Airport

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. Listen to the conversation he has with the agent:

Agent: Good afternoon! Where are you flying to today?

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

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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?”

• “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 might be asked some extra security

questions before or during check-in. Here are some sample questions:

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?

(Liquids must be 100 mL or less, and stored in a single quart-sized clear plastic

bag. More information: TSA.gov)

Answer NO to these questions:

• Are you carrying any firearms or flammable materials?

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• 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. Some airports also use a body

scanner for a more careful check.

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.

In the picture below, the woman is walking through the metal detector.

Her suitcase is on the conveyor belt after going through the X-ray machine.

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.”

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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

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.

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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/earbuds?”

• “Could I have some water/coffee/tea?”

• “Could I have some extra napkins?”

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Good afternoon passengers. This is the pre-boarding announcement for flight 89B to Rome.
We are now inviting those passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring
special assistance, to begin boarding at this time. Please have your boarding pass and
identification ready. Regular boarding will begin in approximately ten minutes time. Thank
you.
This is the final boarding call for passengers Erin and Fred Collins booked on flight 372A to
Kansas City. Please proceed to gate 3 immediately. The final checks are being completed
and the captain will order for the doors of the aircraft to close in approximately five minutes
time. I repeat. This is the final boarding call for Erin and Fred Collins. Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard Flight 4B7 with service from Hong Kong to San
Francisco. We are currently third in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in
approximately seven minutes time. We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time
and secure all baggage underneath your seat or in the overhead compartments. We also ask
that your seats and table trays are in the upright position for take-off. Please turn off all
personal electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones. Smoking is prohibited for the
duration of the flight. Thank you for choosing Mountain Airlines. Enjoy your flight.
Good afternoon passengers. This is your captain speaking. First I'd like to welcome everyone
on Rightwing Flight 86A. We are currently cruising at an altitude of 33,000 feet at an
airspeed of 400 miles per hour. The time is 1:25 pm. The weather looks good and with the
tailwind on our side we are expecting to land in London approximately fifteen minutes
ahead of schedule. The weather in London is clear and sunny, with a high of 25 degrees for
this afternoon. If the weather cooperates we should get a great view of the city as we
descend. The cabin crew will be coming around in about twenty minutes time to offer you a
light snack and beverage, and the inflight movie will begin shortly after that. I'll talk to you
again before we reach our destination. Until then, sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of the
flight.
Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the crew I ask that you please direct your attention to
the monitors above as we review the emergency procedures. There are six emergency exits
on this aircraft. Take a minute to locate the exit closest to you. Note that the nearest exit
may be behind you. Count the number of rows to this exit. Should the cabin experience
sudden pressure loss, stay calm and listen for instructions from the cabin crew. Oxygen
masks will drop down from above your seat. Place the mask over your mouth and nose, like
this. Pull the strap to tighten it. If you are traveling with children, make sure that your own
mask is on first before helping your children. In the unlikely event of an emergency landing
and evacuation, leave your carry-on items behind. Life rafts are located below your seats
and emergency lighting will lead you to your closest exit and slide. We ask that you make
sure that all carry-on luggage is stowed away safely during the flight. While we wait for take
off, please take a moment to review the safety data card in the seat pocket in front of you.

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