Beginner· A1–A2Travel7 min

Checking in at the airport

Check in for a flight, drop off a bag and ask about your seat and gate.

The scene

You arrive at the airport two hours before an international flight. You go to the check-in desk with your passport and one suitcase.

Speaker A
Check-in agent
Speaker B
You (passenger)

Your goals

  • Answer the agent's standard check-in questions
  • Ask for a window or aisle seat
  • Understand your gate, boarding time and baggage tag

Key vocabulary

Press the speaker to hear each word or phrase.

  • passport

    the official document you show when you travel abroad

    Here's my passport.

  • to check a bag

    to give a suitcase to the airline so it travels in the hold

    I'd like to check one bag.

  • carry-on

    a small bag you take onto the plane with you

    Is this carry-on OK?

  • boarding pass

    the ticket that lets you get on the plane

    Here's your boarding pass.

  • aisle seat

    a seat next to the walkway in the plane

    Could I have an aisle seat?

  • window seat

    a seat next to the window

    I'd prefer a window seat.

  • gate

    the place in the airport where you get on the plane

    Your flight leaves from gate 22.

  • boarding time

    the time passengers start getting on the plane

    Boarding time is 10:40.

Useful phrases

  • I'm checking in for the flight to …

    Telling the agent which flight you are on

  • I have one bag to check.

    Saying how many suitcases you have

  • Could I have a window seat, please?

    Asking for a seat you prefer

  • Which gate is it?

    Asking where your flight leaves from

  • What time does boarding start?

    Asking when to be at the gate

Practice studio: speak the dialogue

Pick your role and press Start. Your partner's lines are read aloud; then say your line into the microphone (or type it) and see which words you got right.

Your role

  1. Check-in agent

    Good morning. Where are you flying to today?

  2. You (passenger)

    Good morning. I'm flying to Toronto. Here's my passport.

  3. Check-in agent

    Thank you. Are you checking any bags?

  4. You (passenger)

    Yes, I have one bag to check and one carry-on.

  5. Check-in agent

    Please put your suitcase on the scale. Did you pack it yourself?

  6. You (passenger)

    Yes, I did. Could I have a window seat, please?

  7. Check-in agent

    Let me see. I have a window seat in row 18. Is that OK?

  8. You (passenger)

    Yes, that's great. Which gate is the flight leaving from?

  9. Check-in agent

    Gate 22. Boarding starts at ten forty. Here's your boarding pass.

  10. You (passenger)

    Thank you very much. Have a good day.

You speak 5 lines as You (passenger); Check-in agent is read aloud for you.

Speech recognition is done by your browser (in Chrome and Edge this uses the browser maker's online service). Nothing is stored by AltFTool.

Your turn: speak freely

Answer out loud in your own words. There is no score here: aim for full sentences and fewer filler words.

  1. 1. Tell the agent where you are flying and how many bags you have.

  2. 2. Ask for the seat you prefer and say why.

  3. 3. Ask two questions about your gate and boarding time.

Quick quiz

Choose an answer to see if you are right and why.

  1. 1. What is a 'carry-on'?
  2. 2. Which sentence asks for a seat next to the walkway?
  3. 3. What does the boarding pass let you do?
  4. 4. The agent asks, 'Did you pack it yourself?' What is a good answer?

0 of 4 answered

Common mistakes

  • Avoid: I have two luggages.

    Say: I have two bags. / I have two pieces of luggage.

    'Luggage' is uncountable, so you cannot add -s; count bags or pieces of luggage instead.

  • Avoid: Where is the door for my flight?

    Say: Which gate is my flight leaving from?

    At an airport, the word is 'gate', not 'door'.

  • Avoid: I go to Toronto.

    Say: I'm flying to Toronto.

    Use the present continuous for a trip that is happening now or very soon.

Tips

  • Have your passport open on the photo page when you reach the desk.
  • Listen carefully for two numbers: your gate and your boarding time. Write them down.
  • If you miss something, say 'Sorry, could you repeat the gate number?'

Questions about this lesson

How do you say 'baggage' or 'luggage' in English?

Both are correct and both are uncountable: 'How much luggage do you have?' To count, say 'two bags' or 'two suitcases'.

How do you ask for a window seat in English?

Say 'Could I have a window seat, please?' or 'Is there a window seat available?'

Finish the lesson

Finish the practice studio and the quiz and this lesson is marked complete for you.

Next lesson: Asking for directions

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