French Vocabulary: At the Airport

3 Comments

Last Updated: June 5, 2023

Follow Us Now

Learn French on Your Own with…

Sign up below to get started:

Can you imagine how confusing it could be when you’re in a foreign airport where people are communicating only in French?

French Travel Words Airport

But whether you are planning to travel to a French-speaking destination or not, today we’ll be sharing with you a list of French air travel vocabulary and phrases related to airports.  

Knowing these words and phrases could surely come in handy soon. Plus, it will give your French vocabulary a boost, too.

So if you’re ready, let’s start!

Download the list in PDF format by clicking the button below.

une compagnie aérienneairline
un avionairplane
un aéroportairport
un volflight
les bagagesbaggage
la livraison des bagagesbaggage claim
les arrivéesarrivals
les départsdepartures
la carte d'embarquementboarding pass
les bagages à maincarry-on luggage
les bagages enregistrés/ un baggage en soutechecked-in luggage
un chariotcart
un guichet d’embarquementcheck-in counter
l'enregistrementcheck-in
une boutique hors taxes / un duty-freeduty-free
un passeportpassport
un visavisa
le billet d'avionplane ticket
un billet simpleone-way ticket
un billet aller-retourround trip ticket
le contrôle de sécuritésecurity check
une portegate
l'immigrationimmigration
Un terminalterminal
la douanecustoms
une escalestopover
EmbarquerTo board, embark
DébarquerTo disembark, to deplane
Récupérer les bagagesTo recover your luggages
DécollerTo take off
AtterrirTo land
acheter un billetto buy a ticket
enregistrer (les bagages)to check bags
déclarerto declare
faire une réservationto make a reservation
la classe économique/ la classe écoeconomy class/ coach
un passagerpassenger
le pilotepilot
un stewardsteward
une hôtesse de l'airflight stewardess
vols intérieursdomestic/internal flights
vols internationauxinternational flights
l'atterrissagelanding
le décollagetakeoff
l'embarquementboarding
Le Hall de départDeparture hall
Le Hall d’arrivéeArrival hall

Now you know the airport in French!

Let’s check out a few sample statements and common questions, too.

Quand est-ce que je dois être à la porte ?When do I have to be at the gate?
Vous devez vous présenter à la porte 30 minutes avant l’heure du départ.You have to be at the gate 30 minutes prior to departure.
Combien de temps dure le vol ?How long is the flight?
Combien de temps va-t’on s’arrêter ?How long is the stopover?
Est-ce que j’ai besoin d’un visa ?Do I need a visa?
Vous n’avez pas besoin de Visa.You won't need a visa.
Combien de valises est-ce que je peux prendre ?How many pieces of luggage can I take?
Vous pouvez prendre seulement un bagage à main.You can only take one piece of hand luggage.
Je voudrais avoir un siège du côté hublot, s’il vous plaît.I would like to have a window seat, please.
Malheureusement, nous n’avons plus de siège disponible du côté hublot.Unfortunately, we don’t have any window seats left.
Je voudrais avoir un siège du côté couloir s’il vous plaît.I would like to have an aisle seat, please.

For a full lesson related to the topic of French air travel vocabulary, enroll in our complete lesson courses.

Speak, Listen, and Write French like a Native with Talk in French Complete Courses

  • Learn French on your own terms with our comprehensive, self-paced beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses, each with a step-by-step plan tailored to your level.
  • Master French pronunciation and sound like a native with our pronunciation course.
  • Receive personalized feedback and guidance from a dedicated French teacher.

About the author 

Frederic Bibard is the founder of Talk in French, a company that helps french learners to practice and improve their french. Macaron addict. Jacques Audiard fan. You can contact him on Instagram

  • Very nice. I learned basic French words from hearing my parents speaking, so although some words were familiar they weren’t by sight. It’s great to tie up all the loose connections & having the audio of the more complex phrases or words above would make this post an even more impressive addition to valuable web knowledge. Merci!

  • {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

    >

    Get our Free French Study Guide

    The ultimate (& free) roadmap to master the French language. Save countless hours of ineffective study. Designed to keep your motivation high.