4.2 Checking in at the airport
Source: eslfast.com
Dropping off at the airport
| A: Can you drive me to the airport tomorrow afternoon? | OR: – If you are free, I was wondering if you could give me a ride to the airport this afternoon. – Could you help me out with a ride to the airport this afternoon? |
| B: I would be happy to drive you to the airport. When do you need to leave? | OR: – I can give you a ride with no problem. What is your departure time? – Sure, I’ll give you a ride. What time do you need to get there? |
| A: For an international flight, the airline wants us to check in two hours in advance, so I need to leave my house at 2:00. | OR: – I need to leave my house at 2:00 so I can get to the airport two hours before my flight. – My flight departs at 4:00, so I need to leave my house at 1:00 to get to the airport by 2:00. |
| B: Do you have a lot of luggage to check in? | OR: – Are you bringing a lot of bags with you? – How much luggage are you bringing? |
| A: I am only carrying one large bag and a carry-on. | OR: – I have my carry-on, a purse, and a large suitcase. |
| B: I’ll bring our smaller car then. Do you know where you need to get dropped off? | OR: – Your stuff should all fit in my car just fine. Do you know which terminal you are going to? – I won’t have to drive our larger car then. Do you know where your terminal is? |
| A: Yes, I am flying out on Singapore Air to Sydney, so I need to be at the International Terminal. | OR: – I need to be dropped off on the second level of the International Terminal since I am flying to Sydney on Singapore Air. – Since I am flying to Sydney on Singapore Air, I need to be dropped off on the second level of the International Terminal. |
| B: Will I be able to come in with you to say goodbye? | OR: – Can I go inside the airport with you and maybe we can have a drink before you leave? – Do you want me to go in with you at the airport to help you pass the time before you leave? |
| A: Actually, with airport regulations being so strict, you should probably just drop me off at the curb. | OR: – I would like that, but only ticketed passengers can go into the departure area. – They only allow ticketed passengers into the departure area, so you’ll have to drop me off at the curb. |
| B: That will work out fine. Just give me a call if anything changes. | OR: – I can take you wherever you need to go. Let me know if there are any changes to your travel plans. – I’ll drop you off wherever you need to be dropped off. See you later! |
Picking up at the airport
| A: Would you be able to pick me up at the airport next Sunday? | OR: – I am flying in next Sunday and was wondering if you might be able to pick me up at the airport. – Could you help me out and pick me up at the airport next Sunday? |
| B: Sure, I would be happy to help you. What time are you arriving? | OR: – It would be no problem to pick you up. When is your flight arriving? – I can pick you up. What time does your flight arrive? |
| A: I will be arriving at 3:00 in the afternoon. | OR: – My flight arrives at 3:00 in the afternoon. |
| B: By the time you pick up your luggage, it will be around 3:30. What if I meet you outside at the curb? | OR: – I think that by the time we factor in half an hour to clear Customs, that maybe I should meet you at the curb at 3:30. – I think if I am at the curb at 3:30, that would allow you time to pick up your luggage. How does that sound? |
| A: That would be a good time to meet, but what if I am running late? | OR: – I think that would work out well, but what if the plane is late? – I will meet you at the curb, but how will you know if the plane is delayed? |
| B: I can track your plane online. I can just put in the flight number and I can see if you are on time. | OR: – Don’t worry. I can track your flight on my iPhone browser. – I can call the airline, and they will tell me if the flight is delayed. |
| A: Can you make sure that you have your cell phone with you so I can call you? | OR: – I am going to carry my cell phone so I can call you. – I want to be able to call you on my cell phone in a pinch. |
| B: Yes, that would be good idea. | – I’ll make sure to keep my cell phone with me and turned on. – Yes, that would help us find each other at the airport. |
| A: If something happens and you can’t make it, just let me know and I’ll book a Super Shuttle. | OR: – If you find that you have to make other plans, I can always book a Super Shuttle to pick me up. – If it doesn’t work out, just let me know and I can take a Super Shuttle. |
| B: Don’t worry. I’ll be able to pick you up. | OR: – You won’t need to take a Super Shuttle. Just stay in touch and look for me! – You don’t have to take a Super Shuttle. I’ll be there. |
