Updated on January 28, 2024 by Lou Mac
Even after all these years of travelling, I still feel the anxiety creeping in when I’m visiting a new airport.
There’s already so much to worry about, we don’t need a language barrier on top of it all!
But if you’re visiting a Spanish-speaking country in the near future and you don’t speak the language, there’s no need to worry: I’m about to teach you everything you’ll need to know! (Although here are some great reasons why you should invest the time to learn 😉)
In this post, we’ll go over essential Spanish airport vocabulary and phrases, so that you can navigate your way effortlessly to your destination.
1. Essential Spanish Airport-Related Vocabulary
Visiting an airport in a Spanish-speaking country is a recipe for stress if you don’t know the language, but it doesn’t have to be that way!
Here’s a list of the most basic, common words. Even if you only learn this list you’ll significantly reduce potential stressors.
- El pasaporte – Passport
- El aeropuerto – Airport
- El avión – Airplane
- La terminal – Terminal
- La puerta – Gate
- El vuelo – Flight
- Salidas – Departures
- Llegadas – Arrivals
- Desde… hacia – From… to (destinations)
2. Checking In in Spanish
A smooth check-in is always a good omen for a great trip. Let’s have a look at some important Spanish words and phrases that you should keep in mind for this step:
- La aerolínea – Airline
- El mostrador de facturación – Check-in counter
- Check-in en línea – Online check-in
- La tarjeta de embarque – Boarding pass
- El equipaje – Luggage
- El equipaje de mano – Carry-on luggage
- La mochila – Backpack
- Despacho de equipaje – Baggage drop
- Hora de salida – Departure time
- Hora de llegada – Arrival time
- La fecha – Date
- El destino – Destination
- Retraso – Delay
- A tiempo – On time
- Horario de vuelos – Flight schedule
- Control de seguridad – Security check
- La escala – Layover
- Vuelo de conexión – Connecting flight
3. Spanish for Boarding the Plane
You’ve made it to the gate! You’re almost there, now all you need to do is wait. In a normal situation, having to wait for a few hours is a drag – maybe it’s just me, but waiting at the airport is different!
Plus, you’ve got plenty of time to look around and spot all the Spanish airport vocabulary that you’ve learned 😉
- La puerta de embarque – Boarding gate
- La zona de espera – Waiting area
- La sala de salidas – Departure lounge
- Embarque – Boarding
- Última llamada de embarque – Final boarding call
- El grupo de embarque – Boarding group
- Embarque prioritario – Priority boarding
- El asiento – Seat
- El asiento de ventana – Window seat
- El asiento de pasillo – Aisle seat
- La fila de salida de emergencia – Exit row
- El compartimiento superior – Overhead compartment
4. Spanish for In the Air
Getting into the plane and taking off is my favourite part of airline travel (apart from when the food comes around 🤭). It’s such a relief to get out of the hustle and bustle of the airport, into your own assigned seat, and know that the only thing you need to do for the next few hours is relax.
- Despegar – To take off
- Piloto – Pilot
- El auxiliar de vuelo – Flight attendant
- La tripulación de cabina – Cabin crew
- La cabina – Cabin
- El cinturón de seguridad – Seat belt
- La turbulencia – Turbulence
- El baño – Bathroom
- Abrocharse el cinturón – Fasten your seatbelt
- Los auriculares/audífonos – Headphones
- La frazada – Blanket
5. Landing and Customs in Spanish
After sitting patiently through your flight, you’ve reached the next challenge: Landing, getting your bag and passing through customs.
Admittedly this isn’t my favourite part of flying: Customs officers often love to make you feel like you’ve done something wrong, even when you haven’t. I couldn’t count the amount of times I’ve felt like a criminal while talking to staff in aduanas (customs) 😂
To make this process a little smoother for you, familiarise yourself with the following:
- Aterrizar – To land
- Aterrizaje – Landing
- Inmigración – Immigration
- Aduanas – Customs
- Declaración de aduanas – Customs declaration
- Declarar – To declare
- Control de pasaportes – Passport control
- La recogida de equipaje – Baggage claim
- La cinta de equipaje – Baggage carousel
- Sala de llegadas – Arrival hall
6. Where to Learn More Travel Spanish
Now that you’re a pro at Spanish airport vocabulary, it might be helpful to continue expanding your travel-Spanish toolbox. Check out the following posts which will be of help when you’re navigating through your Spanish-speaking destination:
- Essential Spanish travel phrases
- Common Spanish greetings
- Different ways of saying “hi” in Spanish
- How to ask for directions in Spanish
- How to order food in Spanish
- How to ask how much something is in Spanish
- Spanish pronunciation guide
And since you’re clearly interested in the Spanish language, these posts will also be of interest to you (both for your travels and just in general!)
Well done: You’ve successfully read your way through a comprehensive but important list of Spanish airport vocabulary!
I’m sure your future self (and your travel buddies) will thank you when the time comes.
Now you can move on to getting excited for your trip!