First you check in and get your boarding pass. The boarding pass shows your seat and your flight.
Before your flight
check in /ˌtʃɛkˈɪn/ — check in here
boarding pass /ˈbɔːr.dɪŋ ˌpæs/ — my boarding pass
Try it: Choose the word: (boarding pass / security / baggage) Answer: boarding pass — This is a boarding pass.
Going through the airport
Next you go through security, where staff check your bags. Then you wait at the gate for your plane.
security /sɪˈkjʊr.ə.ti/ — airport security
gate /ɡeɪt/ — the boarding gate
Try it: Choose the word: (gate / departure / check in) Answer: gate — This is a gate.
Bags and leaving
Your bags are your baggage. The departure time is when your plane leaves.
baggage /ˈbæɡ.ɪdʒ/ — heavy baggage
departure /dɪˈpɑːr.tʃɚ/ — the departure time
Try it: Choose the word: (departure / baggage / gate) Answer: departure — This is departure.
On the day you fly
A small bag you keep with you on the plane is a carry-on. When the plane is ready, the flight is boarding. If it leaves later than planned, it is delayed.
carry-on — one carry-on bag
boarding — Flight 305 is now boarding.
delayed — The flight is delayed by 30 minutes.
Try it: The plane was going to leave at 2:00, but now it leaves at 3:00. It is ___. (delayed / boarding / check in) Answer: delayed — A flight that leaves later than planned is delayed. Boarding means passengers are getting on now, and check in is done at the desk before the flight.
Seats and collecting bags
The aisle is the walkway between the seats, so an aisle seat is next to it. At security you put your things in a tray. After you land, you collect your bags at baggage claim.
aisle — an aisle seat
tray — Put your laptop in the tray.
baggage claim — Meet me at baggage claim.
Try it: Amina's plane has landed. She goes to ___ to get her suitcase. (baggage claim / the gate / security) Answer: baggage claim — You collect your bags after the flight at baggage claim. The gate is where you board and security is where staff check your bags before you fly.