Articles

Have you ever felt nervous when doing airport procedures in English? In this video, I’ll help you gain absolute confidence when checking in at the airport with 12 vocabulary words and super common phrases. Just follow this lesson, and you’ll be able to easily understand and use them on your next trip!

 

 

 

 

 

First, let’s get familiar with 12 common airport vocabulary words, with correct pronunciation and easy-to-understand meanings.

1. Check-in counter /ˈʧek ɪn ˈkaʊntər/ (check-in counter)
2. Boarding pass /ˈbɔːrdɪŋ pæs/ (boarding pass)
3. Baggage allowance /ˈbæɡɪʤ əˈlaʊəns/ (allowed baggage weight)
4. Carry-on luggage /ˈkæri ɑ:n ˈlʌgɪʤ/ (carry-on luggage)
5. Flight number /flaɪt ˈnʌmbər/ (flight number)
6. Departure gate /dɪˈpɑːrtʃər ɡeɪt/ (boarding gate)
7. Passport /ˈpæspɔːrt/ (passport)
8. Security check /səˈkjʊrɪti ʧek/ (security check)
9. Luggage tag /ˈlʌgɪʤ tæɡ/ (luggage tag)
10. Flight schedule /flaɪt ˈskedʒuːl/ (flight schedule)
11. Delayed flight /dɪˈleɪd flaɪt/ (delayed flight)
12. Cancelled flight /ˈkænsld flaɪt/ (cancelled flight)

Example:
• Where is the check-in counter for flight VN123? /wer ɪz ðə ˈʧek ɪn ˈkaʊntər fɔ:r flaɪt vi en wʌn ˈtu: θri:/ (Where is the check-in counter for flight VN123?)
• Can I have my boarding pass, please? /kæn aɪ hæv maɪ ˈbɔ:rdɪŋ pæs pliz/ (Can I have my boarding pass, please?)

 

In this part, I’ll help you learn short, easy-to-use dialogues, with pronunciation and meaning. I’ll explain when and how to use them.

1. When the staff wants to see your passport and ticket, they say: "Passport and ticket, please?" /ˈpæspɔ:rt ænd ˈtɪkɪt pli:z/ (Please show me your passport and ticket.)
→ Remember this phrase! Repeat with me: “Passport and ticket, please?” … 1, 2, 3!

2. When you hand over your passport and ticket, you say: "Here you go. The flight VN123 to Hanoi" /hɪr ju: ɡoʊ ðə flaɪt vi en wʌn tu: θri: tu: həˈnɔɪ/ (Here you are. I’m on flight VN123 to Hanoi.)
→ Great! Next sentence: “Here you go. The flight VN123 to Hanoi.” … Repeat now!

3. When the staff asks how many pieces of luggage, they say: "How many bags?" /haʊ ˈmeni bæɡz/ (How many bags?)
→ This is very common, let’s repeat: “How many bags?”

4. When you answer with the number of suitcases, you say: "One suitcase" /wʌn ˈsu:tkeɪs/ (Just one suitcase.)
→ Say it loudly: “One suitcase”. 

5. When talking about the maximum baggage allowance and asking if it’s heavier, the staff says: "Baggage allowance is 20 kg. Heavier?" /ˈbæɡɪʤ əˈlaʊəns ɪz ˈtwenti ˈkɪloʊɡræmz ˈheviər/ (Checked baggage allowance is 20 kg. Is it heavier?)
→ Try repeating: “Baggage allowance is 20 kg. Heavier?”

6. When you reply it’s not heavier, you say: "No, 18 kg". /noʊ ˈeɪˈti:n ˈkɪloʊɡræmz/ (No, just 18 kg.)
→ Repeat: “No, 18 kg”. 

1. When the staff gives you the boarding pass and informs you of the gate, they say: "Here’s your boarding pass. Gate B12. Boarding at 10:30" /hɪrz jʊr ˈbɔ:rdɪŋ pæs ɡeɪt bi: twelv ˈbɔ:rdɪŋ æt ten ˈθɜ:rti/ (Here’s your boarding pass. Gate B12. Boarding at 10:30)
→ Repeat: “Here’s your boarding pass. Gate B12. Boarding at 10:30”.

