Written by: Luan Cavallaro, Founder & CMO, BeConfident

Key takeaways from this article

1. Master check-in phrases, such as "I'd like to check in for my flight" and "Can I get a window seat?", supported by phonetic pronunciation for more natural interactions.

2. Respond confidently at immigration, explaining the purpose of the visit, length of stay, and lodging location, in line with the new 2026 biometric rules.

3. Avoid issues at security by asking about the removal of items such as laptops, liquids, medications, and pacemakers to reduce delays.

4. Handle delays and emergencies at the gate with phrases like "Has my flight been delayed?" and "I missed my connection" to resolve unexpected situations clearly.

5. Practice all of these phrases in real dialogues 24/7 with native AI tutors at BeConfident, using a free trial to build confidence speaking English in airports.

Phrases for check-in and boarding

Check-in is usually the first conversation in English at the airport. These phrases help navigate the process clearly:

1. "Good morning. I'd like to check in for my flight to [destination]" (Gud mórning. Aid laik tu tchék in for mai flait tu [destination]) - Good morning. I would like to check in for my flight to [destination]

2. "Here is my passport and ticket" (Hír iz mai pássport end tíket) - Here is my passport and ticket

3. "I have two bags to check in" (Ai hév tu bégs tu tchék in) - I have two bags to check in

4. "Can I get a window seat?" (Kén ai guét a uíndou sít?) - Can I get a window seat?

5. "I'd prefer an aisle seat, please" (Aid prifér en áil sít, plíz) - I'd prefer an aisle seat, please

6. "Is there a vegetarian meal option?" (Iz dér a vejetérian míl ópshon?) - Is there a vegetarian meal option?

7. "How much is the charge for extra luggage?" (Háu mátch iz dã tchárj for ékstra lágej?) - How much is the charge for extra luggage?

8. "What gate is my flight departing from?" (Uót gueit iz mai flait dipárting from?) - What gate is my flight departing from?

9. "What time should I be at the gate?" (Uót taim shud ai bi ét dã gueit?) - What time should I be at the gate?

Important pronunciation tip: "Aisle seat" has a silent "s", the pronunciation sounds like "ail".

Complete check-in dialogue:

You: "Good morning. I'm checking in for flight EK123 to Dubai."

Agent: "Please show me your passport and ticket."

You: "Here they are. Thank you! I have two bags to check in."

Agent: "Here's your boarding pass. Please proceed to Gate 15."

You: "Thank you very much. Have a great day!"

You can practice this complete dialogue at BeConfident with American AI tutors who simulate real airport situations. Try the check-in scenarios for free now.

Essential phrases for immigration

After check-in, the next step is usually immigration, which often generates more anxiety. The new 2026 biometric rules include mandatory photography and facial recognition, which makes having prepared and objective answers even more useful:

1. "The purpose of my visit is tourism" (Dã pórpos of mai vízit iz túrizm) - The purpose of my visit is tourism

2. "I'm staying for seven days" (Aim stéing for sévn deis) - I'm staying for seven days

3. "I'm staying at [hotel name]" (Aim stéing ét [hotel name]) - I'm staying at [hotel name]

4. "This is my first time in the United States" (Dis iz mai fórst taim in dã Iúnaitd Stéits) - This is my first time in the United States

5. "I have my return ticket" (Ai hév mai ritórn tíket) - I have my return ticket

6. "I'm traveling alone" (Aim trávling alóun) - I'm traveling alone

7. "I work as a [profession]" (Ai uórk éz a [profession]) - I work as a [profession]

8. "I don't have anything to declare" (Ai dónt hév énithing tu dikléar) - I don't have anything to declare

9. "Here are my documents" (Hír ar mai dókiuments) - Here are my documents

Typical immigration dialogue:

Officer: "What is the purpose of your visit?"

You: "I am traveling for tourism and will be staying for 5 days. Thank you."

Officer: "Where will you be staying?"

You: "I'm staying at the Marriott Hotel in Manhattan. Here is my reservation."

Officer: "Do you have a return ticket?"

You: "Yes, here it is. I'm returning next Friday."

Phrases for security and baggage

The security area has its own rules and specific vocabulary. Recent TSA cases in 2025 involving unusual items such as replica bombs and hidden animals reinforce the importance of explaining what you are carrying clearly:

1. "Do I need to remove my laptop?" (Du ai níd tu rimúv mai léptop?) - Do I need to remove my laptop?

2. "Can I keep my shoes on?" (Kén ai kíp mai shúz on?) - Can I keep my shoes on?

3. "Are my liquids okay?" (Ar mai líkuids okéi?) - Are my liquids okay?

4. "What about my belt?" (Uót abáut mai bélt?) - What about my belt?