Going through the customs
| A: Could you tell me how to get my bags? | OR: – I have never arrived at this airport before and need to know where to go next. – Where is the luggage claim area? |
| B: Just go straight ahead, down the escalator, and there will be signs directing you. | OR: – You can get to Baggage Claim by going down the escalator and following the signs. – Go to the end of the walkway, down the stairs, and to the right. |
| A: Where do we clear Customs? | OR: – Do we need to clear Customs before we go get our bags? – Don’t I have to clear Customs before I go get my bags? |
| B: You will pick your bags up first. | OR: – After you have picked up your bags, you will be directed to Customs. – You will clear Customs and Immigration when you have picked up your luggage. |
| A: Should we have our passports out? | OR: – What do I need to have out when I pass through Customs? – Do I need to have this Declarations form filled out before I get there? |
| B: You should have your passport out and your Declarations form totally filled out before you get into line. | OR: – Do not get in the Customs and Immigration line until you have your passport out with your completed Declarations form. – Make sure that your passport is out and that your Declarations form is complete. |
| A: My friend here is continuing on to Puerto Rico, and we were wondering if she has to go through Customs. | OR: – My seatmate here is traveling through to Canada, and I told her that she probably doesn’t have to clear Customs. – My brother won’t be staying in the U.S. but is continuing on to Mexico. |
| B: Travelers who are continuing on to another country will check in over there and be directed where to go next. Their bags have been checked through. | OR: – Passengers continuing on should check in with the attendant on the left who will direct them to where they can connect with their next flight. – People who are not entering the United States should go to the left and follow the directions given to them. Their bags are already routed through to their final destination. |
| A: Are there any restrooms in this area? | OR: – Can we use the restrooms before we clear Customs? – Is there a restroom we can use in this area? |
| B: Yes, right over there after you pass through the line. | OR: – Of course, right over there on your left. – Yes, there is one right over there especially for this area. |
Talking to a curbside agent
| A: Can you help me figure out where I should go first to check in at this airport? | OR: – I don’t know the departure procedures at this airport and was wondering if you could help me. – I am flying out today and need to know where I should begin checking in. |
| B: If you already have your ticket, we can take your bags here at the curbside check-in. | OR: – If you only have a carry-on and already have a ticket, you may proceed directly to the gate to check in. – If you need to pick up your ticket, you need to go to the ticket counter right inside the door. They will check your bags for you. |
| A: How do I know what gate to go to? | OR: – I don’t know where my plane is departing from. – Do you know what gate my plane is leaving from? |
| B: There are arrivals and departures listed on the screens inside. | OR: – Check on the screens when you go through baggage inspection for your airline. – There are agents for your airline at the counter in the corner. |
| A: Is there someplace where I can find out what I can carry in my baggage? | OR: – Where can I find out what I can carry on in my bag? – I need to know what the restrictions are for carry-on luggage contents. |
| B: There are signs posted near the baggage check area to help you know what the rules are. | OR: – Check out the list of banned carry-on materials on the signs inside the airport. – There should be a list of restrictions printed on your ticket. |
| A: Can my friend go inside with me? | OR: – Can I take my friend along with me to say goodbye? – I have a lot of time to kill before my flight departs and want my friend to keep me company. |
| B: Your friend can go with you to the ticket counter but not past the security check. | OR: – For security purposes, only ticketed passengers can go to the gate. – Only ticketed passengers can go past the security checkpoint. |
| A: When I return, will this curbside area be a good place to get picked up? | OR: – Is this the area for departures and arrivals or only departures? – Can my friends pick me up here when I return? |
| B: This area is only for departures. The bottom level is for arrivals. | OR: – The curbside area is a departure area only. Arrivals are downstairs. – This is the drop-off area for departures. Arrivals are on the lower level. |