| Word/phrase | CEFR | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| captain (n.) | B1 | the person in charge of a plane | This is your captain speaking. |
| security (n.) | B1 | a place at an airport where officials make sure you don’t have anything illegal in your bags | There was a long line at airport security. |
| budget (adj.) | B1 | low-cost | Budget airlines have made travel within Europe very affordable. |
| connection (n.) | B1 | a second (or third, etc.) flight that a passenger takes to continue their journey | I missed my connection. |
| lounge (n.) | B1 | an area in an airport where passengers can sit and relax while they wait for their flight | I like to get to the departure lounge nice and early. |
| declare (v.) | B1+ | to tell customs officers at the airport that you’re bringing goods into the country that you might have to pay tax on | Do you have anything to declare? |
| gate (n.) | B1+ | the place in an airport where passengers get on and off a plane | Please proceed to Gate 7. |
| airline (n.) | B1+ | a company such as Emirates and British Airways that carries passengers | I refuse to fly with budget airlines. |
| crew (n.) | B1+ | the people who work on a plane (i.e. pilots and flight attendants) | The crew would like to welcome you aboard. |
| board (v.) | B1+ | if a plane is boarding, it means that people are allowed to start getting on | Flight 571 to London is now boarding. |
| landing (n.) | B2 | the action of bringing a plane down to the ground | The plane needed to make an emergency landing. |
| departure (n.) | B2 | the act of leaving a place | We sat in the departure lounge until our flight was called. |
| take-off (n.) | B2 | the moment at which a plane leaves the ground | I always feel very nervous during take-off. |
| flight attendant (n.) | B2 | some who looks after passengers during a flight | She’s a flight attendant with Emirates. |
| terminal (n.) | B2 | a building at an airport where passengers arrive and leave | Your flight leaves from Terminal 1. |
| descent (n.) | B2+ | the action of a plane coming down | Please fasten your seat belts – we’ve started our descent into Tokyo. |
| runway (n.) | B2+ | a long narrow road at an airport from which planes take off (and land) | We had to wait on the runway for more than 20 minutes. |
| altitude (n.) | B2+ | the height of something above sea level | Planes generally fly at an altitude of around 30,000 feet. |
| turbulence (n.) | B2+ | movement of a plane during flight caused by sudden changes in wind direction | Turbulence always makes me feel ill. |
| upgrade (n.) | B2+ | when someone is given a better seat than the one they booked | I was offered an upgrade when I checked in. |
| long-haul (adj.) | C1 | a flight over a very large distance (e.g. London to Sydney) | My legs really ache during a long-haul flight. |
| airfare (n.) | C1 | the price of a plane ticket | Airfares are really expensive at the moment. |
| stopover (n.) | C1 | a short stay somewhere to break up a longer flight | I had a stopover in Singapore. |
| surcharge (n.) | C1 | money that you’re charged in addition to the basic price | There’s a surcharge for carry-on luggage. |
| baggage carousel (n.) | C1 | a moving belt from which you pick up your bags | I had to wait for ages at the baggage carousel. |
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