French airport vocabulary: check-in, security and boarding
At a French-speaking airport, start with the words you will actually need:
l'aéroport (the airport), le vol (the flight), le billet (the ticket),
le passeport (the passport), la valise (the suitcase), and la porte
d'embarquement (the boarding gate). The phrases below follow the normal airport
journey from check-in to arrivals.
| Word | Transcription | Translation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| aéroport | /aeʁɔpɔʁ/ | airport | L'aéroport est loin de la ville.The airport is far from the city. |
| avion | /avjɔ̃/ | plane | L'avion est grand.The plane is big. |
| billet | /bijɛ/ | ticket | Je veux un billet bon marché.I want a cheap ticket. |
| passeport | /paspɔʁ/ | passport | Mon passeport est ici, dans le sac.My passport is here in the bag. |
| valise | /valiz/ | suitcase | Ma valise est pleine de vêtements.My suitcase is full of clothes. |
| carte | /kaʁt/ | map | Je lis la carte.I read the map. |
| gare | /ɡaʁ/ | station | Je suis allé à la gare.I went to the station. |
| le vol | /lə vɔl/ | the flight | Mon vol part à huit heures. |
| la porte d'embarquement | the boarding gate | La porte d'embarquement est la B12. | |
| la carte d'embarquement | the boarding pass | Voici ma carte d'embarquement. | |
| enregistrer une valise | to check in a suitcase | Je dois enregistrer une valise. | |
| le contrôle de sécurité | the security check | Nous passons le contrôle de sécurité. |
These words become useful when you place them inside short service phrases. The same noun may appear with different articles, so learn the phrase as a unit.
At check-in
Use l'enregistrement for check-in and enregistrer une valise when you check a
bag into the hold.
| French | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| l’enregistrement | check-in | Où est l’enregistrement ?Where is check-in? |
| enregistrer une valise | to check in a suitcase | Je dois enregistrer une valise.I have to check in a suitcase. |
| le comptoir | the counter | Le comptoir ouvre à six heures.The counter opens at six. |
| le bagage à main | carry-on bag | J’ai seulement un bagage à main.I only have a carry-on bag. |
Je voudrais enregistrer cette valise, s’il vous plaît.
I would like to check in this suitcase, please.
Security and boarding
After check-in, you go through le contrôle de sécurité, then look for your gate.
The verb for boarding is embarquer.
Il faut passer le contrôle de sécurité avant d’embarquer.
You have to go through security before boarding.Votre porte d’embarquement est la B12.
Your boarding gate is B12.
La carte d'embarquement is the boarding pass. You may hear votre carte
d’embarquement, s’il vous plaît at security or at the gate.
Arrivals and departures
Les départs are departures, and les arrivées are arrivals. After landing, you
look for la livraison des bagages or simply ask where to pick up your suitcase.
Je cherche le tableau des départs.
I’m looking for the departures board.Où est la livraison des bagages ?
Where is baggage claim?
Common mistakes
Translating check in as vérifier
Vérifier means “to check” as in “verify”. For luggage, use enregistrer.
Je dois vérifier ma valise.→ Je dois enregistrer ma valise.
I have to check in my suitcase.
Confusing départ and arrivée
Départ is departure; arrivée is arrival.
Je regarde les arrivées pour mon vol qui part.→ Je regarde les départs pour mon vol qui part.
I’m checking departures for my flight that leaves.
Using avion for flight
Un avion is a plane. A scheduled flight is un vol.
Mon avion part à huit heures.→ Mon vol part à huit heures.
My flight leaves at eight.
Airport phrases combine travel vocabulary with practical structures like il faut and French prepositions for countries. In Fluera you hear the words in short airport situations, so la carte d’embarquement and le contrôle de sécurité become phrases you can use at the counter. Try it when you practice French.
Practice
Question 1 of 10
Frequently asked questions
How do you say airport and flight in French?
l'aéroport, and flight is le vol: Mon vol part de l'aéroport à huit heures ("My flight leaves from the airport at eight").How do you say boarding pass and boarding gate in French?
la carte d'embarquement, and boarding gate is la porte d'embarquement.How do you say to check in a suitcase in French?
What is security check in French?
le contrôle de sécurité: Il faut passer le contrôle de sécurité ("You have to go through security").