Traveling by plane requires understanding key information displayed at airports. Knowing how to read a departure board, an arrival board, and how to tell the time in English are essential skills for any traveler. These concepts come together every time you check your flight status or ask for help at an airport.
What is the difference between a departure board and an arrival board?
At every airport you will find screens showing flight information. A departure board [0:18] displays flights that are going out. This is where you check if your plane is leaving on schedule. An arrival board [1:02], on the other hand, shows planes that are landing. If you are picking someone up, this is the board you need.
Understanding the flight status [1:17] labels on these boards is very important:
- Departed means the plane is already leaving [1:22].
- Boarding means passengers can enter the plane [1:30].
- Canceled means there is no flight and you can't travel [1:37].
- Delayed means the flight is late and it's time to wait [1:44].
- On time means the flight is punctual [1:51].
For example, if you want to travel to Tokyo and the board says boarding, you can still catch that flight. But if a flight to Frankfurt shows canceled [0:45], you won't be able to travel that day.
How do you tell the time in English at the airport?
Checking flight times means you need to tell the time accurately. Here are the key expressions practiced with a clock [1:57]:
- O'clock is used for exact hours: "It's 2 o'clock."
- A quarter past means 15 minutes after the hour: "It's a quarter past 2" [2:07].
- Half past means 30 minutes after: "It's half past 2" [2:14].
- 20 to means 20 minutes before the next hour: "It's 20 to 3" [2:22].
- 25 to means 25 minutes before: "It's 25 to 3" [2:28].
- A quarter to means 15 minutes before: "It's a quarter to 3" [2:35].
These expressions follow a simple pattern. Minutes from 1 to 30 use past (after the hour), while minutes from 31 to 59 use to (before the next hour). Practicing with real airport times makes these patterns stick.
What useful phrases can you use when planning a trip?
Several practical phrases [2:49] help you communicate at the airport:
- Can I travel to...? is the question you ask when checking if a destination is available.
- What time is it? helps you check the current time.
- What time is the flight? lets you confirm your departure schedule.
Combining these questions with time expressions gives you everything you need. For instance: "What time is the flight to Tokyo?" — "It's at 5 past 5" [0:56].
Now try answering these practice questions using a departure board: What time is shown on the board? Can you travel to Rome? Can you travel to Madrid? What time is the flight to Tokyo? And most importantly, where do you like to travel? Share your answers in the comments section.