5. "I'm ready for the check" (Aim rédi for dã tchék) - I'm ready for the check

6. "This is my medication" (Dis iz mai medikéishon) - This is my medication

7. "I have a pacemaker" (Ai hév a péismeiker) - I have a pacemaker

8. "Can you please check this manually?" (Kén iu plíz tchék dis mániuali?) - Can you please check this manually?

Dialogue at security:

Officer: "Please place your items in the tray."

You: "Do I need to remove my laptop and liquids?"

Officer: "Yes, laptops and liquids over 100ml need to come out."

You: "Understood. Here they are."

Phrases for boarding gate, delays, and emergencies

With security completed, the next step is to head to the boarding gate, where unexpected situations can happen. These phrases will help you get oriented and resolve issues:

1. "Excuse me, where is gate 34?" (Ekskiúz mi, uér iz gueit thórti for?) - Excuse me, where is gate 34?

2. "Has my flight been delayed?" (Héz mai flait bín diléid?) - Has my flight been delayed?

3. "What time is boarding?" (Uót taim iz bórding?) - What time is boarding?

4. "Is this the line for flight 102?" (Iz dis dã lain for flait uan zírou tu?) - Is this the line for flight 102?

5. "I think I lost my boarding pass" (Ai think ai lóst mai bórding pás) - I think I lost my boarding pass

6. "Where is the lost and found?" (Uér iz dã lóst end fáund?) - Where is the lost and found?

7. "I missed my connection" (Ai míst mai konékshon) - I missed my connection

8. "Can you help me rebook?" (Kén iu hélp mi ribúk?) - Can you help me rebook?

Polite phrases to ask for help and handle misunderstandings

When you don't understand something, using simple and polite phrases makes communication easier:

1. "Can you repeat, please?" (Kén iu ripít, plíz?) - Can you repeat, please?

2. "I don't understand" (Ai dónt andersténd) - I don't understand

3. "Could you speak more slowly?" (Kud iu spík mor slóuli?) - Could you speak more slowly?

4. "Excuse me, I'm sorry" (Ekskiúz mi, aim sóri) - Excuse me, I'm sorry

5. "Thank you for your patience" (Thénk iu for iór péishens) - Thank you for your patience

Simple and clear phrases help make the experience in stressful airports much smoother.

Top 10 phrases for immigration

Why practice with BeConfident and go beyond static lists

Memorizing phrases is only the first step. BeConfident offers conversational practice with AI tutors who simulate native American, British, Australian, and other countries' accents. Unlike an app focused on gamification, like Duolingo, or schools with fixed hours, practice happens 24/7 through the app, WhatsApp, or smartwatch.

With over 200,000 students and an RA 1000 reputation on Reclame Aqui, BeConfident has built credibility by helping Brazilians overcome their fear of speaking English. This confidence is backed by AI tutors that provide instant feedback on pronunciation, grammar, and naturalness, adapting conversations to your topics of interest, including the specific airport and immigration scenarios presented in this article.

Start your free trial and practice all of these dialogues safely before your next trip.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What English phrases can I use at immigration?

The most important phrases include "The purpose of my visit is tourism", "I'm staying for [number] days", "This is my first time here", "I have my return ticket", and "I don't have anything to declare". Keeping answers short and direct, with documents in hand, eases the process.

How to practice English dialogue for immigration?

Practicing real scenarios with typical questions from officers helps build confidence. You can use apps like BeConfident to chat with an AI that simulates immigration officers and offers feedback on pronunciation and naturalness. Recording your answers to the most common questions also solidifies learning.

What are the most used airport phrases in English?

At check-in, phrases like "I'd like to check in for my flight" and "Can I get a window seat?" appear frequently. At security, "Do I need to remove my laptop?" is very common. At the gate, "Where is gate [number]?" and "Has my flight been delayed?" are essential. To ask for help, "Excuse me, can you help me?" works in various situations.

What changed in airport procedures in 2026?

Major US airports began using mandatory biometric photography and facial recognition for all foreign visitors starting December 2025. This means you may hear instructions like "Please look at the camera" and "Remove your glasses for the photo" during the immigration process.

How to handle misunderstandings at the airport?

Phrases like "Can you repeat, please?", "I don't understand", "Could you speak more slowly?", and "Excuse me, I'm sorry" help clarify doubts. Staying calm, being polite, and asking for help whenever necessary makes service easier, as many employees deal daily with travelers who do not speak English fluently.

From check-in to immigration, you can navigate your trip with greater security. With these essential phrases, practical dialogues, and pronunciation tips, your next international trip is bound to be smoother. Constant practice makes a difference, and with BeConfident you can simulate all of these situations as many times as you need, without public exposure. Start your free trial and turn anxiety into confidence when traveling.