Navigating the Airport in Italian: Essential Phrases and Vocabulary

While English is widely spoken in airports (and you can always get by with some hand gestures), knowing a bit of Italian can make your airport experiences in Italy feel far more confident and enjoyable. Plus, locals will certainly appreciate the effort! So, whether you’re checking in for a flight to Milan or landing in Rome, here’s a brief guide to navigating the airport in Italian.

First, let’s familiarize with Italian airports

Before you start checking the timetable and looking for coffee, you’ll need to navigate the maze of signs throughout the aeroporto (airport). That’s why knowing the terms for the main areas is the first step toward an easy travel experience.

Here are some basic words:

• L’aeroporto: Airport
• Le partenze: Departures
• Gli arrivi: Arrivals
• I voli nazionali: Domestic flights
• I voli internazionali: International flights
• Il terminal: Terminal (luckily, this one is the same!)
• La compagnia aerea: Airline

Checking in

If you haven’t checked in online or you have a suitcase that’s too big for the overhead bin, your first stop is the banco del check-in (check-in counter). 

If you arrive early and don’t see anyone at the desk, you can ask a staff member:

The addetto/a al check-in (check-in agent) will ask for your passaporto (passport) or numero di prenotazione (booking number). They will also ask if you need to imbarcare dei bagagli (check in any bags).

Here are some common answers:

If the agent mentions your bag is troppo pesante (too heavy), you can try rearranging a few items, putting on an extra layer or two, or, if all else fails, admit defeat and ask:

If you’re travelling with little ones, you may need to check how to bring the stroller on board:

And if you have a preference for where you sit during the flight, you can say:

Before you walk away with your carta d’imbarco (boarding pass), it’s always a good idea to double-check the status of the flight:

Key check-in vocabulary:

• Il bagaglio da stiva: Checked luggage 
• Il bagaglio a mano: Carry-on/Hand luggage
• Il posto finestrino: Window seat
• Il posto centrale: Middle seat
• Il posto corridoio: Aisle seat
• La carta d’imbarco: Boarding pass
• In orario: On time
• In ritardo: Delayed

Quick tip: When talking about luggage, you’ll often hear both il bagaglio (plural, i bagagli) and la valigia (plural le valigie). The two words are frequently used interchangeably in everyday conversation, but strictly speaking, bagaglio is the more general term, referring to any kind of luggage or bag, while valigia specifically means a classic suitcase (which is, of course, a type of bagaglio!).

Passing security

After you’ve successfully checked your bags, it’s time to passare i controlli di sicurezza (pass security). This is the part of the journey where even the most organized of us sometimes falter, navigating trays, scanners, and the occasional panic over the liquid restrictions.

The addetti alla sicurezza (security officers) are usually in a hurry to keep the lines moving, so their instructions are short and direct. You’ll likely hear things like:

If you’re in doubt about whether to remove an item from your bag, just ask:

Next, you’ll walk through the metal detector. If it beeps (suona), don’t panic. The officer might say:

If a quick perquisizione (search) is necessary, they may ask or say:

• Questo/a è suo/a?: Is this yours?
• Devo controllare la sua valigia / il suo zaino: I need to check your suitcase / your backpack
• Questo/a non può passare: This can’t go through 

Key security vocabulary:

• La vaschetta: Tray
• I liquidi: Liquids
• I dispositivi elettronici: Electronic devices
• La cintura: Belt
• Le scarpe: Shoes
• La perquisizione: Search

At the gate

Once you’ve cleared security, keep an eye on the tabellone (the big departure board) to check that your flight is in orario(on time) and where your uscita d’imbarco (gate) is. 

