Sofia was twenty-two years old and had never flown alone before. Today she was flying from Madrid to London to visit her cousin. She woke up at five in the morning because her flight was at eight. Her mother drove her to the airport. 'Are you sure you have everything?' her mother asked. 'Yes, Mom. Passport, phone, wallet, and my suitcase,' Sofia replied. They hugged goodbye at the entrance of the airport. 'Call me when you land,' her mother said with tears in her eyes. Sofia walked into the airport and looked at the departure screens. Her flight to London was leaving from gate B7. First, she had to check in her suitcase at the airline counter. The queue was long, but it moved quickly. 'Good morning. May I see your passport and booking confirmation?' the staff member asked. Sofia handed over her documents and smiled nervously. 'Would you like a window seat or an aisle seat?' the staff member asked. 'Window seat, please,' Sofia answered. She wanted to see the clouds. After checking in, she went through security. She put her bag and jacket in a plastic tray. She walked through the metal detector without any problems. Now she had an hour before boarding began. Sofia decided to buy a coffee and a sandwich at a cafe. She sat near the window and watched the planes on the runway. One large plane was taking off, and another was landing. She felt excited but also a little scared. 'This is going to be an adventure,' she told herself. At seven thirty, she walked to gate B7. There were already many passengers waiting in line. A voice announced, 'Flight BA2471 to London is now boarding.' Sofia showed her boarding pass and walked down the jet bridge. The plane was bigger than she expected. She found her seat, 14A, and sat down by the window. A flight attendant helped her put her bag in the overhead compartment. 'Is this your first time flying?' the flight attendant asked with a friendly smile. 'First time alone,' Sofia admitted. 'Don't worry. The flight is only two hours. You'll be fine,' the flight attendant said. Soon all the passengers were seated and the doors closed. The captain's voice came through the speakers. 'Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome aboard flight BA2471 to London.' 'Our flight time will be approximately two hours. Please fasten your seatbelts.' Sofia fastened her seatbelt and held the armrest tightly. The plane started to move slowly towards the runway. Then the engines became very loud, and the plane accelerated quickly. Sofia closed her eyes as the plane lifted off the ground. She felt her stomach drop as they climbed higher and higher. After a few minutes, the plane leveled off and the flight became smooth. Sofia opened her eyes and looked out the window. The view was incredible. She could see white clouds below them. The sun was shining brightly above the clouds. 'This is beautiful,' Sofia whispered to herself. A flight attendant came with a cart offering drinks and snacks. 'Would you like something to drink?' she asked Sofia. 'Orange juice, please,' Sofia said. She sipped her juice and watched a movie on the screen in front of her. The time passed quickly, and soon the captain spoke again. 'Ladies and gentlemen, we will be landing in London in about fifteen minutes.' Sofia looked out the window again and saw the green English countryside below. She could see small houses, roads, and tiny cars moving on the highways. The plane descended gently through the clouds. Sofia held her armrest again as the landing gear came down. The wheels touched the runway with a small bump. The passengers clapped and Sofia smiled with relief. 'Welcome to London Heathrow. The local time is ten o'clock,' the captain announced. Sofia collected her bag from the overhead compartment. She walked off the plane and followed the signs to passport control. The officer looked at her passport and stamped it. 'Welcome to the United Kingdom. Enjoy your stay,' he said. Sofia went to baggage claim and waited for her suitcase. After a few minutes, she saw it coming on the conveyor belt. She grabbed it and walked towards the exit. In the arrivals hall, she looked for her cousin Maria. 'Sofia! Over here!' she heard someone shout. Maria was waving at her with a big smile. Sofia ran to her and they hugged tightly. 'I'm so happy you're here!' Maria said. 'How was your flight?' 'It was great! I was nervous at first, but I loved it,' Sofia answered. They walked to the parking garage where Maria's car was waiting. As they drove through London, Sofia looked at all the famous buildings. 'Look, there's Big Ben!' Maria pointed out. Sofia took photos with her phone and sent them to her mother. 'I arrived safely. London is amazing!' she wrote in the message. Her mother replied immediately with heart emojis and a message saying how proud she was. Sofia smiled as she put her phone away. She had done it. She had flown alone for the first time, and it felt wonderful. This trip was just the beginning of many adventures to come.
English Story (A2)First Flight Alone
This A2 English story is designed for elementarys learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Sofia takes her first solo flight from Madrid to London to visit her cousin. Despite initial nervousness, she navigates check-in, security, and boarding independently, enjoying the views and making the journey a success.
Translations in English
Linked wordUnderlined wordOther words
Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Where was Sofia flying to?
2
What seat did Sofia choose on the plane?
3
How long was the flight from Madrid to London?
4
Who was waiting for Sofia at the arrivals hall?
Vocabulary
30 words from this story
