Worksheet for teachers and learners: both levels, with quiz and answer key. Free to print and share in class.

    ← Back to story

    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: checking in at the airport

    Yuki Checks In for Her Flight

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Yuki is a university student. She has a big suitcase and a small backpack. Today she is going on a trip. She walks into the airport with her classmate, Dan. The airport is very busy. There are many people with bags and carts. Yuki looks around. She feels a little nervous. She has never checked in at an airport alone before. Dan smiles at her. "Don't worry," he says. "I'll help you." Yuki takes a deep breath. She feels a little better. They walk to the check-in counter together. There is a short line. They wait for a few minutes. A friendly woman is at the check-in counter. "Good morning," she says.

    "Can I see your passport and booking, please?" Yuki opens her bag. She finds her passport and shows it to the woman. The woman looks at her screen. "You have one bag to check in," she says. "Please put it on the scale." Yuki lifts her suitcase onto the scale. The woman looks at the number. "Your bag is 22 kilograms," she says. "That is fine." Yuki feels happy. The woman puts a tag on the suitcase. Then she puts the suitcase on the belt. Yuki watches it move away. "Here is your boarding pass," the woman says. She gives Yuki a small card. "Your gate is B7. Boarding starts at 10:30." Yuki says, "Thank you so much!" Yuki and Dan walk away from the counter. "That was easy!" Yuki says. Dan laughs.

    "See? No problem at all." They find two seats near a large window. Yuki looks at her boarding pass. She reads the gate number and the boarding time. She puts the boarding pass in her jacket pocket. Then she takes out her cell phone. She sends a message to her mom. "I checked in! Everything is okay." Her mom replies quickly. "Great! Have a safe trip!" Yuki smiles. She looks out the window. She can see planes on the ground. She feels excited now. "I can't wait to board," she says. Dan nods. "Me too. Let's get some water first." They stand up and walk toward the shops.

    Key vocabulary

    check in (verb (phrasal))to register at the airport before a flight“Yuki needs to check in before she can go to the gate.”
    passport (noun)an official document that shows who you are and lets you travel to other places“The woman at the counter asks to see Yuki's passport.”
    boarding pass (noun)a card or document that lets you get on a plane“Yuki puts her boarding pass safely in her jacket pocket.”
    scale (noun)a machine that measures how heavy something is“Yuki lifts her suitcase onto the scale at the check-in counter.”
    gate (noun)the place in an airport where you wait to get on your plane“The woman tells Yuki that her gate is B7.”
    tag (noun)a small label attached to a bag so airport workers know where to send it“The woman puts a tag on Yuki's suitcase before it goes on the belt.”
    nervous (adjective)worried or a little afraid about something“Yuki feels nervous because she has never checked in alone before.”
    belt (noun)a moving strip at the airport that carries checked bags away“The woman puts Yuki's suitcase on the belt and it moves away.”

    Useful phrases

    • take a deep breath — to breathe in slowly to help yourself feel calm“Yuki takes a deep breath before she walks to the check-in counter.”
    • Don't worry — used to tell someone that everything will be okay“Dan says, "Don't worry," to help Yuki feel less nervous.”
    • Can I see your...? — a polite way to ask someone to show you a document“"Can I see your passport and booking, please?" the woman asks.”
    • Put it on the scale — to place your bag on the machine that measures its weight“The check-in agent says, "Please put it on the scale."”
    • No problem at all — used to say that something was easy or not difficult“Dan laughs and says, "See? No problem at all."”
    • Have a safe trip — a friendly way to wish someone well before they travel“Yuki's mom writes, "Have a safe trip!" in her message.”
    • I can't wait to... — used to show you are very excited about something“"I can't wait to board," Yuki says as she looks out the window.”
    • Boarding starts at... — used to say what time passengers can begin getting on the plane“"Boarding starts at 10:30," the woman at the counter tells Yuki.”

    Word search

    Find all 7 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMN
    1NUQLNERVOUSRWA
    2YZSYPQWEHNLBPQ
    3DSMJHWCUGOYUVK
    4THSEHNAKYIMNZG
    5XVIAZNRCBHIKYO
    6QWSGPCLLQKTLUJ
    7FIBCXGSZCTRLBG
    8OGNQAINEBPOZEY
    9JZLGVLHIJMPHRB
    10PAGDUCETDHSVRR
    11FYAHZKHRNRSOSA
    12HLTQYUVQLJABXJ
    13DVEQMPCNFNPOPJ
    14INOWAFPOYVLKBN

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Who goes to the airport with Yuki?

      • A) Her mom
      • B) Her teacher
      • C) Her neighbor
      • D) Her classmate, Dan
    2. What does the woman at the counter ask to see first?

