Checking In for a Flight at the Airport Counter.

In this lesson you stand at the airport check in counter with your passport in your hand. You learn how to start the conversation confidently, say where you are flying to and give your booking reference. You practise spelling your name, giving dates of birth and explaining how many bags you want to check in or take as hand luggage. You listen to typical questions from check in staff about seats, safety and security, and you learn how to answer them simply and politely. You also deal with small problems, such as overweight luggage or seats that are not together. Through role plays and short listening tasks, you get comfortable with the rhythm of real check in conversations, so you can collect your boarding pass, understand basic instructions and move towards security without stress.

1. Arriving at the check in counter.

Imagine you are finally at the airport. You have your passport in your hand and your suitcase beside you. You walk up to the check in counter and there is a member of staff smiling at you. In this block we will focus on the very first part of the conversation: how to greet the staff, say which flight you are taking, and give your passport and booking reference clearly and calmly. We will also listen to a short model dialogue so you can hear the natural rhythm of a real check in exchange. You will notice that you do not need very complicated grammar here. You mostly need clear, polite phrases such as: ‘Good morning, I am checking in for flight B A four three two’, or ‘Here is my passport’. Small details are important, like pronouncing the flight number slowly and not dropping your voice at the end. After you listen, you will write a few short sentences to show what you understood, so listen carefully for the destination, the flight number and what documents the passenger gives.

Step 1: Walking up to the counter.

You are at London Airport. You see the sign for your airline and your flight is on the screen: BA 432 to Barcelona. You join the queue, and now it is your turn.

The check in agent looks at you and smiles. This is your moment to start speaking.

A natural opening sounds like this:

• 'Good morning, I am checking in for flight BA 432 to Barcelona.'
• 'Hello, I am flying to Barcelona today. I would like to check in, please.'

After your greeting, the agent will usually ask for your documents:

• 'Can I see your passport, please?'
• 'Do you have your booking reference?'

You can answer with simple, clear sentences:

• 'Here is my passport and my booking reference.'
• 'Yes, here you are.'

Useful opening phrases.

Use these phrases to sound polite and confident:

• 'Good morning / afternoon.'
• 'I am checking in for flight BA 432.'
• 'I am flying to Barcelona today.'
• 'Here is my passport and booking reference.'
• 'Could you repeat that, please?' (if you did not hear something)

Notice how these phrases are short and direct. You do not need long explanations. The important thing is to say your flight number and destination clearly, and to hand over your passport.

In the audio for this block you will hear a full mini-dialogue between a passenger and a check in agent. While you listen, focus on:

1. How the passenger starts the conversation.
2. How they say the flight number and destination.
3. What documents they give to the agent.

You will then answer some questions in writing to check your understanding.

Practice & Feedback

Listen to the short check in conversation. You will hear a passenger checking in for flight BA 432. After you listen, write 3–4 full sentences in English that answer these questions:

1. Where is the passenger flying to?
2. What is the flight number?
3. What documents does the passenger give to the agent?

Try to answer in complete sentences, for example: 'The passenger is flying to …' or 'She gives the agent …'. Do not worry about small spelling mistakes, but focus on clear, correct information. If you are not sure, you can listen to the audio again before you write your answers.

2. Giving your flight and personal details.

Now that you can start the conversation and give your flight number, let us move to the next step at the counter. After you hand over your passport, the agent will usually confirm your personal details. This is nothing scary. They just want to check that the booking in the computer is really yours. Typical questions include things like: 'Can you confirm your full name?', 'What is your date of birth?', and sometimes, 'Can you spell your surname for me, please?'. You might also hear questions about your nationality or contact phone number. In this block, you will read a short dialogue between a passenger and the agent. You will see how the passenger answers calmly and clearly, using simple phrases such as 'My date of birth is the fifteenth of June, nineteen eighty-eight', or 'That is L O P E Z'. After reading, you will write about your **own** details, as if you are at the check in counter. This is great practice, because these are real facts you know very well, so you can focus on the English, not on remembering information.

Step 2: Confirming your personal details.

After the agent has your passport and booking reference, they will usually check your details on the screen. This is to make sure there are no mistakes.

