When traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, knowing the right words at the airport can make your journey much smoother. Whether you’re checking in, going through security, or boarding your flight, understanding airport vocabulary in Spanish for travelers is essential. This guide introduces key words and phrases that will help you navigate the airport confidently and independently.

Airport Vocabulary in Spanish

With this guide to airport vocabulary in Spanish for travelers, you’ll be better equipped to handle real-life travel situations in Spanish-speaking countries. Review and repeat the terms often, and practice with the exercises to make them stick. ¡Buen viaje!

Basic Terms Every Traveler Should Know

These are general words you’ll encounter at almost every step of your journey. They cover flights, luggage, and overall airport logistics.

  1. El aeropuerto (airport)
  2. La torre de control (control tower)
  3. El avión (plane)
  4. La aerolínea (airline)
  5. La compañía aérea (airline company)
  6. El viaje (trip, journey, travel)
  7. El billete de avión (plane ticket)
  8. El pasaje (fare, ticket price)
  9. El vuelo (flight)
    • El vuelo directo (direct flight)
    • El vuelo internacional (international flight)
  10. El número de vuelo (flight number)
  11. El horario de vuelos (flight schedule)
  12. El destino (destination)
  13. El retraso (delay)
  14. La escala (layover)
  15. El equipaje (luggage)
  16. El carrito de equipaje (luggage trolley)
  17. La terminal (terminal)
  18. La puerta de embarque (boarding gate)

At the Check-In Desk

These terms are useful when you’re dropping off luggage, getting your boarding pass, or asking about your flight at the check-in counter.

  1. La facturación or el check-in (check-in)
  2. El mostrador de facturación (check-in counter)
  3. El pasaporte (passport)
  4. El documento de identidad (ID document, ID card)
  5. La tarjeta de embarque (boarding pass)
  6. El asiento (seat)
    • El asiento de pasillo (aisle seat)
    • El asiento de ventanilla (window seat)
  7. La maleta (suitcase)
  8. El comprobante (baggage claim tag)
  9. El equipaje facturado (checked luggage)
  10. El equipaje de mano (carry-on luggage)
  11. El compartimento para equipaje (baggage compartment)
  12. El exceso de equipaje (excess baggage)
  13. El peso permitido (allowed weight)
  14. El límite de equipaje (baggage allowance)
  15. El recibo (receipt)
  16. La reserva (reservation)
  17. Facturar el equipaje (to check the luggage)
  18. Confirmar el vuelo (to confirm the flight)
  19. Cambiar el asiento (to change the seat)
  20. Solicitar asistencia especial (to request special assistance)

Security and Boarding

This section covers the airport vocabulary in Spanish you’ll need for passing through security and getting on the plane.

  1. El control de seguridad (security check)
  2. El detector de metales (metal detector)
  3. El escáner corporal (body scanner)
  4. La inspección (inspection)
  5. El control de pasaportes (passport control)
  6. El agente de seguridad (security agent)
  7. Presentar documentos (to show documents)
  8. Esperar en la fila (to wait in line)
  9. Pasar por seguridad (to go through security)
  10. El embarque (boarding)
  11. El embarque prioritario (priority boarding)
  12. El letrero de embarque (boarding sign)
  13. El aviso de embarque (boarding call)
  14. La zona de embarque (boarding area)
  15. La sala de embarque (departure lounge)

Other Useful Vocabulary

Here is additional airport vocabulary in Spanish that might come in handy while moving through the airport or passing through customs.

  1. La salida (departure)
  2. La llegada (arrival)
  3. La hora de llegada (arrival time)
  4. La hora de salida (departure time)
  5. La conexión (connection flight)
  6. La puerta de salida (departure gate)
  7. La cinta transportadora (conveyor belt)
  8. La recogida de equipaje (baggage claim)
  9. El despegue (takeoff)
  10. El aterrizaje (landing)
  11. El aterrizaje de emergencia (emergency landing)
  12. La zona libre de impuestos (duty-free area)
  13. La tienda libre de impuestos (duty-free shop)
  14. La aduana (customs)
  15. El control de aduanas (customs check)
  16. El formulario de aduanas (customs form)
  17. El agente de aduanas (customs officer)
  18. Declarar bienes (to declare goods)
  19. El or La piloto (pilot)
  20. El or La copiloto (co-pilot)
  21. El or La auxiliar de vuelo (flight attendant)
  22. Aterrizar (to land)
  23. Despegar (to take off)
  24. Embarcar (to board)
  25. Pilotar (to pilot)
  26. Volar (to fly)
  27. Abrocharse el cinturón (to fasten your seatbelt)

Exercises

Now that you’re familiar with this airport vocabulary in Spanish, let’s do some exercises to help you reinforce them.

Feel like learning more vocabulary? Go to our Vocabulary section in our blog to learn more vocabulary in Spanish about different topics (food, sports, school…).

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Categorized in:

Vocabulary