      • A) Yuki's boarding pass
      • B) Yuki's passport and booking
      • C) Yuki's cell phone
      • D) Yuki's backpack
    3. How heavy is Yuki's suitcase?

      • A) 22 kilograms
      • B) 17 kilograms
      • C) 25 kilograms
      • D) 20 kilograms
    4. What is Yuki's gate number?

      • A) A3
      • B) B2
      • C) C10
      • D) B7
    5. What does Yuki do with her boarding pass?

      • A) She puts it in her backpack.
      • B) She puts it in her jacket pocket.
      • C) She gives it to Dan.
      • D) She loses it.
    6. What does Yuki send to her mom after checking in?

      • A) A photo
      • B) A text message
      • C) A voice message
      • D) A boarding pass
    7. What does the word 'nervous' mean in this story?

      • A) Worried or a little afraid
      • B) Happy and excited
      • C) Tired and bored
      • D) Angry and upset
    8. What time does boarding start for Yuki's flight?

      • A) 10:30
      • B) 11:15
      • C) 12:00
      • D) 9:00
    9. Yuki has checked in at an airport alone many times before. Is this true or false?

      • A) False
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) Not stated
      • D) True
    10. What do Yuki and Dan decide to do after sitting down?

      • A) Go to the gate
      • B) Buy food
      • C) Get some water
      • D) Call the airline

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    1. D 2. B 3. A 4. D 5. B 6. B 7. A 8. A 9. A 10. C

    Word search answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    belt: N9 ↖ · boarding pass: M14 ↖ · check in: F10 ↗ · gate: C10 ↓ · nervous: E1 → · passport: K13 ↑ · scale: C6 ↘

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: checking in at the airport

    Yuki's Check-In at the Campus Airport Shuttle Hub

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Yuki, a second-year university student, had arranged to fly out early on a Thursday morning, and her classmate Dan had offered to come with her to the airport shuttle hub on campus. She had packed a large suitcase the night before, carefully checking the weight limit listed on her booking confirmation. Even so, as they walked through the busy terminal building, Yuki felt a familiar tightness in her chest. She had traveled before, but always with her family, and managing the check-in process on her own felt like a different challenge entirely. Dan noticed her hesitation and said, "You've got everything you need, Yuki. Just stay calm and follow the steps." She nodded, took a slow breath, and scanned the signs overhead until she found the check-in counter for her flight. The line was short, and within a few minutes they were at the front.

    The check-in agent greeted them with a professional smile. "Good morning. May I have your passport and booking reference, please?" Yuki handed over her documents without hesitation, pleased that she had thought to keep them in the front pocket of her bag. The agent studied her screen briefly before asking Yuki to place her suitcase on the scale. "Your bag is 22 kilograms, which is within the limit," the agent confirmed, attaching a bright orange tag to the handle before sending it along the belt. She then printed Yuki's boarding pass and slid it across the counter. "Your gate is B7, and boarding begins at 10:30.

    I'd recommend arriving at the gate at least 20 minutes early." Yuki thanked her and stepped aside, already feeling the tension leave her shoulders. Once they had found a pair of seats near a large window overlooking the runway, Yuki tucked her boarding pass carefully into her jacket pocket and pulled out her cell phone. She sent her mom a short message: "Checked in! Everything went smoothly." The reply came almost instantly, full of warm encouragement. Yuki looked out at the planes lined up on the tarmac and realized that the anxiety she had felt earlier had completely faded. "That was much easier than I expected," she admitted to Dan, who grinned and said, "It always is, once you've actually done it." She laughed and agreed, already looking forward to the journey ahead. They decided to grab some water from one of the nearby shops before heading toward the security checkpoint.

    Key vocabulary

    booking confirmation (noun phrase)an official document or email that proves your travel reservation has been accepted“Yuki checked the weight limit on her booking confirmation the night before her flight.”
    boarding pass (noun)a document given at check-in that allows a passenger to board a specific flight“The agent printed Yuki's boarding pass and slid it across the counter.”
    weight limit (noun phrase)the maximum weight allowed for luggage on a flight“Yuki had packed carefully to make sure she stayed within the weight limit.”
    hesitation (noun)a pause before doing something, often because you feel unsure or nervous“Dan noticed Yuki's hesitation as they approached the check-in counter.”
    tarmac (noun)the paved area at an airport where planes park, move, and wait“Yuki looked out the window at the planes lined up on the tarmac.”
    security checkpoint (noun phrase)the area in an airport where passengers and their bags are checked before going to the gates“After collecting their water, Yuki and Dan headed toward the security checkpoint.”
    booking reference (noun phrase)a unique code given when you book a flight, used to identify your reservation“The check-in agent asked Yuki for her passport and booking reference.”
    tension (noun)a feeling of mental or physical stress caused by worry or anxiety“Yuki felt the tension leave her shoulders after the agent confirmed her bag was within the limit.”

