air travel

board

/ bɔːrd / – to get onto a ship, aircraft, bus, or train – lên máy bay/tàu/xe – We will board the plane at gate 6.

check in

/ tʃek ɪn / – to register at a hotel or airport – làm thủ tục lên máy bay/khách sạn – You need to check in two hours before departure.

get on/off a plane

/ ɡet ɒn/ɒf ə pleɪn / – to enter or leave an aircraft – lên/xuống máy bay – She got on the plane just before the doors closed.

pick up someone

/ pɪk ʌp ˈsʌmwʌn / – to collect someone from a place – đón ai đó – I will pick up my friend at the airport.

drop off someone

/ drɒp ɒf ˈsʌmwʌn / – to take someone to a place – đưa ai đó đến nơi nào – He dropped off his sister at the terminal.

take off

/ teɪk ɒf / – when an aircraft leaves the ground – cất cánh – The plane took off on time.

land

/ lænd / – when an aircraft arrives on the ground – hạ cánh – The flight landed safely in Hanoi.

delay a flight

/ dɪˈleɪ ə flaɪt / – to make a plane leave later – hoãn chuyến bay – Bad weather delayed our flight.

go through security

/ ɡoʊ θruː sɪˈkjʊərəti / – to pass a security check – đi qua kiểm tra an ninh – We went through security before boarding.

book a ticket

/ bʊk ə ˈtɪkɪt / – to reserve a seat on a flight – đặt vé – I booked a ticket to Paris online.

take a connecting flight

/ teɪk ə kəˈnɛktɪŋ flaɪt / – to travel on a second flight after the first one – đi chuyến bay nối chuyến – We took a connecting flight from Bangkok to Tokyo.

change flights

/ tʃeɪndʒ flaɪts / – to take a different flight than planned – đổi chuyến bay – We had to change flights because of a delay.

terminal

/ ˈtɜːrmɪnəl / – a building at an airport where passengers arrive or depart – nhà ga sân bay – We waited in the terminal for our flight.

check-in counter

/ ˈtʃek ɪn ˈkaʊntər / – a desk where you check in – quầy làm thủ tục – She went to the check-in counter to drop off her luggage.

security checkpoint

/ sɪˈkjʊərəti ˈtʃekpɔɪnt / – a place where security checks are done – điểm kiểm tra an ninh – Passengers must go through the security checkpoint.

departures lounge

/ dɪˈpɑːrtʃərz laʊndʒ / – a waiting area for departing flights – phòng chờ khởi hành – We relaxed in the departures lounge before boarding.

departures & arrivals board

/ dɪˈpɑːrtʃərz ənd əˈraɪvəlz bɔːrd / – a board showing flight times – bảng thông báo giờ khởi hành & đến – I checked the departures & arrivals board for my flight.

boarding gate

/ ˈbɔːrdɪŋ ɡeɪt / – the place where passengers enter the aircraft – cổng lên máy bay – Our boarding gate is number 15.

customs / passport control

/ ˈkʌstəmz / ˈpæspɔːrt kənˈtroʊl / – official check of passports – hải quan / kiểm soát hộ chiếu – We went through customs before leaving the airport.

baggage claim

/ ˈbæɡɪdʒ kleɪm / – place where you collect luggage – nơi nhận hành lý – I waited at baggage claim for my suitcase.

carry-on luggage

/ ˈkæri ɒn ˈlʌɡɪdʒ / – small bags taken onto the plane – hành lý xách tay – I only have carry-on luggage.

overhead compartment

/ ˈoʊvərhɛd kəmˈpɑːrtmənt / – storage above passenger seats – khoang chứa đồ phía trên – Put your bag in the overhead compartment.

window seat

/ ˈwɪndoʊ siːt / – seat next to the window – ghế cạnh cửa sổ – I prefer the window seat so I can see the view.

aisle seat

/ aɪl siːt / – seat next to the aisle – ghế cạnh lối đi – I like the aisle seat for easy access.

seatbelt

/ ˈsiːtbelt / – strap for safety in a vehicle – dây an toàn – Please fasten your seatbelt.

cabin crew

/ ˈkæbɪn kruː / – staff working on an aircraft – phi hành đoàn – The cabin crew greeted us warmly.

emergency exit

/ ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi ˈeksɪt / – door for use in an emergency – cửa thoát hiểm – Locate the emergency exit before takeoff.

airsickness bag

/ ˈersɪknəs bæɡ / – bag for passengers who feel sick – túi chống say máy bay – He used an airsickness bag during the flight.

life vest

/ laɪf vest / – inflatable jacket for safety in water – áo phao cứu sinh – There is a life vest under your seat.

captain

/ ˈkæptɪn / – the pilot in charge – cơ trưởng – The captain welcomed us on board.

flight attendant

/ flaɪt əˈtendənt / – person serving passengers – tiếp viên hàng không – The flight attendant offered me a drink.

boarding pass

/ ˈbɔːrdɪŋ pæs / – ticket that allows you to board – thẻ lên máy bay – Show your boarding pass at the gate.

I love traveling by plane because of its convenience and speed. Today, I’ll show you the steps for boarding a plane, especially for people who are traveling by air for the first time.

Firstly, you need to book a ticket. Then, you should go to the terminal at least 40–50 minutes before the flight to check in at the counter and go through the security checkpoint.

After completing these steps, you will wait for a while in the departures lounge. When your flight is ready for boarding, you will hear an announcement with your flight number and boarding gate. Go to that gate to board the plane and find your seat.

If you’re not sure where your seat is, the flight attendants will help you. I personally love the window seat, so when I book a ticket, I often choose it to enjoy sightseeing and watch the sky—it feels like I’m touching it.

One of the most important things to do after boarding is to fasten your seatbelt. Now, you can relax, sleep, or read the news while waiting for the plane to land.

When the plane lands, if you have checked baggage, go to the baggage claim area to collect it.