Skip to main content

Everyday situations

What to say at the airport in English

A2

Checking in, dropping off your bags, going through security and immigration, boarding: the phrases you need to get through the airport without stress.

This page for:

Quick answer

Four steps, four key phrases: I'm checking in for flight BA245 at the desk, Anything to declare? at customs, What's the purpose of your visit? at immigration and What gate? for boarding. If you know these 15 standard phrases, you can get through any airport in the UK or the US.

At the airport, English is more standard than anywhere else in the world: every country uses the same script and the same technical words (gate, boarding, security, customs). But it is also the most stressful place: queues, different accents, fast speech, and the pressure not to make other people wait. The good news: 95% of conversations use about 15 phrases that you can prepare in advance. Common mistakes: mixing up flight (a trip by plane) and fly (the verb), forgetting that luggage is uncountable (it has no plural), and mixing up the terminal (a whole airport building) and the gate (the door where you get on the plane).

Step by step

Each step follows a typical conversation. Lines marked “or” are other possible answers, depending on the situation.

1. Checking in and dropping off your bags

At the desk: flight number, passport, bags. Have your documents ready in your hand.

  • You

    Hi, I'm checking in for flight BA245 to London.

  • Other person

    Could I see your passport, please?

  • You

    Here you go.

  • Other person

    Are you checking any bags?

  • You

    Yes, one bag to check in and one carry-on.

  • Other person

    Could you place your bag on the scale?

  • You

    Sure. Is it OK?

  • Other person

    I'm afraid your bag is 3 kilos overweight. The excess fee is 50 pounds.

  • You

    Oh no. Could I move a few things into my carry-on?

  • Other person

    Window or aisle seat?

  • You

    Aisle, please.

    or

    Window, please.

  • Other person

    Here's your boarding pass. Your flight boards at 11:30 from gate 47.

2. Going through security

Empty your pockets, take off your belt and take out your laptop. Learn the words used at the scanner.

  • Other person

    Please remove your laptop and place it in a separate tray.

  • You

    Sure. Do my shoes need to come off too?

  • Other person

    Yes, take off your belt and shoes, and empty your pockets, please.

  • Other person

    Are you carrying any liquids over 100 millilitres?

  • You

    No, just a small tube of hand cream.

    or

    Yes, a bottle of water. Sorry, I forgot to empty it.

    → Another possible answer: you say it straight away, which is always faster.
  • Other person

    Step through the scanner, please. Could you raise your arms?

  • Other person

    What's in this bag?

  • You

    Just personal items: a book, a charger, and headphones.

    or

    Just my laptop charger and some snacks.

3. Immigration and customs

Show your passport (and a visa if you need one). Answer briefly, with facts, and add nothing extra.

  • Other person

    What's the purpose of your visit?

  • You

    Tourism. I'm here for a week.

    → A very short answer: never explain more than they ask.
    or

    I'm here on business.

    or

    I'm visiting family.

  • Other person

    Where are you staying?

  • You

    At the Holiday Inn in Camden.

  • Other person

    How long are you planning to stay?

  • You

    Five nights. I'm flying back on Sunday.

  • Other person

    Do you have a return ticket?

  • You

    Yes, here it is.

  • Other person

    Anything to declare?

  • You

    Nothing to declare.

  • Other person

    Enjoy your stay.

4. At the gate

Announcements, delays, gate changes: the moment when you need to understand fast.

  • You

    Excuse me, what gate is the flight to London?

    or

    Is this the gate for the London flight?

  • Other person

    Gate 47, right here. Boarding hasn't started yet.

    or

    The flight has been delayed by 30 minutes.

    or

    The gate has changed to gate 56.

    or

    Your flight has been cancelled.

    → Another possible answer: the flight is cancelled, so you go to the airline desk (see step 5).
  • You

    OK, thank you. I'll wait here.

  • Other person

    We will now begin boarding flight BA245 to London.

  • Other person

    Passengers in rows 25 to 40, please proceed to the gate.

  • You

    Excuse me, I'm in row 32. Can I board now?

  • Other person

    Yes, go ahead. Have your boarding pass ready.

  • Other person

    Final boarding call for flight BA245.

5. Common problems

Lost luggage, a missed flight, changing your booking: stay calm, and ask to speak to a supervisor if you need to.

  • You

    I think I've missed my flight.

  • Other person

    Let me check. There's another flight at 6 PM.

  • You

    Could I rebook on the next flight?

  • Other person

    Of course, let me see what's available.

  • You

    My luggage hasn't arrived.

    → Luggage is uncountable: never luggages.
  • Other person

    Could you fill in this lost luggage form?

  • You

    Sure. Where do I put the flight number?

  • Other person

    What's your baggage tag number?

  • You

    It's on this sticker, here.

  • You

    Where can I find a luggage trolley?

  • Other person

    Over there, next to the escalator.

  • You

    Could I speak to a supervisor, please?

    Formal
  • Other person

    Of course. One moment, please.