    Useful phrases

    • stay calm and follow the steps — used to encourage someone to remain relaxed and act in an orderly way“Dan told Yuki, "Just stay calm and follow the steps," before they reached the counter.”
    • within the limit — not exceeding the maximum amount allowed, especially for luggage weight“The agent confirmed that Yuki's suitcase was within the limit at 22 kilograms.”
    • I'd recommend... — used to give polite, helpful advice about what someone should do“"I'd recommend arriving at the gate at least 20 minutes early," the agent said.”
    • went smoothly — used to describe a process that happened without any problems or difficulties“Yuki told her mom that everything went smoothly at the check-in counter.”
    • much easier than I expected — used to express pleasant surprise that something was not as difficult as you thought“"That was much easier than I expected," Yuki admitted after checking in.”
    • once you've actually done it — used to say that something only feels difficult until you have real experience of it“Dan said, "It always is, once you've actually done it," meaning checking in gets easier with practice.”
    • May I have your...? — a formal and polite way to ask someone to provide a document or item“"May I have your passport and booking reference, please?" the agent asked at the counter.”
    • heading toward — moving in the direction of a specific place or destination“After getting water, Yuki and Dan headed toward the security checkpoint.”

    Word search

    Find all 5 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
    1DBTVTUVRBLDRIKM
    2XQDHQTYLTSPVONT
    3JQBBXVYQIADEOPF
    4ISCWOBHEHSRPQID
    5THMFEAAHQUAMLJD
    6RELAQIRSENEMAIG
    7RSLXJWGDPBAOKCW
    8LIOOYVYHIWSTEYA
    9RTRXRKFYTNTUWFY
    10EARGPLIXCLGZLVW
    11FTZTLIXOKUIPCCN
    12LIYVMHDOSLCMAYS
    13LOBEWLFFFVKLISW
    14UNXFAEWNUWUNETS
    15VCAFOJCTENSIONS

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Why did Yuki feel nervous at the airport?

      • A) She was late for her flight.
      • B) Her suitcase was too heavy.
      • C) She had always managed check-in with her family before.
      • D) She had lost her passport.
    2. What does the word 'hesitation' mean as used in the story?

      • A) A feeling of excitement
      • B) A decision made very quickly
      • C) A pause caused by feeling unsure or nervous
      • D) A moment of confusion about directions
    3. Where had Yuki kept her travel documents?

      • A) In her suitcase
      • B) In Dan's bag
      • C) In the front pocket of her bag
      • D) In her jacket pocket
    4. What did the check-in agent do after confirming the bag's weight?

      • A) She asked Yuki to repack her bag.
      • B) She attached a tag and sent the bag along the belt.
      • C) She called a supervisor.
      • D) She asked Yuki to pay an extra fee.
    5. What advice did the agent give Yuki about the gate?

      • A) To wait at the check-in counter until boarding
      • B) To arrive at the gate at least 20 minutes early
      • C) To go to gate A3 instead of B7
      • D) To run to the gate immediately
    6. What does 'went smoothly' mean in this story?

      • A) Something was canceled
      • B) Something happened very slowly
      • C) Something happened with many problems
      • D) Something happened without any problems
    7. Yuki had traveled abroad many times on her own before this trip. Is this true or false?

      • A) False
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) Not stated
      • D) True
    8. What did Yuki notice after the check-in was complete?

      • A) She had forgotten her boarding pass.
      • B) The anxiety she had felt earlier had completely faded.
      • C) Her gate had changed.
      • D) Dan had lost his passport.
    9. What is a 'booking reference' as used in this story?

      • A) A map of the airport
      • B) A unique code that identifies your flight reservation
      • C) A receipt for paying airport taxes
      • D) A list of items allowed in your bag
    10. What do Yuki and Dan plan to do before going to the security checkpoint?

      • A) Eat a full meal
      • B) Call the airline
      • C) Get some water from a nearby shop
      • D) Find a place to sit and rest

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    1. C 2. C 3. C 4. B 5. B 6. D 7. A 8. B 9. B 10. C

    Word search answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    boarding pass: D3 ↘ · hesitation: B5 ↓ · tarmac: I2 ↘ · tension: H15 → · weight limit: D4 ↘

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/yuki-checks-in-for-her-flight-2026-09-23