at the gate. |
bumpy, rough adj |
up and down movement of the aircraft | It might be a bumpy ride because we are flying through a storm. |
cabin |
interior of the aircraft | Smoking is not allowed inside the cabin. |
call light n. |
a button passengers can press to get a crew member’s attention | If you need anything, just press the call light. |
captain n. |
the person who is in charge of the plane | You can meet the captain once the plane lands? |
check in v./n. |
to show your travel documents to the airline staff in the airport so that you can begin your journey | You have to check in before boarding the plane. |
charter n. |
discount airline | If you would like to take a charter it will cost you half as much. |
cockpit n. |
the part of the plane where the captain and his co-pilots sit | We aren’t doing any more tours of the cockpit because it’s almost time to land. |
comfortable adj. |
feel good physically, able to relax | Because you have long legs you might be more comfortable in an aisle seat. |
complimentary adj. |
free of charge | We offer complimentary coffee or tea, but you have to pay for alcohol. |
co-pilot n. |
person who helps the captain fly the plane | If the captain gets sick the co-pilot can take over. |
duty free adj. |
not taxable; exempt from customs taxes | I would like to buy two bottles of perfume; they are duty free |
domestic adj. |
national, within the same country | You should be at the airport two hours ahead of time for domestic flights. |
emergency exit n. |
section of the plane that opens in the case of an accident | Are you comfortable sitting next to the emergency exit? |
e-ticket n. |
airfare purchased on the internet | You will need to present your identification along with your e-ticket. |
excess baggage n. |
heavier/more bags than you are allowed | You can either pay for your excess baggage or leave one of your bags behind. |
first-class n./adj. |
more expensive seating, with better services | When you sit in first-class you get a better meal to eat. |
galley n. |
the area on a plane where the cabin crew prepare meals and store duty-free goods etc. | All meals are prepapred in the galley |
gate n. |
place where passengers go to wait to board a plane | Gate 2B is down this hall and to your right. |
headset, earphones n. |
device that allows passengers to listen to music or a movie | We will be coming around to sell headsets for five dollars. |
international adj. |
worldwide | For international departures, go up one level. |
jet lag n. |
tiredness due to travelling through different time zones | I’m used to travelling now. My body doesn’t suffer from jet lag anymore. |
land v. |
returning to the ground after being in the air | We will be landing in Tokyo in approximately ten minutes. |
lounge (departure) | the part of the airport where you wait until you get on the plane | All passengers are asked to wait in the departure lounge |
life vest, life jacket n. |
a blow-up device that you put on in an emergency over water | Please take a moment to locate the life vest under your seat. |
motion sickness n. |
a bad feeling in the stomach that passengers get during a rough ride | There is a paper bag in front of you in case you experience motion sickness. |
overbooked (overbooking, n.) adj |
more passengers than available seats | The flight is overbooked. Four of our passengers will have to wait for the next flight. |
overhead bin/compartment n. |
place above the seats for storing luggage | You’ll have to put your bag under your seat because all of the overhead bins are full. |
over-sized baggage adj |
items that do not fit in suitcases | Infant car seats and sporting equipment can be picked up at the over-sized baggage counter. |
oxygen mask n. |
a device which passengers put over their nose and mouth to help them breath in case of there is an air pressure loss on a plane | Put your oxygen mask on first before putting one on your child. |
passport n. |
document that proves a person’s identification and nationality | Please have your passportout when you go through security. |
pilot n. |
the person who drives the plane | The pilot is circling over the airport until it is safe to land. |
refreshments n. |
drinks and snacks | It’s a short flight, so we will be serving refreshments but not a meal. |
row n. |
a number of seats beside each other | You are in seat B of row seven. |
runway n. |
the strip of land that a plane uses when arriving or departing from an airport | The plane almost missed the runway because it was such a bad storm. |
seatbelt n. |
device that holds passengers in their seats | Please remain in your seats while the seatbelt light is on. |
steward (male), stewardess (female), flight attendant, air host n. |
man or woman who provides service for passengers during a flight | Ask one of the stewardesses for a pillow if you’re tired. |
stopover n. |
touching down at more than one airport during a flight | It’s not a direct flight. We’re making one stopover in Toronto. |
take off n./v. |
when the plane leaves the ground | We are next in line to take off on this runway. |
taxi in, out v. |
driving an airplane to the correct place for taking off or deboarding | Please remain in your seats until we taxi in to the gate. |
touch down v., n. |
when the aircraft wheels land on the ground | That was a very smooth touch down. |
turbulence n. |
rough flight | This turbulence should only last a few minutes. |
wheelchair n. |
a seat for pushing elderly, disabled, or injured people | A steward will take you to the gate with a wheelchair. |
window seat n. |
seat next to the window where passengers can look out | If your want a window seat you can move you back |