Airline Vocabulary

This page lists English words and phrases used in the

international airline industry. Each word is shown with its
contextual meaning and an example sentence.

word
part of
speech

meaning

example sentence

airfare

cost of a plane

The cost of your meal is

noun

ticket

covered in yourairfare.

aisle

the long empty

Please keep your bags out

noun

space that you

of the aisle so that nobody

walk down

trips.

aisle seat

the seat that is

I'll give you an aisle

noun

next to the

seat in case you need to

aisle

walk around with the baby.

help

Please wait until everyone

assist
verb

is off the plane so that we

can assist you.

baggage

the bags and

I'm afraid

noun

suitcases that

your baggage got on the

travellers put

wrong airplane.

their
belongings in

baggage,

place where

The announcement will

luggage

you pick up

direct you to the

claim

your baggage

correct baggage claim.

noun

after arrival

blanket

warm covering

noun

If you feel cold I can get

you a blanket.

boarding

part of the

You must present

pass

ticket that you

your boarding pass at

noun

give to the

the gate.

crew as you
step onto the
plane

bumpy,

up and down

It might be a bumpy ride

rough

movement of

because we are flying

adj

the aircraft

through a storm.

cabin

interior of the

There is no smoking

noun

aircraft

allowed inside the cabin.

call light

a button

If you need anything, just

noun

passengers can

press the call light.

press to get a
crew member's
attention

captain

the person who

Would the kids like to go

noun

is in charge of

and meet the captain?

the plane

charter

discount airline

noun

If you take a charter it will

cost you half as much.

cockpit

the part of the

We aren't doing any more

noun

plane where

tours of the

the captain and

cockpit because it's

his co-pilots sit

almost time to land.

comfortable

feel good

Because you have long

adjective

physically, able

legs you might be

to relax

more comfortable in an
aisle seat.

compliment

free of charge

We

ary

offer complimentary coff

adjective

ee or tea, but you have to

pay for alcohol.

co-pilot

person who

If the captain gets sick

noun

helps the

the co-pilot can take over.

captain fly the

plane

domestic

within the same

You should be at the

adjective

country

airport two hours ahead of

time for domestic flights.

emergency

section of the

Are you comfortable sitting

exit

plane that

next to the emergency

noun

opens in the

exit?

case of an
accident

e-ticket

airfare

You will need to present

noun

purchased on

your identification along

the internet

with your e-ticket.

excess

heavier/more

You can either pay for

baggage

bags than you

your excess baggage or

noun

are allowed

leave one of your bags

behind.

first-class

more expensive

When you sit in first-

noun/adj

seating, with

class you get a better

better services

meal to eat.

gate

place where

Gate 3B is down this hall

noun

passengers go

and to your right.

to wait to board
a plane

headset,

device that

We will be coming around

earphones

allows

to sell headsets for five

noun

passengers

dollars.

to listen to
music or a
movie

international

worldwide

adj

For international departu

res, go up one level.

jet lag

tiredness

I'm used to travelling now.

noun

due to

My body doesn't suffer

travelling

from jet lag anymore.

through
different
time zones

land

returning to

We will be landing in

verb

the ground

Tokyo in approximately ten

after being

minutes.

in the air

life vest, life

a blow-up

Please take a moment to

jacket

device that

locate the life vest under

noun

you put on in

your seat.

an
emergency
over water

motion

a bad feeling

There is a paper bag in

sickness

in the

front of you in case you

noun

stomach that

experience motion

passengers

sickness.

get during a
rough ride

overbooked

more

The flight is overbooked.

adj

passengers

Four of our passengers will

than

have to wait for the next

available

flight.

seats

overhead

place above

You'll have to put your bag

bin/compartme

the seats for

under your seat because

nt

storing

all of theoverhead

noun

luggage

bins are full.

over-sized

items that

Infant car seats and

baggage

do not fit in

sporting equipment can be

adj

suitcases

picked up at theoversized baggage counter.

oxygen mask

a device that

Put your oxygen mask on

noun

goes over a

first before putting one on

person's

your child.

face,
provides air
in case of
cabin air
pressure loss

passport

document

Please have

noun

that proves a

your passport out when

person's

you go through security.

identification

and
nationality

pilot

the person

The pilot is circling over

noun

who drives

the airport until it is safe

the plane

to land.

refreshments

drinks and

It's a short flight, so we

noun

snacks

will be
serving refreshments bu
t not a meal.

row

a number of

You are in seat B

noun

seats beside

of row nine.

each other

runway

the strip of

The plane almost missed

noun

land that an

therunway because it was

airplane

such a bad storm.

takes-off and
lands on

seatbelt

device that

Please remain in your

noun

holds

seats while

passengers

the seatbelt light is on.

in their seats

steward

man or

Ask one of

(male),

woman who

the stewardesses for a

stewardess

provides

pillow if you're tired.

