English for Travelling: Useful English Phrases at the Airport

Does speaking English when travelling make you nervous? Do you struggle to understand instructions at the airport? Does it make travelling more stressful and less enjoyable?

In this article, you will learn useful English vocabulary and expressions for travelling, helping you feel more confident when moving through an airport.

Learning English can be difficult, and sometimes it becomes even harder in stressful situations, especially when people are asking questions, giving instructions, and telling you where to go.

Although speaking English while travelling may feel challenging, remember that airport staff are used to helping international passengers every day. Learning useful airport vocabulary and practical phrases can help you avoid confusion and make travelling much easier.

Think about the last time you were at an airport and everything you had to do before getting on a plane. Today, we are going to teach you useful English expressions for travelling and help you feel more confident at the airport.
 

English for Travelling: Useful Airport Vocabulary and Phrases

 

1) The check-in desk

Before going through security and boarding the plane, you will need to check in and, if necessary, check in your luggage too.
The staff member will ask for your:

• passport
• name
• destination

 
“They will then print your boarding pass” (unless you have already checked in online).

If you are travelling as a family you might have to ask them if there are enough seats available for you all to sit together.

“Are there enough seats available for us to sit together?”
 

More useful phrases at check-in:

• “Can I have a window seat, please?”
• “How many bags can I check in?”
• “What time does boarding start?”

Afterwards, if you have large suitcases you have to also check them in. The staff member will weigh your bag, it may be overweight (too heavy) and they might ask you to pay an extra fee (more money you have to pay for the bag).
 

2) Security: hand luggage

When you have received your boarding passes and checked in all of your bags, you will move on through to the security check.

The security staff may ask you to remove specific items from your hand luggage – i.e.

• electronics (phones, laptops)
• liquids (water, makeup, perfume)
• medication

Common instructions at security:

• “Please place your bag on the belt”
• “Take your laptop out of your bag”
• “Please remove your jacket and shoes”

or from your person – i.e.

• shoes
• jackets
• belts
• jewellery (rings, necklaces, bracelets)

 
Once you walk through the scanner, they may ask you to step to one side so they can scan you with a full body machine, or to pat you down.

They may also ask:
“Did you pack the bag yourself?”

They may also check whether there are prohibited items in your luggage. In some cases, they may use a swab to detect illegal substances on your bag, shoes or clothing.
 

3) Common airport announcements

Once you are through security you have time to relax before getting on a plane, but make sure you listen to the announcements broadcast through the airport speakers. They will inform you of any new information about your flight.

Announcements

• “Flight BA245 is now boarding”
• “Final call for passengers travelling to…”
• “The flight has been delayed”

If there is a problem they may also ask you to go up to a specific help point or information desk.
 

4) Boarding the plane

When it’s time to get on the plane the departure board and the announcement will say:

‘Now Boarding’

While you wait in line at the gate to get onto the plane, a staff member may ask you to have your passport and boarding pass ready. You simply hand them over and board the plane.

Then you can sit, relax and have a nice flight!
 

5) Passport Control

After you have landed there will be both people and signs directing you to the correct place to go through passport control. This is where it is necessary to have all of your documents ready and where the control officer may ask you specific questions about why you are entering the country
E.g)

• “What is the purpose of your visit?” (why are you travelling?)
• “Are you travelling alone?” (with people or only you?)
• “How long do you intend to stay in the country for?”
• “Have you visited the country before?” (the duration of the visit)
• “What do you intend to do there throughout your trip?” (what itinerary do you have?)

 

6) Baggage Claim

Once you are through passport control you may need to go to baggage claim, to pick up your suitcase. If you can’t find your bag or there is a problem, look for the lost property office or help desk.

Once that is done, you are free to leave and enjoy your time in the country!

Useful phrases if there is a problem with your luggage:

• “I can’t find my suitcase”
• “My luggage is missing”
• “Where is the lost baggage desk?”

 
At Callan School Barcelona, we help students learn practical English for real-life situations — from travelling abroad and moving through an airport to speaking confidently in everyday conversations. Because learning English means being able to use it in the real world.

 
^{Melissa B.
Rodríguez, C. (2020) “El inglés para viajar – Las vacaciones” Blog – Callan School of English}