| aisle |
n. passage between rows of seats [on a plane there are usually one or two] |
| Would you like a window seat or a seat next to the aisle? |
| baggage claim |
n. place from where passengers collect their luggage (suitcases etc) after arrival |
| After arriving, go through immigration and then collect your bags from the baggage claim. |
| board |
v. to get on an aircraft, ship, train etc - on board adv. |
| Passengers seated in rows 30 to 52 may now board flight JQ29 to Bangkok. |
| boarding pass |
n. special ticket showing the passenger has checked in and may board the plane |
| After checking in you'll get a boarding pass. Make sure you don't lose it, OK? |
| check in |
v. to register for a flight, incl. checking of booking, passport, luggage etc - also n. |
| The first thing you have to do at the airport is check in at one of the check-in counters. |
| confirmation |
n. passenger's telephone validation of return reservation; reconfirmation |
| Do airlines still expect to receive confirmation from their passengers before a flight? |
| departures board |
n. large display in an airport showing times, destinations etc of departing flights |
| I just checked the departures board and our flight's boarding now at Gate 9. |
| domestic |
adj. national, not international [a domestic flight is entirely within one country] |
| Tell the taxi driver to go to the domestic terminal, not the international one. |
| duty-free |
adj. [of products: cigarettes, perfume etc] not taxable; exempt from customs taxes or duty |
| Whenever I return home from overseas, I bring in a bottle of duty-free whiskey. |
| excess baggage |
n. luggage that weighs more than the permitted or allowed weight |
| Airlines charge a lot to take excess baggage, so make sure your bags weigh less than whatever the limit is. |
| flight |
n. an airline journey that's scheduled to go by a certain route at a certain time |
| What time does your flight arrive? |
| flight attendant |
n. a person who serves food and drinks and takes care of passengers on a plane - also air steward/stewardess, air hostess |
| If you need something, press this button and a flight attendant will come. |
| gate |
n. the point in an airport at which a particular flight arrives and departs |
| If you forget which gate your flight's departing from, check your boarding pass. |
| hand luggage |
n. small bags, briefcases etc that may be carried on board by passengers - also carry-on luggage |
| You can put your hand luggage in any of the overhead lockers near your seat. |
| IATA |
abbr. International Air Transport Association |
| Did you know that IATA represents around 290 airlines in 120 countries? |
| immigration officer |
n. government official responsible for checking passengers' passports |
| Wait until the immigration officer signals you to come, then go to the counter and hand over your passport. |
| jet lag |
n. the feeling of extreme tiredness after a long flight, esp one that crosses two or more time zones |
| Whenever I go on a long flight, it takes me one or two days to get over the jet lag. |
| runway |
n. the strip on which planes land and take off |
| As soon as the tyres hit the runway, the pilot hit the brakes and the plane quickly slowed down. |
| stopover |
n. a break for a day or two on an international flight |
| Is it possible to have a two-day stopover in Bangkok en route to Tokyo? |
| ticket |
n. a piece of paper showing you have paid for a journey on a plane, train, bus etc |
| Travel agents used to sell printed tickets, but these days we book online and get digital tickets by email instead. |
| transit passenger |
n. a passenger who's stopped at an airport to change flights only and isn't required to go through immigration |
| For transit passengers who are changing flights, please follow the signs to the transfer counter. |