When traveling, it’s helpful to know common airport terms to make your journey smoother. Here’s a list of terms you’ll encounter, along with their meanings:
General Airport Terms
Airport terminal: The building where passengers check in, board, and arrive.
Check-in: The process of confirming your flight and dropping off luggage.
Boarding pass: A document that allows you to enter the airplane.
Security check: A process to ensure safety by scanning passengers and luggage.
Departure: Flights leaving the airport.
Arrival: Flights coming into the airport.
Gate: The specific area where you board your flight.
Customs: A checkpoint for declaring goods you’re bringing into a country.
Immigration: A checkpoint to check passports and visas before entering a country.
Baggage Terms
Carry-on luggage: Small bags allowed in the airplane cabin.
Checked baggage: Larger bags stored in the cargo area of the airplane.
Baggage claim: The area where passengers collect checked luggage after a flight.
Excess baggage: Additional weight or bags that exceed the airline’s allowance.
Lost and found: A service for retrieving lost items at the airport.
Flight Terms
Direct flight: A flight with no stops between departure and destination.
Connecting flight: A flight requiring a change of planes at another airport.
Layover: The time spent at an airport between connecting flights.
Delayed flight: A flight that is postponed to a later time.
Cancelled flight: A flight that will not operate as scheduled.
Standby: Waiting for an available seat on a fully booked flight.
Overbooked: When more tickets are sold than there are seats.
Airline Services
Check-in counter: The desk where you check in for your flight.
Boarding: The process of getting on the plane.
In-flight service: Services provided during the flight, like meals and entertainment.
Flight attendant: A crew member assisting passengers during the flight.
Pilot: The person flying the airplane.
Co-pilot: The second-in-command assisting the pilot.
Navigation Terms
Runway: The strip of land where airplanes take off and land.
Taxiing: The movement of an airplane on the ground before takeoff or after landing.
Control tower: A tower managing airport and airplane traffic.
Customs and Immigration
Passport: An official document identifying you as a citizen of your country.
Visa: A document or stamp allowing entry into another country.
Declaration form: A document listing goods you’re bringing into a country.
Duty-free: Items sold without taxes, usually at airports.
Travel Documents
Itinerary: A detailed schedule of your trip, including flights and hotels.
E-ticket: An electronic version of your flight ticket.
Travel insurance: Coverage for unexpected events during your trip.
Other Useful Terms
Lounge: A comfortable waiting area, often for premium passengers.
Tarmac: The paved area where airplanes are parked.
Jet bridge: The walkway connecting the terminal to the airplane.
Priority boarding: Early boarding for specific passengers, like first-class travelers.
Travel voucher: A coupon for flight or service compensation.
Understanding these terms will make your airport experience less stressful and more enjoyable. Safe travels!