Airline Vocabulary

This page lists English words and phrases used in the international airline industry.
Each word is shown with its contextual meaning and an example sentence.

word meaning example sentence

part of speech

airfare cost of a plane ticket The cost of your meal is covered in

noun your airfare.

aisle the long empty space Please keep your bags out of
noun that you walk down the aisle so that nobody trips.

aisle seat the seat that is next to I'll give you an aisle seat in case you
noun the aisle need to walk around with the baby.

assist help Please wait until everyone is off the

verb plane so that we can assist you.

baggage the bags and suitcases I'm afraid your baggage got on the
noun that travellers put their wrong airplane.
belongings in
baggage, place where you pick The announcement will direct you to
luggage claim up your baggage after the correct baggage claim.
noun arrival

blanket warm covering If you feel cold I can get you

noun a blanket.

boarding pass part of the ticket that Your must present your boarding
noun you give to the crew as pass at the gate.
you step onto the plane

bumpy, rough up and down It might be a bumpy ride because

adj movement of the we are flying through a storm.
aircraft

cabin interior of the aircraft There is no smoking allowed inside

noun the cabin.

call light a button passengers If you need anything, just press

noun can press to get a crew the call light.
member's attention

captain the person who is in Would the kids like to go and meet
noun charge of the plane the captain?

charter discount airline If you take a charter it will cost you

noun half as much.
cockpit the part of the plane We aren't doing any more tours of
noun where the captain and the cockpit because it's almost time
his co-pilots sit to land.

comfortable feel good physically, Because you have long legs you
adjective able to relax might be more comfortable in an
aisle seat.

complimentary free of charge We offer complimentary coffee or

adjective tea, but you have to pay for alcohol.

co-pilot person who helps the If the captain gets sick the co-
noun captain fly the plane pilot can take over.

domestic within the same You should be at the airport two

adjective country hours ahead of time
for domestic flights.

emergency exit section of the plane Are you comfortable sitting next to
noun that opens in the case the emergency exit?
of an accident

e-ticket airfare purchased on You will need to present your

noun the internet identification along with your e-
ticket.

excess baggage heavier/more bags You can either pay for your excess
noun than you are allowed baggage or leave one of your bags
 behind.

first-class more expensive When you sit in first-class you get a

noun/adj seating, with better better meal to eat.
services

gate place where Gate 3B is down this hall and to

noun passengers go to wait your right.
to board a plane

headset, earphones device that allows We will be coming around to

noun passengers to listen sell headsets for five dollars.
to music or a movie

international worldwide For international departures, go

adj up one level.

jet lag tiredness due to I'm used to travelling now. My

noun travelling through body doesn't suffer from jet
different time zones lag anymore.

land returning to the We will be landing in Tokyo in

verb ground after being approximately ten minutes.
in the air

life vest, life jacket a blow-up device Please take a moment to locate
noun that you put on in the life vest under your seat.
an emergency over
 water

motion sickness a bad feeling in the There is a paper bag in front of you
noun stomach that in case you experience motion
passengers get sickness.
during a rough ride

overbooked more passengers The flight is overbooked. Four of

adj than available seats our passengers will have to wait for
the next flight.

overhead place above the You'll have to put your bag under
bin/compartment seats for storing your seat because all of
noun luggage the overhead bins are full.

oversized baggage items that do not fit Infant car seats and sporting
adj in suitcases equipment can be picked up at
the oversized baggage counter.

oxygen mask a device that goes Put your oxygen mask on first
noun over a person's before putting one on your child.
face, provides air in
case of cabin air
pressure loss

passport document that Please have your passport out

noun proves a person's when you go through security.
identification and
nationality
pilot the person who The pilot is circling over the
noun drives the plane airport until it is safe to land.

refreshments drinks and snacks It's a short flight, so we will be

noun serving refreshments but not a
meal.

row a number of seats You are in seat B of row nine.

noun beside each other

runway the strip of land The plane almost missed

noun that an airplane the runway because it was such a
takes-off and lands bad storm.
on

seatbelt device that holds Please remain in your seats while

noun passengers in their the seatbelt light is on.
seats

steward (male), man or woman who Ask one of the stewardesses for a
stewardess (female), provides service for pillow if you're tired.
flight attendant, air passengers during a
host flight
noun

stopover touching down at It's not a direct flight. We're

noun more than one making one stopover in Toronto.
airport during a
flight
take off when the plane We are next in line to take off on
noun/verb leaves the ground this runway.

taxi in, out driving an airplane Please remain in your seats until
verb to the correct place we taxi in to the gate.
for taking off or
deboarding

touch down when the aircraft That was a very smooth touch
verb, noun wheels land on the down.
ground

turbulence rough flight This turbulence should only last a

noun few minutes.

wheelchair a seat for pushing A steward will take you to the gate
noun elderly, disabled, or with a wheelchair.
injured people

window seat seat next to the If your child wants a window

noun window where seat I can move you back a row.
passengers can look
out