Here is a model dialogue with Maria Lopez, flying to Barcelona on flight BA 432:

Agent: 'Can you confirm your full name, please?'

Maria: 'Yes, it is Maria Lopez.'

Agent: 'Thank you. Can you spell your surname for me?'

Maria: 'Yes, of course. That is L O P E Z.'

Agent: 'Great. And what is your date of birth?'

Maria: 'The fifteenth of June, nineteen eighty-eight.'

Agent: 'Thank you. And your nationality?'

Maria: 'Spanish.'

Useful question and answer patterns.

Questions you might hear:

• 'Can you confirm your full name, please?'
• 'How do you spell your surname?'
• 'What is your date of birth?'
• 'What is your nationality?'
• 'Can I have a contact phone number or email, please?'

Simple, clear answers:

• 'My full name is …'
• 'My surname is … That is …' (then spell it letter by letter)
• 'My date of birth is the … of …, nineteen …'
• 'I am …' (for nationality, for example 'I am Brazilian')
• 'My phone number is …'

Tips for speaking clearly.

1. Pause between numbers. When you say dates or phone numbers, do not rush. For example: 'zero seven five three, eight nine…'
2. Spell slowly. Leave a short pause between each letter of your surname.
3. Check understanding. If the agent repeats something incorrectly, you can say: 'Actually, it is …' and repeat politely.

Now you will read another short dialogue where the agent checks Maria's details. Then you will write about your own details, using the same patterns.

Practice & Feedback

Read the short dialogue below between the agent and Maria. Then imagine you are at the check in counter. Write 4–6 sentences giving your own basic details to the agent.

Include:

• your full name;
• how to spell your surname;
• your date of birth;
• your nationality.

Write your sentences as if you are speaking to the agent, for example: 'My full name is …', 'My surname is …, that is …', 'My date of birth is …'.

Do not put real personal documents, but you can invent details if you prefer. Focus on using the patterns from the dialogue. This is your chance to practise saying real-life information in clear, natural English.

3. Talking about your luggage.

You have now confirmed your personal details, so the agent knows exactly who you are. The next big topic at the check in counter is luggage. Many travellers feel nervous here, because of weight limits and rules about bags. In reality, most of the language is simple and very repetitive. In this part of the conversation, the agent needs to know how many bags you want to check in, how many you are taking as hand luggage, and if you have any special or dangerous items. Typical questions sound like: 'How many bags are you checking in?', 'Do you have any cabin bags?', or 'Are there any batteries or dangerous items in your bags?'. In this block, you will see a short text that describes Maria's luggage for her flight to Barcelona. You will notice how she explains the number and type of bags with simple sentences like 'I have one bag to check in and one cabin bag.' After that, you will write about your own luggage for a real or imaginary trip, using the same patterns. This will help you feel much more confident at the counter, especially if you usually worry about this step.

Step 3: Explaining your bags.

Once your details are confirmed, the agent will usually look down at the scale and ask about your luggage.

Here are some very common questions:

• 'How many bags are you checking in?'
• 'Do you have any hand luggage or cabin bags?'
• 'Can you put your suitcase on the scale, please?'
• 'Are there any dangerous items in your bags?'

Maria answers like this:

Agent: 'How many bags are you checking in today?'

Maria: 'I have one suitcase to check in and one cabin bag.'

Agent: 'Can you put your suitcase on the scale, please?'

Maria: 'Sure.'

Agent: 'Do you have any liquids, batteries or sharp objects inside?'

Maria: 'No, I do not. I have no dangerous items in my bag.'

Useful luggage phrases.

• 'I have one bag to check in and one cabin bag.'
• 'I have two suitcases to check in.'
• 'I only have hand luggage.'
• 'This is my cabin bag.'
• 'I have no dangerous items in my bag.'
• 'I have a laptop and a camera in my hand luggage.'

Numbers and weights.

Agents often talk about weight limits, for example 'twenty-three kilos' or 'ten kilos'. You can reply simply:

• 'Is my luggage within the weight limit?'
• 'The bag is a bit heavy, I think.'

If you do not understand a question, you can use your repair phrase:

• 'Could you repeat that, please?'
• 'Could you speak a little more slowly?'

