Travel English: Conversations In The

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:
Audio Player 1
Agent: Good afternoon! ________ are you flying to
today?
Dan: Los Angeles.
Agent: May I ________ your passport, please?
Dan: Here you go.
Agent: Are _______ checking any bags?
Dan: Just this one.
Agent: OK, please place your bag on the scale.
Dan: I have a _________ in Chicago – do I need to ________ my luggage there?
Agent: No, it’ll go straight through to Los Angeles. Here are your _________ passes –
your flight leaves from gate _____ and it’ll begin boarding at ________. Your seat
number is 26E.
Dan: Thanks.
CONVERSATION VOCABULARY AND
PHRASES
 Instead of “Where are you flying today?”the agent may
ask __________________________ 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 _________ is the equipment that tells you the weight of your luggage (45
kilograms, for example)
 A _______ 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 __________, 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
Audio Player 2
 “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:

Audio Player 3- Answer YES/NO 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
Audio Player 4- Answer YES/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. 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.

Audio Player 5
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.
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.
Agent: You’re all set! Have a nice flight.

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.

Audio Player 6- NUMBER THE CALLS IN THE ORDER YOU HEAR THEM. THEN MATCH.
ˍ “We are now inviting passengers ˍ “We would now like to invite all
with small children and any passengers to board.”
passengers requiring special
assistance to begin boarding.” o (everyone can enter the plane)
ˍ “This is the final boarding call o (Passengers of a specific class can
for United Airlines flight 880 to enter the plane)
Miami.” o (it is the FINAL OPPORTUNITY to
ˍ “There has been a gate enter the plane before they close the
change.” doors)
ˍ “United Airlines flight 880 to o (it’s time for passengers to enter the
Miami is now boarding.” plane)
ˍ “Please have your boarding pass o (the flight will leave from a different
and identification ready for gate)
boarding.” o (Passengers with special needs can
ˍ “Passenger John Smith, please enter the plane)
proceed to the United Airlines o (Calling a specific passenger)
desk at gate 12.” o (documents in hand)
ˍ “We would like to invite our
first- and business-class
passengers to board.”

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.
Audio Player 7
Flight attendant: Chicken or pasta?
Dan: Sorry?
Flight attendant: _______________ chicken or pasta?
Dan: I’ll have the chicken.
Flight attendant: Anything to drink?
Dan: ________________ of soda do you have?
Flight attendant: Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Orange, and Dr.
Pepper.
Dan: A Diet Coke, ____________, please.
Flight attendant: Here you go.
Dan: Thanks.
CONVERSATION TIPS:
If you didn’t understand what the flight have…?” Practice your pronunciation
attendant said, you can with these common requests:
say Sorry? or Pardon? to ask him or Audio Player 8
her to repeat it.  ______________________________________?
If you want to ask for something, you  ______________________________________?
can use the phrase “Can I  ______________________________________?
have…?” or “Could I  ______________________________________?
 ______________________________________?
Finally, if you need to stand up, but there is a person sitting between you and the
aisle, you can say Excuse me.