If you’re feeling lost or just want reassurance, you can ask a staff member:

(We often omit parts of the sentence in everyday speech. In this case, the “How do I get to…”  part is understood from context)

If the screen hasn’t updated in a while or the desk is empty, these questions can be useful:

When everything is ready, you’ll hear l’annuncio (announcement) over the loudspeaker, generally first in Italian and then in English. Keep an ear out for key phrases like:

• Inizio imbarco per il volo…: Boarding for flight… begins.
• Ultima chiamata: Final call 

Sometimes, you’ll be boarded via a navetta(shuttle bus). It’s not exactly the most glamorous way to board, but often a standard part of the journey. The announcement may go like this:

Key gate vocabulary:

• L’uscita d’imbarco: Gate
• Il tabellone: Departure board/screen
• L’annuncio: Announcement
• L’imbarco: Boarding
• Ultima chiamata: Final call
• La navetta: Shuttle bus

Stepping onto the plane and depart

When you finally walk down the tunnel d’imbarco (finger, jet bridge) or climb the stairs from the shuttle bus, check your carta d’imbarco (boarding pass) one last time to find your seat. The two key words to know are la fila (row) and il posto (seat).

Some useful phrases you may need include:

Then comes the fun part of finding a spot for your carry-on in the cappelliera (overhead bin). If it looks full, you can ask an assistente di volo (flight attendant):

Then, during the flight, the assistenti di volo (flight attendants) or the comandante (captain) will make several announcements. Here are common phrases you’ll hear over the speakers:

• Allacciate le cinture: Fasten your seatbelts
• Si prega di rimanere seduti: Please remain seated
• Stiamo attraversando una zona di turbolenza: We are passing through an area of turbulence.
• L’atterraggio è previsto tra venti minuti: Landing is expected in twenty minutes
• Non dimenticate gli effetti personali nella tasca della poltrona di fronte a voi: Don’t forget your personal belongings in the seatback pocket.

If you need something during the flight, try these simple requests:

Key on-board vocabulary:

• Il posto: Seat
• La fila: Row
• Il corridoio: Aisle
• Il finestrino: Window
• Le uscite di sicurezza:
• La cintura di sicurezza: Seat belt
• La prima classe: First class
• La classe economica: Economy class
• Gli effetti personali: Personal belongings
• Il decollo: Takeoff
• L’atterraggio: Landing 
• La turbolenza: Turbulence

Fun fact: Don’t be surprised if you see people start clapping as the plane touches down. Sometimes, Italians like to thank the pilot for a safe flight with a round of applause!

Arrival and baggage claim

Welcome to Italy! You’ve landed, the plane has taxied long enough to make you wonder if you’re about to take off again, and you may have even witnessed (or joined in) the classic Italian celebratory landing clap. Now follow the signs for Uscita (Exit). 

Depending on where you’re flying from, your first stop will likely be il controllo passaporti (passport control). Your passport is checked, any visto (visa) verified, and you’re officially in Italy.

Next, look for the ritiro bagagli (baggage claim) area and check the screens to find the nastro (conveyor belt/carousel) assigned to your flight number. If your bags are heavy, grab a carrello (luggage trolley), but you’ll often need a coin to unlock it.

Now, if the conveyor belt stops, everyone leaves, and your suitcase is nowhere to be seen, head to the ufficio bagagli smarriti (lost & found counter) and use these phrases:

And if you luggage did arrive but it’s damaged, say:

Once you have your bags (or at least received a reassuring promise that they’ll be delivered soon), you’ll pass through la dogana (customs). Here, you’ll see two different paths:

• Niente da dichiarare (Nothing to declare), marked in green
• Merce da dichiarare (Goods to declare), marked in red

Key arrival vocabulary:

• Il controllo passaporti: Passport control
• Il visto: Visa
• Il ritiro bagagli: Baggage claim
• Il nastro: Conveyor belt/carousel
• Il carrello: Luggage trolley 
• L’ufficio oggetti smarriti: Lost & Found
• L’etichetta del bagaglio: Luggage tag
• L’uscita: Exit
• La dogana: Customs

There you have it! English will get you far in Italy’s airports, but using a bit of the local language definitely makes life easier (and earns you a smile or two from the staff). Buon viaggio! 

Valentina Nicastro

Valentina Nicastro is a travel writer in love with her home country, Italy. Having travelled widely around the globe, she realised there was more to explore closer to home and decided to put the passport aside for a while. When she is not immersed in documenting Italy, you’ll find her donning her communication consultant hat, weaving words as a content writer and bridging linguistic divides as a translator.