In the reading below you will see a short description of Maria's luggage. Then you will write a short paragraph about your own bags for a trip. Imagine you are really at the counter and you want the agent to understand your situation clearly.

Practice & Feedback

Read the short text about Maria's luggage for her flight. Then imagine you are checking in for your own trip (real or imaginary). Write 4–6 sentences explaining your luggage to the agent.

Say:

• how many bags you want to check in;
• how many cabin or hand luggage bags you have;
• if you have any special items (for example, a laptop, a musical instrument) or if you have no dangerous items.

Use the model sentences to help you, such as 'I have one bag to check in and one cabin bag.' Try to keep your English simple but complete. Think about what you actually take when you travel, so your paragraph feels realistic.

4. Choosing seats and answering safety questions.

You have given your personal details and explained your luggage. The conversation is going well. Now the agent will probably ask about your seat and a few standard safety or security questions. This is a very typical part of check in, and the language is quite formulaic, which is good news for you. First, the agent may offer a seat choice: aisle, window, or maybe ask if you are happy with your current seat. You can make simple polite requests such as 'Could we please sit together?' or 'Could you put me in an aisle seat, please?'. Then you may hear questions like 'Did you pack your bags yourself?' or 'Are you carrying anything for someone else?'. In this block, you will see a short chat-style conversation between an agent and Maria about seats and safety questions. Then you will write the passenger's replies as if you are chatting with the airline in a messaging app. This is a fun way to rehearse very common questions and answers before you are in front of a real check in desk.

Step 4: Seats and safety questions.

At this stage of check in, the agent often wants to make your flight more comfortable and confirm some safety information.

Seat requests.

Common questions from the agent:

• 'Do you have a seat preference? Aisle or window?'
• 'You are in the middle seat at the moment. Is that OK?'
• 'You are sitting apart from your friend. Would you like to sit together?'

Useful answers and requests:

• 'Could we please sit together?'
• 'Could you put me in an aisle seat, please?'
• 'A window seat would be great, if possible.'
• 'That is fine, thank you.'

Safety and security questions.

Airlines must ask some standard questions. You might hear:

• 'Did you pack your bags yourself?'
• 'Are you carrying anything for anyone else?'
• 'Have your bags been with you at all times?'

Simple, clear answers:

• 'Yes, I packed my bags myself.'
• 'No, I am not carrying anything for anyone else.'
• 'Yes, my bags have been with me at all times.'

In the chat-style message exchange below, the agent asks Maria about her seat and about safety. Read it to see the style: short, clear messages, like in a messaging app. Then you will write your messages as the passenger, answering the agent's questions politely.

Practice & Feedback

Read the short chat between the check in agent and Maria. Then imagine this is your chat with the airline before you arrive at the airport.

Write your answers as if you are the passenger in a chat app. Use separate lines, for example:

'You: …'

Answer all of the agent's questions:

• seat preference;
• if you packed your bags yourself;
• if you are carrying anything for anyone else;
• if your bags were with you.

Use polite, short sentences like 'A window seat, please, if possible.' or 'Yes, I packed my bags myself.' Try to write at least 4–6 chat lines from your side. Keep the style friendly but clear.

5. Dealing with a small check in problem.

Most of the time, check in is simple. However, sometimes there is a small problem. Your bag might be a little overweight, or your seats might not be together. In these moments it is important to stay calm and use polite language to explain the problem and ask for options. You do not need to argue or use strong language. In English, softening phrases help you sound calm and reasonable, for example: 'I see. Is there any way to avoid the extra charge?', or 'We are travelling together. Could you check again if there are two seats together?'. These phrases show that you understand the situation, but you are also asking for help. In this block, you will see a short dialogue where Maria discovers that her suitcase is a bit overweight. Notice how both the agent and Maria stay polite. Then you will imagine your own small problem at check in and write what you would say to the agent to try to solve it.

Step 5: Staying calm with small problems.

Small issues at check in are normal. The key is to describe the problem clearly and ask for possible solutions.

Here is a short example with overweight luggage:

Agent: 'I am afraid your suitcase is a bit overweight. The limit is twenty-three kilos and your bag is twenty-six.'

Maria: 'Oh, I see. What are my options?'

