| captain (n.) |
B1 |
the person in charge of a plane |
This is your captain speaking. |
| security (n.) |
B1 |
a place at an airport where officials make sure you don’t have anything illegal in your bags |
There was a long line at airport security. |
| budget (adj.) |
B1 |
low-cost |
Budget airlines have made travel within Europe very affordable. |
| connection (n.) |
B1 |
a second (or third, etc.) flight that a passenger takes to continue their journey |
I missed my connection. |
| lounge (n.) |
B1 |
an area in an airport where passengers can sit and relax while they wait for their flight |
I like to get to the departure lounge nice and early. |
| declare (v.) |
B1+ |
to tell customs officers at the airport that you’re bringing goods into the country that you might have to pay tax on |
Do you have anything to declare? |
| gate (n.) |
B1+ |
the place in an airport where passengers get on and off a plane |
Please proceed to Gate 7. |
| airline (n.) |
B1+ |
a company such as Emirates and British Airways that carries passengers |
I refuse to fly with budget airlines. |
| crew (n.) |
B1+ |
the people who work on a plane (i.e. pilots and flight attendants) |
The crew would like to welcome you aboard. |
| board (v.) |
B1+ |
if a plane is boarding, it means that people are allowed to start getting on |
Flight 571 to London is now boarding. |
| landing (n.) |
B2 |
the action of bringing a plane down to the ground |
The plane needed to make an emergency landing. |
| departure (n.) |
B2 |
the act of leaving a place |
We sat in the departure lounge until our flight was called. |
| take-off (n.) |
B2 |
the moment at which a plane leaves the ground |
I always feel very nervous during take-off. |
| flight attendant (n.) |
B2 |
some who looks after passengers during a flight |
She’s a flight attendant with Emirates. |
| terminal (n.) |
B2 |
a building at an airport where passengers arrive and leave |
Your flight leaves from Terminal 1. |
| descent (n.) |
B2+ |
the action of a plane coming down |
Please fasten your seat belts – we’ve started our descent into Tokyo. |
| runway (n.) |
B2+ |
a long narrow road at an airport from which planes take off (and land) |
We had to wait on the runway for more than 20 minutes. |
| altitude (n.) |
B2+ |
the height of something above sea level |
Planes generally fly at an altitude of around 30,000 feet. |
| turbulence (n.) |
B2+ |
movement of a plane during flight caused by sudden changes in wind direction |
Turbulence always makes me feel ill. |
| upgrade (n.) |
B2+ |
when someone is given a better seat than the one they booked |
I was offered an upgrade when I checked in. |
| long-haul (adj.) |
C1 |
a flight over a very large distance (e.g. London to Sydney) |
My legs really ache during a long-haul flight. |
| airfare (n.) |
C1 |
the price of a plane ticket |
Airfares are really expensive at the moment. |
| stopover (n.) |
C1 |
a short stay somewhere to break up a longer flight |
I had a stopover in Singapore. |
| surcharge (n.) |
C1 |
money that you’re charged in addition to the basic price |
There’s a surcharge for carry-on luggage. |
| baggage carousel (n.) |
C1 |
a moving belt from which you pick up your bags |
I had to wait for ages at the baggage carousel. |
