The vocabulary is narrow and it repeats at every airport on earth. An hour of preparation covers you for life.
Check-in
- "I'm checking in for the 9:40 to Dubai."
- "Just one bag to check, and this as hand luggage."
- "Could I get an aisle seat?" / "a window seat"
- "Is the flight on time?"
- "Do I need to collect my bag when I change planes?"
What you will be asked
- "Did you pack your bags yourself?"
- "Any liquids or sharp objects?"
- "Window or aisle?"
Security
- "Do I need to take my laptop out?"
- "Shoes off as well?"
- "That's my tray."
Immigration
Answer briefly and directly. Long explanations invite more questions.
- "What's the purpose of your visit?" → "Tourism." / "A business conference."
- "How long are you staying?" → "Ten days."
- "Where are you staying?" → "At the Hilton in the city centre."
Boarding and on board
- "Is this the queue for group two?"
- "Excuse me, I think that's my seat — 14C."
- "Could I get some water, please?"
- "Would you mind swapping seats so I can sit with my son?"
When things go wrong
- "My connecting flight is in forty minutes — will I make it?"
- "My bag hasn't come through."
- "Where do I report a missing bag?"
- "Can you rebook me on the next available flight?"
Staff repeat the same phrases hundreds of times a day. If you miss something, "Sorry, could you repeat that?" is completely routine to them.