Agent: 'You can pay an extra charge, or you can move some items into your cabin bag.'

Maria: 'Is there any way to avoid the extra charge if I move some things now?'

Agent: 'If you can reduce it to twenty-three kilos, there will be no extra fee.'

Maria: 'OK, I will move some items to my cabin bag. Thank you for your help.'

Useful softening and problem phrases.

• 'Oh, I see.'
• 'What are my options?'
• 'Is there any way to avoid the extra charge?'
• 'Could you check again if there are two seats together?'
• 'I think there is a mistake with my seat / my luggage.'
• 'We are travelling together, could we please sit together?'

Notice that Maria does not shout or complain aggressively. She accepts the information and then asks about options. This style usually works much better than strong emotional language, especially when you are stressed about your flight.

In the next activity, you will imagine a small check in problem that could happen to you, and you will write what you would say to the agent in a few sentences.

Practice & Feedback

Read the dialogue above and think about the polite style Maria uses. Now imagine you have one small problem at check in. Choose one situation:

• Your bag is a little overweight.
• Your seat is in the middle and you prefer an aisle seat.
• You and your friend have seats far away from each other.

Write 5–7 sentences explaining the problem and politely asking the agent for help or options. Use softening phrases like 'Oh, I see.', 'What are my options?' or 'Could you check again…'.

Write as if you are actually speaking at the counter. Do not try to be too formal or too long; clear, polite and calm is perfect.

6. Full check in role play.

You have now practised all the main parts of an airport check in conversation: starting the dialogue, giving your flight and personal details, talking about luggage, choosing seats, answering safety questions, and dealing with small problems politely. In this final block, you will bring everything together in one complete role play. On the screen you will see a list of typical things that a check in agent might say from the beginning to the end of the process. Your task is to imagine that you are the passenger for a real trip. You will write a full set of answers, step by step, as if you are really standing at the counter. This is your mini performance for the lesson. Try to keep the same destination, dates and luggage in all your answers so that your story is consistent. Use the key phrases you have learned, such as 'I am checking in for flight…', 'Here is my passport and booking reference', 'I have one bag to check in and one cabin bag', and 'Could we please sit together?'. Do not worry about being perfect. Focus on being clear, polite and complete. This is fantastic practice before your next real flight.

Step 6: Putting it all together.

Below you will see a simple script of what the agent might say during a check in conversation. Your job is to write what you, the passenger, say in reply.

Think of a real or imaginary trip. For example:

• From: your city
• To: a city you would like to visit
• Airline and flight number: you can invent these
• Luggage: how many bags you usually take

Agent's lines.

1. 'Good morning.'
2. 'Where are you flying to today?'
3. 'Can I see your passport and your booking reference, please?'
4. 'Can you confirm your full name and your date of birth?'
5. 'How many bags are you checking in today? Do you have any cabin bags?'
6. 'Do you have any dangerous items in your bags?'
7. 'Do you have a seat preference? Aisle or window?'
8. 'Boarding starts at 10:25 at gate 18B. Here is your boarding pass. Have a nice flight.'

You will now write all of the passenger's answers in one continuous script.

Tips for your final script.

• Keep your story consistent: use the same destination, flight and luggage throughout.
• Use the polite phrases from earlier blocks.
• Imagine you are really at the counter: what would you honestly say?
• Aim for clear, medium-length sentences, not very long ones.

When you finish, you will have a complete check in conversation that you can later read aloud and practise for real travel.

Practice & Feedback

Look at the agent's lines above. Now write the full conversation from your side as the passenger.

Write 8 separate answers, one for each agent line. You can number them 1–8 or write them in a paragraph, but make sure it is clear which answer goes with which question.

Include:

• a greeting and your destination;
• giving your passport and booking reference;
• confirming your name and date of birth;
• explaining your luggage and any cabin bags;
• answering the safety question about dangerous items;
• saying your seat preference;
• reacting politely to the final instructions.

Try to use phrases from the lesson like 'I am checking in for flight…', 'Here is my passport', 'I have one bag to check in and one cabin bag', 'Could you put me in an aisle seat, please?'.

Aim for at least 8–10 sentences in total. Imagine this is your real check in at the airport.