Asking for Directions at the Airport｜French Travel Phrases

At the airport, travelers often need to ask questions such as “Where is the boarding gate?”, “Which way is the exit?”, or “Where is the baggage claim?”. By learning some basic French phrases, you can make moving around much smoother.

Here, I will provide conversation examples and explain key points for asking directions effectively.

Dialogue

A

Excusez-moi, où est la porte d’embarquement 25 ?
(Excuse me, where is boarding gate 25?)

B

C’est tout droit, puis à gauche après le café.
(It’s straight ahead, then turn left after the café.)

A

Merci beaucoup ! Et la sortie ?
(Thank you very much! And the exit?)

B

La sortie est au rez-de-chaussée, près des taxis.
(The exit is on the ground floor, near the taxi stand.)

Grammar and Expression Points

1. Basic Expression for Asking a Location

The most basic way to ask where something is at the airport is: “Où est … ?” (Where is … ?)

When asking about plural places, use “Où sont … ?” instead.

By using only “Où est … ?” and “Où sont … ?”, you can ask about most places in an airport.

2. Phrases for Giving Directions

Knowing common direction phrases makes it easier to understand responses.

In many cases, directions are explained with landmarks such as cafés, shops, or escalators. Pay attention to these words.

3. Useful Vocabulary at the Airport

Here are some essential words for travelers at the airport:

For numbered places such as boarding gates, simply add the number:

For longer terms like “la livraison des bagages,” recognizing the word bagages (baggage) can help you guess the meaning.

4. Asking Politely

When speaking to staff or other people at the airport, add “Excusez-moi” (Excuse me) before your question to be polite.

After receiving help, it is polite to say “Merci beaucoup !” (Thank you very much!).

Summary

泉（Izumi）

Author

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