(female), flight

service for

attendant, air

passengers

host

during a

noun

flight

stopover

touching

It's not a direct flight.

noun

down at

We're making

more than

one stopover in Toronto.

one airport
during a
flight

take of

when the

We are next in line to take

noun/verb

plane leaves

of on this runway.

the ground

taxi in, out

driving an

Please remain in your

verb

airplane to

seats until we taxi in to

the correct

the gate.

place for
taking off or
deboarding

touch down

when the

That was a very

verb, noun

aircraft

smooth touch down.

wheels land
on the
ground

turbulence

rough flight

noun

This turbulence should

only last a few minutes.

wheelchair

a seat for

A steward will take you to

noun

pushing

the gate with

elderly,

a wheelchair.

disabled, or
injured
people

window seat

seat next to

If your child wants

noun

the window

a window seatI can move

where

you back a row.

passengers

can look out

Phrases and Expressions

Check-in Assistant
Can I see your ticket, please?
Do you have your passport with you?
I'm afraid your passport has expired.
Do you have a second piece of identification?
I'll need to see your child's birth certificate.
How many bags are you checking?
Will you be bringing a carry-on bag?
I'm afraid that bag exceeds the size restrictions.
Did you pack your bags yourself?
Would you like an aisle or a window seat?
Would you like a wheelchair?
You'll board at Gate 7.

 Please be at the gate thirty minutes before your scheduled

flight.
Did you need any tags for your luggage?
Your flight is expected to take off on time.
Your flight has been delayed by one hour.
Flight 87B to Toronto has been canceled.
I'm afraid you're too late to check-in.
Your flight is overbooked. Would you be interested in
giving up your seat?
Enjoy your flight.
Passenger
I'm not sure which of these papers is my ticket.
Is it possible to get an aisle seat?
I requested a vegetarian meal. Can you check to confirm?
Can I take my child through security?
Is the flight on time?
Will they be serving a meal today?
Will they be showing an inflight movie?

 Where can I get a luggage cart?

Can I use my laptop on board?

Conversation 1
Check-in Assistant: Hello. Are you flying to St. Martin today?
Passenger: Yes, I have my ticket here.
Check-in: Great. I'll need to see your passport as well.
Passenger: I have an e-ticket. Uh...is this the part you need?
Check-in: Actually I just need your name and I can find you on
the computer.
Passenger: Oh okay. It's Bates. Frank Bates.
Check-in: Great. Here we are. Oh, you're travelling with an
infant today.
Passenger: Yes, my daughter Mia. She's 14 months.
Check-in: Okay. I'll need to see your daughter's birth certificate
to prove that she is under two years of age.

Passenger: Here you are. Say, would we be able to get an

aisle seat? I may have to walk her around if she gets fussy.
Check-in: Sure. I'll put you near the washroom too.
Passenger: Thanks. Can I take my stroller to the gate?
Check-in: Yes, we'll check it in the over-sized luggage after you
board. Are you just checking these two bags today?
Passenger: Yes, I'll take my knapsack as my carry-on.
Check-in: Did you pack these bags yourself?
Passenger: Yes.
Check-in: Okay. Here is your boarding pass. Be at the gate one
hour prior to boarding time. You will be able to preboard
because you are traveling with an infant. Our flight crew will
have some special instructions for take-off and landing.

Conversation 2
A: "Welcome. May I have your tickets?"
B: "Here you go."
A: "Is anybody else traveling with you two?"
B: "No. It's just us."
A: "Do you have your passports with you?"
B: "Yes. Here it is."
A: "I'm going to ask you a series of questions. Please respond
with a yes or a no."
B: "Ok."

A: "Did someone you do not know ask you to take something on

the plane with you?"
B: "No."
A: "Did you have possession of your luggage since you
packed?"
B: "Yes."
A: "Did you leave your luggage unattended at all in the
airport?"
B: "No."
A: "Are you carrying any weapons or firearms?"
B: "No."
A: "Are you carrying any flammable material?"
B: "No."
A: "Do you have any perishable food items?"
B: "No."
A: "Great. Can you place your baggage over here?"
B: "Sure."
A: "Would you like an aisle or a window seat?"
B: "Window seat please."
A: "Ok. I am placing you two in 21A and 21B. The gate number
is C2. It is on the bottom of the ticket. They will start boarding
20 minutes before the departure time. C2 is located around the
corner through the hall. Thank you."
B: "Can you point me to gate C2?"
A: "Sure. It's that way. Around that corner."
B: "Great. Thank you."

Airline Announcements

Getting airline passengers safely and happily from one

destination to another requires teamwork. The airline industry
employs many different people, from pilots and flight crew to
caterers and grounds crew. Many of these jobs require
communication in English, whether it be among co-workers or
with passengers. Most airline companies require that the flight
crew be fluent in at least two languages. English is the most
common second language that crew members need to learn.
Whether your job is to book passengers on their flights, assist
passengers with luggage, or fly the airplane itself, these pages
can help you learn important words and expressions to use on
the job in the airline industry.
Listen to some typical public announcements made in an
airport or airplane.
Pre-boarding Announcement
Good afternoon passengers. This is the pre-boarding
annoucement 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.

Final Boarding Announcement

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.

Pre-flight Announcement
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.

Captain's Announcement
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.

Safety Briefing
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 moment 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.