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Home -
Grammar - Everyday Grammar - Words to Travel With, Part Two:
Airports |
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| Words to Travel With, Part Two: Airports |
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 Words
to Travel With, Part Two: Airports
The lesson includes an audio program explaining this
grammar topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information. |
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this grammar
topic. Then read the following written information. |
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Words to Travel With, Part Two:
Airports |
Ask one hundred people whether they love to travel and
most of them will probably say yes. Discovering a new
place can be fun and exciting. But getting to that place
is often a lot less enjoyable.
Flying is a popular travel method. But airports can be
frustrating places. Having to speak a foreign language
in an airport can add to the frustration.
Today, we will share some English phrases that can help
you survive any airport experience!
ID and boarding pass
Let’s begin with check-in.
At an airport, check-in is where you go to let the
airline know that you have arrived. At check-in, you can
also get your boarding pass. The document has your
flight information on it. It is proof that you purchased
the flight. You cannot get on the plane without one.
Many airports offer two ways to check in: through a
machine or with an airline employee. Here is what you’ll
be asked if you get your boarding pass from the
employee:
Hello! May I see your ID?
Your ID is your identification, such as a passport or
driving document.
You can answer, “Sure” or “Here you go” and give the
person the document.
If you use the machine, you can enter the ticket or
reservation number you received when you purchased the
flight.
Checked bags and carry-ons
At the check-in area, you can also check your bags. This
means giving your bags, also called luggage, to an
airline employee to be stored during the flight.
Bags you give to the employee are called "checked bags,"
"checked baggage" or "checked luggage."
Here’s the question airline employees ask to find out if
you want to check bags:
Will you be checking any bags today?
Or, they may say it this way:
Do you have any checked bags today?
You can answer yes or no, and tell them how many:
Yes, just this one.
They will then tell you to put the bag on a machine to
measure the weight. Here’s what they will say:
Please place your bag on the scale.
But some bags are small enough to fit in the passenger
area of the plane. The bag you keep with you on the
plane is called a “carry-on bag” or simply a “carry-on.”
Sadly, there are times when your carry-on does not meet
weight or size restrictions. In such cases, you’ll hear
something like this:
I’m sorry but your bag is too heavy. You’ll have to
check it.
I’m sorry. Your bag is too big. You’ll have to check it.
Going through security
OK, so you’ve finished at the check-in area. Now it’s
time to go through security. In line, you may hear a
security employee announce this to the crowd:
Please have your IDs and boarding passes out.
That means have your documents ready to show the
security person.
Security workers also check bags and other belongings.
Sometimes, you have to place such things in a plastic
container called a “bin.”
Security workers may ask if you have any liquids, foods
or medicines:
Are you traveling with any liquids?
Layovers, missed flights
OK, you made it through security with ease.
Congratulations!
Time to go to your gate – the seating area where you
wait for your plane to board. At the gate, here’s an
announcement you might hear:
Attention passengers on flight 95 to Chicago: Your
flight has been delayed due to weather conditions. The
new departure time is 5:45.
So, your flight is delayed three hours.
But, let’s say Chicago is not your final destination.
You are supposed to fly another plane from Chicago to
your final destination. That is called a “layover” in
American English. You might also hear it called a
“stopover.”
The delay means you will miss your flight out of
Chicago. But don’t worry! Just let the person at the
airline counter know:
Hi, I missed my connecting flight to Los Angeles. What
should I do?
Airlines generally have solutions ready, such as putting
you on the next flight or putting you in a hotel for the
night.
At customs, immigration
After an international flight, you will be directed
through customs. That is where government officers
approve or reject entrance into the country.
The customs officer will ask for your passport and may
or may not have questions. Here are five common
questions you might hear at customs:
What is the purpose of your trip?
How long do you intend to stay?
Can I see your return ticket?
Where will you be staying?
What is your occupation?
Preparing this information before your trip will help
make the process easier. For example, if you’re staying
with a friend or at a hotel, have the person or hotel’s
name and address ready.
I’m Alice Bryant.
Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. Caty
Weaver was the editor. |
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Words in This Story |
-
frustrating – adj.
causing feelings of anger and annoyance
-
reservation – n.
an arrangement to have something held for your use
at a later time
- ticket
– n. a piece of paper
that allows you to travel on a vehicle, see a show,
or participate in an event (a plane ticket is also
called a boarding pass)
- phrase
– n. a brief expression
that is commonly used
- luggage
– n. the bags and
suitcases that a person carries when traveling
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destination – n.
a place to which a person is going or something is
being sent
- counter
– n. a piece of
furniture with a flat surface that workers and
customers stand on opposite sides
-
occupation – n.
a person’s job or profession
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Additional Information |
Practice
Now, let’s hear your story!
If you have used English at an airport, what words and
phrases did you use? And, which words and phrases from
today's program will help you most on your next trip?
Write to us in the Facebook comments section below.
From today's program:
check-in (n.)
check in (v.)
ID
boarding pass
ticket
reservation
check (v.)
bags
luggage
baggage
checked bags / luggage / baggage
carry-on bag / carry-on
scale
bin
liquids
board
passenger
departure
gate
connecting flight
destination
layover / stopover
customs
occupation |
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Source: Voice of America |
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Grammar Tips |
Can You Catch These Native Speaker Mistakes?
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of common mistakes. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
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