You’ll learn how to ask for things in French and how to speak to airport officials. Soon you’ll know exactly what to say on the plane and at the airport to make it easier and safer for you to travel in France.

Resources for further reading:

How to improve your pronunciation of French words

The best French learning software: what you need to know

Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record

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Airplane in French: Key words and phrases

L'avion

The plane

En avion

In a plane

L'avion est déjà parti

The plane has already left

L'avion est déjà arrivé

The plane has already arrived

Compartiment supérieur

Over head locker

Ceinture

Seatbelt

Sortie de secours

Emergency Exit

Gilet de sauvetage

Life jacket

Cabine

Cabin

Hôtesse de l'air

Flight attendant

Carte d'embarquement

Boarding pass

Imagine you are on a flight from America to France. It’s a long way, so make sure you know how to ask for a drink or an extra blanket in case you are cold. It’s also important to know what “Attachez votre ceinture, s’il vous plait” means. Repeat the new words aloud to practice your pronunciation.

Je voudrais avoir un verre d'eau.

I would like to have a glass of water.

J'ai peur de prendre l'avion.

I'm scared of flying.

J'ai faim.

I'm hungry.

J'ai froid, est-ce que je peux avoir une couverture ?

I'm cold, do you have a blanket?

Quand est-ce que l'on va atterrir ?

When are we going to land?

Merci d'attacher votre ceinture.

Please fasten your seatbelt.

Mes écouteurs ne marchent pas.

My headset doesn't work

Nous attendons des turbulences.

We are expecting turbulence.

Once you arrive at the airport you will have to collect your luggage. Simply follow the signs to the “Remise de bagages” and make your way to the “Control de passeport”. Listen to the Audio link below to hear the pronunciation…

Remise des bagages

Baggage claim

Douane or Contrôle de passeport

Customs

Hopefully you won’t need to use the following phrases, but it’s still handy to know them.

Ma valise a été endommagée.

My luggage got damaged.

Ma valise a été perdue.

My luggage got lost.

J'ai manqué ma connexion.

I've missed my connecting flight.

J'ai perdu mon passeport.

I've lost my passport.

J'ai perdu mon billet d'avion.

I've lost my ticket.

J'ai perdu ma carte d'embarquement.

I've lost my boarding pass.

Je suis perdu(e)

I'm lost.

That’s it for today. I hope you enjoyed the lesson.

The next step is to look at your French vocab for the airport in French, and perhaps you would like to know how to book a hotel in French?

À bientôt !

Marie-Claire Rivière and the Rocket French Team

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