boarding queue

Meaning

The line of passengers waiting to get onto an airplane at the departure gate. This term is common in British and international English; American English speakers more frequently say 'boarding line'.

Examples

• We stood in the boarding queue for twenty minutes before the plane doors opened.

  We stood in the boarding queue for twenty minutes before the plane doors opened.

• Please have your passport and boarding pass ready when you join the boarding queue.

  Please have your passport and boarding pass ready when you join the boarding queue.

• There was already a long boarding queue at gate 14 when we arrived.

  There was already a long boarding queue at gate 14 when we arrived.

• Priority passengers can bypass the main boarding queue and board first.

  Priority passengers can bypass the main boarding queue and board first.

• I prefer to wait in the seating area until the boarding queue gets shorter.

  I prefer to wait in the seating area until the boarding queue gets shorter.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am waiting in the boarding line queue.

  ✓ I am waiting in the boarding queue.

  'Queue' and 'line' mean the same thing. Do not combine them; choose one or the other.

• ✗ Let's make a boarding queue near the gate.

  ✓ Let's join the boarding queue near the gate.

  English speakers 'join', 'stand in', or 'wait in' a queue, rather than 'make' one.

Related Expressions

Practice

• To avoid standing for a long time, don't join the ___ too early.

  💡 The line of people waiting to get on the plane.

  Show answer

  boarding queue

• They called group A passengers to step forward and enter the ___.

  💡 The departure gate line.

  Show answer

  boarding queue