Useful vocabulary

The journey

  • flighta journey by plane
  • boarding passthe document you show to get on
  • gatethe door to your plane
  • terminalone big building of an airport
  • departure / arrivalleaving / getting there
  • one-way / return / round tripone direction / there and back
  • connecting flight / layovera change of plane / the wait between
  • aisle / window seatnext to the passage / next to the glass

Bags

  • luggage / baggage (uncountable)all the bags you travel with
  • a suitcasea large box-shaped bag for clothes
  • a carry-on / hand luggagea small bag you take on board
  • checked baggagebags that travel under the plane
  • baggage claimwhere you collect your bags
  • baggage tagthe label with your bag's number
  • excess baggage / overweighttoo heavy, so you pay more
  • a luggage trolley / cartsomething on wheels for your bags

Security and checks

  • security / security checkwhere staff check bags and people
  • scanner / X-ray machinea machine that sees inside bags
  • metal detectora gate that beeps for keys or belts
  • tray / bina box for your things at security
  • liquidswater, creams, drinks and similar
  • passport control / immigrationwhere officers check who enters
  • customswhere officers check what you bring
  • duty-freeshops with no tax on goods

Problems

  • delayedlater than planned
  • cancellednot happening any more
  • to miss a flightto arrive too late for it
  • to rebookto choose a new flight
  • a refundmoney given back to you
  • to overbookto sell more seats than exist
  • lost luggagebags that did not arrive
  • a complainttelling someone you are not happy

UK vs US: what changes

You want to say…UKUS
A ticket for one directionA single (ticket) / one-wayA one-way (ticket)
A ticket there and backA return (ticket)A round trip / round-trip ticket
Bags and suitcasesLuggageBaggage
Not happening any moreCancelledCanceled
Something on wheels for your bagsTrolleyCart
The public bathroomToilets / looRestroom

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Luggages ❌: it is uncountable

Luggage and baggage are uncountable nouns: they have no plural. ✓ I have three pieces of luggage. ✓ My luggage is heavy. ✗ I have three luggages. ✗ My luggages are heavy. It is the same for information, advice and furniture.

2. I take this plane ❌

In English, say I'm flying to + destination or I'm on flight + number. To take a flight exists, but it sounds like a textbook. To take the plane is also possible (I took the plane to Rome), but to fly is much more common. Also, the Present Simple does not work for a planned departure. The natural sentence: I'm flying to London tomorrow.

3. Saying no to Are you carrying any liquids? when you have some ❌

Any false answer at security or at customs can lead to a fine or to more questions. Always say what you have: Yes, I have a 100ml bottle of perfume in my carry-on. If you have medicine: I have prescription medication with a doctor's note. The simple truth is always faster.

4. Boarding time is not departure time

On your boarding pass, the boarding time is when passengers start getting on the plane. It is often 30 to 45 minutes before the departure time, and the gate usually closes before the plane leaves. If you arrive at the gate at departure time, you have probably missed your flight. Also, the terminal is a whole building, but the gate is the door where you board.

5. I am here for tourism since one week ❌

At immigration, give the length of your stay with for. ✓ I'll be here for a week / I'm staying for one week. ✗ I'm here since one week (a common mistake: since goes with a starting point, like since Monday, not with a length of time). And always answer briefly: every extra word can lead to another question.

Practice quiz

Question 1 / 4The Big Challenge question bank

The immigration officer asks: “What's the purpose of your visit?” What do you answer?

Related pages: At the airport

Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.

What's next?

“At the airport”: you know what to say. Now say it!

Knowing the phrases is not enough: they need to come out naturally. On PLAY, you practise them in a game, with instant feedback, until they become a habit.

Practise this situation on PLAY

Free · No sign-up · 3 minutes

For teachersPractise “At the airport” with the whole class

The Academy offers role plays with audio feedback for everyday situations: your students speak, and you follow their progress in spoken interaction.

Discover the Academy

30-day free trial · No bank card needed

English contestReal-life English: that's what the contest measures

Every year, the Big Challenge tests how well students understand real situations. Register your students so they can check their level beyond the textbook.

Register my students

5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary

Frequently asked questions

What do you say at check-in at the airport?+

Three key phrases. 1) I'm checking in for flight + number + to + destination. 2) Yes, one bag to check in and one carry-on. 3) Aisle / Window seat, please. The agent will ask for your passport and your booking. Then they will give you your boarding pass, with the gate and the boarding time.

How do you answer questions at immigration in English?+

Give short, factual answers. What's the purpose of your visit? → Tourism / Business / Visiting family. Where are you staying? → the name of the hotel or the address. How long are you staying? → an exact length of time (One week / Five nights). Anything to declare? → Nothing to declare. Keep it simple, with no extra details.

Is it luggage or luggages?+

Luggage (UK) and baggage (US) are both uncountable: they have no plural. To count, say pieces of luggage or suitcases. More words: carry-on (a small bag you take on the plane), checked baggage (bags that travel under the plane), baggage claim (where you collect your bags), excess baggage (too much weight) and baggage tag (the label on your bag).

How do you say your flight is delayed in English?+

Say My flight is delayed (+ by + length of time). Other ways to say it: My flight has been delayed by two hours. The flight is running late. If it is cancelled: My flight has been cancelled (UK) / canceled (US). To ask for a solution: I'd like to rebook on the next available flight / I'd like a refund.

What do you say if you miss your flight?+

Say I've missed my flight (Present Perfect). Then ask: Could I rebook on the next flight? + What are my options? + Is there a fee? If it was not your fault (bad weather, a late first flight): I missed my connection because the first flight was delayed. If you ask politely, the airline often does not charge you.

What airport words are different in British and American English?+

Bags: luggage (UK) / baggage (US). One direction: single (UK) / one-way (US). There and back: return (UK) / round trip (US). Not happening: cancelled (UK) / canceled (US). For carrying bags: trolley (UK) / cart (US). Toilets: toilets (UK) / restroom (US).

Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →

Keep learning

All situationsLearn English home