Travel English: airports and hotels
Handle airports, hotels and transport: check in, ask questions, solve problems and understand announcements.
In this lesson you will
- Check in at an airport and hotel
- Ask travel questions politely
- Deal with simple travel problems
Learn
At the airport: I’d like to check in, please. Can I have a window/aisle seat? How many bags can I take? Where’s gate 12? The flight is delayed / cancelled / boarding now.
At the hotel: I have a reservation under the name… What time is breakfast? Is Wi-Fi included? Could I have a late check-out?
Problems: My luggage hasn’t arrived. I’ve missed my connection. There’s a problem with my room — the air conditioning doesn’t work.
Useful words: boarding pass, gate, departure, arrival, delay, connection, reception, key card, check-out.
Examples
- Could I have an aisle seat, please?
- I have a reservation for three nights under Silva.
- Excuse me, my suitcase hasn’t arrived.
- What time do I need to check out?
Vocabulary
boarding pass
the card you need to get on the plane
aisle seat
a seat next to the passage
connection
a second flight or train you change to
reception
the front desk of a hotel
check out
leave a hotel and pay
In real life
At hotel reception.
Audio isn’t available in this browser — read the transcript instead.
Receptionist: Good evening. How can I help?
Guest: Hi, I have a reservation under the name Kaya.
Receptionist: Yes, a double room for two nights. Here’s your key card. You’re in room 304.
Guest: Thanks. What time is breakfast?
Receptionist: From seven to ten, in the restaurant on the ground floor.
Guest: And is Wi-Fi included?
Receptionist: Yes, the password is on your key card holder.
Practice
You want to sit by the window on the plane. You say:
Listening: Airport announcements
Audio isn’t available in this browser — read the transcript instead.
Flight TV204 to Lisbon is now boarding at gate 17.
Passengers for flight BA90 to Toronto: this flight is delayed by forty-five minutes.
This is the last call for passenger Adeyemi on flight TV311 to Nairobi. Please go immediately to gate 3.
1.Which gate is the Lisbon flight at? (number)
2.What is happening with the Toronto flight?
3.Where is Nairobi flight TV311 leaving from?
Speaking
Role-play checking in at an airport and then at a hotel. Include one problem at each place and solve it.
Writing
Write an email to a hotel asking about airport transfers, breakfast times and whether you can check in early (60–80 words).
Lesson quiz
The card you need to board a plane:
Review
Key points
- Airport: check in, seat, gate, delayed/cancelled.
- Hotel: reservation under…, breakfast, Wi-Fi, check-out.
- Problems: hasn’t arrived, missed my connection, doesn’t work.
What you learned
- ✓ I can manage at an airport.
- ✓ I can check in at a hotel.
- ✓ I can explain travel problems.
Grammar reference: Can and could: ability, permission, requests