This travel glossary contains more than 100 of the most common terms and acronyms you are likely to hear in the travel industry.
The travel niche has its own terms, abbreviations, and definitions.
As it can get complicated to understand them all, we created this complete travel glossary.
You can either click on:
- A letter
- Ctrl + f to use the search function
Note that we are still working on this glossary and we’ll update it frequently.
A
AA
Abbreviation for American Airlines.
A Broken Backpack
A travel blog about long-term travel, adventure travel, budget travel, and more. You’re currently reading abrokenbackpack.com. At first, our blog was targeting backpackers and long-term travelers. Over the years, we have expanded our content with more travel tips for everyone.
AC
Abbreviation for Air Canada.
Add-on
Usually, an option that can come with an extra cost. Examples: optional luggage, optional meal.
AF
Abbreviation for Air France.
AI
Abbreviation for Air India.
Airalo
Airalo is an online eSIM store that allows you to purchase eSIMs (digital SIM cards) in 190+ countries and regions around the world at affordable prices. Learn more about eSIM cards for travel.
Airline
An organization that provides air transportation.
Airport
A set of buildings, facilities and runways that are made for take-off, landing, and plane maintenance.
Airport codes
A combination of 3 letters is used to identify a specific airport. Examples: YUL identifies the airport in Montreal city.
Airport tax
Costs that an airline has to pay for departure and arrival in airports. These can vary from one airport to another and are usually included in a flight ticket price.
A la carte
Practice in which you can order individual items from a menu instead of a set meal.
All-inclusive
A vacation that includes all the essentials (usually accommodation, food, and drinks). We commonly refer to an all-inclusive holiday or an all-inclusive resort.
Alliance
An association or union between countries or airlines. Examples: Star alliance is an airline association regrouping several major airlines that collaborate to offer more flight connections and smooth stopovers.
AM
Abbreviation for Aeromexico Cargo.
AS
Abbreviation for Alaska Airlines.
AT
Abbreviation for Royal Air Maroc.
Availability
The number of hotel rooms, or seats remaining.
AY
Abbreviation for Finnair.
AZ
Abbreviation for Alitalia.
B
Backpack
A bag that you use to carry things on your back. Usually large enough to carry all your things when you travel. Synonyms include “packsack” or “rucksack”.
Backpacker
A traveler or hiker who carries their belongings in a backpack.
Backpacking
A travel style that includes travels or hikes with a large backpack. Commonly, backpacking is a way to travel on a budget. The traveler may hike and camp outside for multiple days, or stay in hostels during their travels.
Base fare
The basic cost of an airline ticket. Usually, this fare doesn’t include extra fees, taxes, or surcharges.
B&B
A bed and breakfast (often shortened to B&B) is a small hotel that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast.
Black Friday
A Friday at the end of November when you’ll find crazy travel deals on airfares, hotels, Amazon, etc. You can stay up to date with Black Friday deals here.
Boarding
Step in which passengers are getting into the airplane. Usually, the airport staff calls passengers divided into different zones to board the plane.
Boarding pass
A paper ticket or a mobile ticket issues after check-in that allows you to board the plane.
Booking.com
An accommodation travel booking website with worldwide coverage comparing hotels, hostels, apartments and car rentals. You can book your hotels easily on Booking.com.
Booking number
Also known as a reservation number – a unique code including letters and numbers that confirm your reservation.
Bucket list
A travel expression used to define a set of destinations to visit or things to do in a country.
Busbud
A bus travel booking website with worldwide coverage comparing bus route fares. You can purchase bus tickets on Busbud.
Business-class
A section that is usually between the first class and the economy class. The business class provides more amenities and services than the economy class. You can find a business class on planes or trains.
C
Cabin
A cabin in a plane is the space inside the plane where passengers sit. A cabin in a ship is a room where a passenger sleeps.
Campervan
Van that was designed for sleeping and road-tripping. Some campers prefer to sleep inside a van than in a tent. Also known as a camper van.
Camping
An activity that involves sleeping in a tent.
Captain
A captain in a plane is the pilot.
Carry-on baggage
A piece of luggage that you can bring along on the plane cabin. Usually, you’ll put this luggage in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you.
Checked luggage
A bigger piece of luggage that you don’t have access to during the flight. Usually, you’ll drop off your luggage at the airline counter before you go through security and customs.
Check-in
A confirmation of your presence on a flight, train, or bus. Usually, you can check-in online or directly at the airport, bus station, or train station. Once the check-in is completed, you’ll get a boarding pass which can be issued electronically or on paper.
It can also be used in hotels. In this situation, the client goes to the hotel reception, presents identification documents, and receives a key to their hotel room.
