At the Airport

Questions at Check-In

  • Can I have your ticket, please?
  • May I see your passport, please?
  • Would you like a window or an aisle seat?
  • Do you have any baggage?
  • What is your final destination?
  • Would you like to upgrade to business or first class?
  • Do you need any help getting to the gate?

Check-In Dialogue

Service agent: Good morning. Can I have your ticket, please?
Passenger: Here you are.
Service agent: Would you like a window or an aisle seat?
Passenger: An aisle seat, please.
Service agent: Do you have any baggage?
Passenger: Yes, this suitcase and this carry-on bag.
Service agent: Here’s your boarding pass. Have a nice flight.
Passenger: Thank you.

Going through Security

Please step through the scanner — Asked when you are passing through metal detectors at the airport.
Please step to the side — Asked if a security officer needs to question you further.
Please raise your arms to the side — Asked when you are inside a scanner.
Empty your pockets, please.
Please take off your shoes and belt.
Please take any electronic devices out of your bag.

Security Dialogue

Security officer: Next!
Passenger: Here’s my ticket.
Security officer: Please step through the scanner.
Passenger: (beep, beep, beep) What’s wrong?
Security officer: Please step to the side.
Passenger: Certainly.
Security officer: Do you have any coins in your pocket?
Passenger: No, but I have some keys.
Security officer: Ah, that’s the problem. Put your keys in this bin and walk through the scanner again.
Passenger: OK.
Security officer: Excellent. No problem. Remember to unload your pockets before you go through security next time.
Passenger: I’ll do that. Thank you.
Security officer: Have a nice day.

Passport Control and Customs

Can I see your passport?
Are you a tourist or here on business? — Asked at customs to determine the purpose of your visit.
Do you have anything to declare? — Sometimes people need to declare things they have bought in other countries.
Have you brought any food into the country? — Some countries do not allow certain foods to be brought into the country.

Passport Control and Customs Dialogues

Passport official: Good morning. Can I see your passport?
Passenger: Here you are.
Passport official: Thank you very much. Are you a tourist or here on business?
Passenger: I’m a tourist.
Passport official: That’s fine. Have a pleasant stay.
Passenger: Thank you.

Customs official: Good morning. Do you have anything to declare?
Passenger: I’m not sure. I have two bottles of whiskey. Do I need to declare that?
Customs official: No, you can have up to 2 quarts.
Passenger: Great.
Customs official: Have you brought any food into the country?
Passenger: Just some cheese I bought in France.
Customs official: I’m afraid I’ll have to take that.
Passenger: Why? It’s just some cheese.
Customs official: Unfortunately, you are not allowed to bring cheese into the country. I’m sorry.
Passenger: OK. Here you are.
Customs official: Thank you. Anything else?
Passenger: I bought a T-shirt for my daughter.
Customs official: That’s fine. Have a nice day.
Passenger: You, too.

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