If you are flying into London from a foreign country and English is not your first language, there are many phrases or words you will encounter when you arrive at your airport that may initially be confusing. And, although many airports do make an effort to include signage in common languages, there is a chance that yours will not be represented. If this is the case, the list below is included to help you navigate this difficult and potentially frustrating experience. Many of these words are frequently used in English but have the potential to take on a different meaning in the context of air travel.

Terminal: While it is easy to draw this idea from the base meaning of relating to an "end", this refers to the building which allows passengers to travel between their ground transportation and their planes. Larger airports may contain several terminals which allows for the grouping of various airlines or destinations, such as an "International Terminal" which you may pass through.
Departure: While this would be considered a more formal word in normal conversation, this term is used to refer to a flight leaving the airport. You may have somebody ask you when your "departure time" is. This simply refers to the time that your flight is scheduled to leave the gate.
Customs: Not quite as intuitive, this refers to agency or authority which controls the flow of goods, and people in and out of their respective country. When you arrive, if you are entering from a foreign country, you will no doubt need to pass through customs to exit the airport into London.
Declare: As you pass through customs, the customs officer may ask if you "have anything to declare". They are asking you if you are bringing anything potentially hazardous or illegal into the country. This can also refer to things you may have bought and need to pay taxes on such as that new fancy dress you bought on Oxford Street.
Gate: This is the area of the terminal where you actually board and exit your plane. This is different than the typical understanding of a gate as "a movable barrier, usually on hinges, closing an opening in a fence, wall, or other enclosure." Gates are typically numbered and the number of your assigned gate will appear on your ticket.

If your English still needs some work, you should definitely find an English school London has and enroll in some classes while you are visiting. Many other languages programs are available as well, so even if your English is spot on it wouldn't hurt to brush up with a Spanish course London Metropolitan University offers. No doubt any of these options will make your traveling adventures easier and open up many new options for you as you navigate restaurants or parties.

You may also notice that etiquette and customs are different in London compared to your home location. While, depending where you are from, it may be common to dress up while going to the airport, it has become very typical of Londoners to travel casually (or some might say sloppily). While this may not be a major issue, if you wish to maintain a low profile and not stand out as obviously foreign, potentially attracting scammers, it is best to be aware of this.

Good luck on your travels and thank you for using LondonUkAirportTransfers.com!