Check-out
A client leaves a hotel by bringing back the key on time at the hotel reception and paying for any remaining fees.
Coach
It’s a synonym of a bus.
Concierge
A hotel staff member who helps guests organize transportation, reservations, or any special requests.
Connecting flight
A flight that includes a stopover and as a result, the passenger must change aircraft.
Culture
Culture is a shared system of symbols and meanings that allow people to communicate and interact with one another. It includes the customs, traditions, and values that are passed down from generation to generation.
Custom Tour
A custom tour is a personalized experience that is tailored to your specific needs. A custom tour can be created for any location, and can be customized to include any number of activities or attractions.
Cyber Monday
A Monday at the end of November or early December when you’ll find crazy travel deals on airfares, hotels, Amazon, etc. You can stay up to date with Cyber Monday deals here.
D
Direct flight
A flight that goes from an origin to a destination without stops, or connections.
Deck
A deck is a floor on a ship. Some cruise ships can have multiple decks.
Destination
The final stop on a travel itinerary.
Dorm
Type of rooms where you’ll find several beds or bunk beds. Usually popular in hostels because of their cheap rates.
Double room
A hotel room that had two double beds and that can accommodate between 2 and 4 people.
Duty-free
Exemption from import taxes. For example, in an airport, there’s a duty-free shop area where you won’t need to pay import taxes on products.
E
Early check-in
Early check-in is when you check in to your hotel before the check-in time.
Economy class
A section of the plane, bus, or train, with basic services and lower fares.
Electronic boarding pass
A virtual boarding pass that is usually on a mobile phone.
Expat
Another word for expatriate. A person who lives in a different country temporarily or permanently.
F
First class
The class with the most services – usually comes with more space, better meals, and premium services.
Fjord
A fjord is a long and narrow inlet of the sea, usually flanked by steep cliffs.
Frequent flyer program
An airline loyalty program that allows you to collect points and transform them into vouchers or rewards.
G
G-Adventure
Adventure travel company that organizes small-group tours, expeditions and safaris around the world.
Gate
Area and door where passengers board their flight from or deplane at their arrival.
H
Hotel
An establishment that provides accommodations to travelers.
Holafly
Holafly is a website that allows you to purchase eSIM for your travels. You can read our complete Holafly review to learn more about it.
Hostel
A budget accommodation offering shared dorms and private rooms. Very popular amongst budget travelers, backpackers and young travelers.
Hub
A popular airport where many airlines organize connecting flights to smaller destinations.
I
Immigration
An area where a traveler must present travel documents like their passport or visa in order to enter the country.
Itinerary
A plan, or route designed for a trip, usually in chronological order.
J
Jet lag
A feeling of tiredness felt by a person after flying across different time zones.
K
King-size bed
The biggest bed size there is.
L
Layover
A period of time between transportation connections, or stopover.
Leg
One part of a journey. For example, one flight out of a 3-flight route.
Lodge
A small house or a part inside a large house where travelers sleep. Usually, it’s a synonym for guest houses or hotels.
M
Motel
The hotel is located next to the main roads and that is made for road trippers.
Motorhome
A vehicle that is designed for mobile living accommodation. For example, RVs, campervans, campers.
N
No show
A traveler or passenger that doesn’t show up for a flight, hotel, or reservation without canceling the booking.
O
Outbound
Point of departure.
Overbooking
A popular practice in which airlines sell more seats that they have available to compensate for no-shows. Unfortunately, this practice can create problems if all the passengers show up.
P
Passport
A document issued by a government that includes information about the identity, nationality, and visa of a traveler.
Pax
A word used as a synonym for passenger, mostly used in the travel and the tourism industry.
Q
Quiet room
When staying in a hotel, a traveler can request a quiet room. Usually, this room is isolated or is in a quieter area.
R
Reservation
Action taken to book a flight, activity, or hotel room.
S
Spa
An area designed for massage, hot springs, steam baths, or saunas.
T
Terminal
A building or area inside an airport. For example, an airport can be divided into multiple terminals so that passengers can know where their departure or arrival gate is located.
U
Upgrade
Moving to a better class of service, or accommodation.
V
Visa
A stamp or a sticker in a passport allowing you to enter a country for a specific amount of time.
Voucher
Documents you can use to exchange for goods, accommodation, or services. Usually, the payments for these good, and services has already been made.
Voyage
Synonym of travel in the French language.
W
Waitlist
A list of potential travelers that are not confirmed yet.
X
Xolo
A software designed for digital nomads and online entrepreneurs who have a business in Estonia.
Y
YOLO
An expression used amongst young people that means You Only Live Once.
Z
Zoo
An establishment that displays, studies, and rescues wild animals.