2. When you want to ask how far the gate is, you say: "Thanks! How far is gate B12?" /θæŋks haʊ fɑ:r ɪz ɡeɪt bi: twelv/ (Thanks! How far is gate B12?)
→ Say it with me: “Thanks! How far is gate B12?”

3. When the staff answers, they say: "About 10 minutes’ walk". /əˈbaʊt ten ˈmɪnɪts wɔ:k/ (About a 10-minute walk.)
→ Repeat: “About 10 minutes’ walk”.

1. When the staff says your bag is overweight, they say: "Your bag is 5 kg over the limit" /jʊr bæɡ ɪz faɪv ˈkɪloʊɡræmz ˈoʊvər ðə ˈlɪmɪt/ (Your bag is 5 kg over the limit.)
→ Repeat: “Your bag is 5 kg over the limit”.

2. When you ask what you should do, you say: "What can I do?" /wɑ:t kæn aɪ du/ (What should I do?)
→ Say it loudly: “What can I do?”

3. When the staff suggests, they say: "Pay extra fee or remove items". /peɪ ˈekstrə fi: ɔ:r rɪˈmu:v ˈaɪtəmz/ (You can pay an extra fee or remove some items.)
→ Repeat: “Pay extra fee or remove items”.

4. When you decide, you say: "I’ll remove some items. Thanks!" /aɪl rɪˈmu:v sʌm ˈaɪtəmz θæŋks/ (I’ll remove some items. Thank you!)
→ Easy to use! Let’s say it: “I’ll remove some items. Thanks!”

Now let’s put all the dialogues together into one complete conversation. I’ll read each sentence three times, with American pronunciation and the meaning in Vietnamese—make sure to follow along and repeat!

A: Passport and ticket, please?

P: Here you go. The flight VN123 to Hanoi.

A: How many bags?

P: One suitcase.

A: Baggage allowance is 20 kg. Heavier?

P: No, 18 kg.

A: Here’s your boarding pass. Gate B12. Boarding at 10:30.

P: Thanks! How far is gate B12?

A: About 10 minutes’ walk.

A: Your bag is 5 kg over the limit.

P: What can I do?

A: Pay extra fee or remove items.

P: I’ll remove some items. Thanks!

1. Passport and ticket, please?
→ A polite and common way to ask for documents at the airport. You can also use this in other situations when documents need to be presented.

2. How many bags?
→ A simple but important question when checking in luggage. You can change “bags” to suit your situation.

3. Your suitcase is over the baggage allowance.
→ This is used when your luggage exceeds the weight limit. Pay attention so you can handle it quickly.

4. What can I do?
→ A very useful question whenever you face a problem and need to ask for solutions. Works in many different situations.

 

Let’s see how much you remember! Pick your answer before the correct one appears, and comment below so I can respond!

Question 1: If your luggage is overweight, what should you say?
a) My bag is overweight.
b) My bag is underweight.
→ Correct answer: a) My bag is overweight.

Question 2: Which is correct for asking about the boarding gate?
a) Where is the boarding gate?
b) Where is the boarding pass?
→ Correct answer: a) Where is the boarding gate?

Question 3: If you want to know the flight number, which should you ask?
a) What is the flight number?
b) Where is the flight number?
→ Correct answer: a) What is the flight number?

Question 4: When the staff says “Passport and ticket, please?”, what should you do?
a) Show your passport and ticket.
b) Wait for help.
→ Correct answer: a) Show your passport and ticket.

Question 5: What does “Carry-on luggage” mean?
a) Checked baggage.
b) Hand luggage.
→ Correct answer: b) Hand luggage.

Question 6: If your flight is delayed, which phrase will you hear?
a) Delayed flight.
b) Cancelled flight.
→ Correct answer: a) Delayed flight.

Question 7: If you want to ask “Where is the departure gate?”, which is correct?
a) Where is the departure gate?
b) Where is the arrival gate?
→ Correct answer: a) Where is the departure gate?