How to Say 'A Return Ticket to the Airport, Please' in German
Learn to buy a round-trip ticket in German, adding return date and time. Builds on single-ticket phrases with new vocabulary and sentence patterns.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
If you already know how to ask for a single ticket in German, the next step is buying a return ticket. This lesson teaches you to say 'A return ticket to the airport, please' and to add the return date and time. You will learn the key words 'Hin- und Rückfahrt' (round trip) and 'Rückfahrt' (return trip), and how to use the prepositions 'am' (on) and 'um' (at) with dates and times. By the end, you will be able to ask for and understand a round-trip ticket at a ticket counter or online.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a return ticket to a destination in German.
- specify the date and time of my return journey.
- understand and respond to simple questions about my ticket.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
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Eine Hin- und Rückfahrt zum Flughafen, bitte.
A return ticket to the airport, please.
INE-uh HIN unt RÜCK-fahrt tsoom FLOOG-hah-fen, BIT-tuh
Standard phrase for buying a round-trip ticket. 'Hin- und Rückfahrt' literally means 'there-and-back trip'. Use 'zum' for masculine or neuter destinations (der Flughafen → zum Flughafen).
Ich möchte eine Rückfahrkarte nach Berlin, bitte.
I would like a return ticket to Berlin, please.
ikh MÖCH-tuh INE-uh RÜCK-fahr-kar-tuh nakh ber-LEEN, BIT-tuh
'Rückfahrkarte' is another common word for a return ticket. Use 'nach' for cities and countries without an article (nach Berlin, nach Österreich).
Wann möchten Sie zurückfahren?
When would you like to return?
van MÖCH-ten zee tsoo-RÜCK-fah-ren
A typical question from a ticket agent. 'Zurückfahren' means 'to travel back'. The verb is separable: 'zurück' goes to the end in main clauses.
Am Montag, den dritten Mai, um 18 Uhr.
On Monday, the third of May, at 6 p.m.
ahm MON-tahk, dane DRIT-ten my, um AHKT-tsayn OOR
Use 'am' + day for dates, and 'um' + time for clock times. 'Uhr' is used after the number for 'o'clock'. In spoken German, you can also say 'um 18 Uhr' or 'um sechs'. Note that German uses a comma between the day and the date: 'Am Montag, den dritten Mai'. The date is in the accusative case here, so 'der dritte Mai' becomes 'den dritten Mai'.
Was kostet das?
How much does that cost?
vas KOS-tet das
A simple way to ask for the price. You can also say 'Wie viel kostet das?' or 'Was macht das?' (more colloquial).
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask for a return ticket, use: 'Eine Hin- und Rückfahrt zum [destination], bitte.' or 'Eine Rückfahrkarte nach [city], bitte.' For the return date and time, add: 'Am [day], den [ordinal] [month], um [time] Uhr.' For example: 'Eine Hin- und Rückfahrt zum Flughafen, bitte. Am Freitag, den fünften Juni, um 14 Uhr.' Note that 'am' is used for days and dates, while 'um' is used for times. The destination after 'zum' is in the dative case, so 'der Flughafen' becomes 'zum Flughafen'. After 'nach', the city name does not change. The date after 'am' takes the accusative case: 'der fünfte Juni' becomes 'den fünften Juni'.
When to use it
Use these phrases at a ticket counter, over the phone, or when booking online. If you are buying a ticket for a specific train or bus, you might also need to say the departure time: 'Hinfahrt am [date] um [time]'. For the return, say 'Rückfahrt am [date] um [time]'. In Austria and Switzerland, 'Rückfahrkarte' is common, but you may also hear 'Retourkarte' (Switzerland) or 'Retourfahrschein' (Austria). In Germany, 'Hin- und Rückfahrt' is standard. Always use 'bitte' to be polite.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Guten Tag, ich möchte eine Hin- und Rückfahrt zum Flughafen, bitte.
Hello, I would like a return ticket to the airport, please.GOO-ten tahk, ikh MÖCH-tuh INE-uh HIN unt RÜCK-fahrt tsoom FLOOG-hah-fen, BIT-tuhWann möchten Sie zurückfahren?
When would you like to return?van MÖCH-ten zee tsoo-RÜCK-fah-renAm Sonntag, den zwölften Juli, um 20 Uhr.
On Sunday, the twelfth of July, at 8 p.m.ahm ZON-tahk, dane TSVÖLF-ten YOO-lee, um TSVAN-tsikh OORDas macht 15 Euro, bitte.
That comes to 15 euros, please.das makht FÜNF-tsayn OY-roh, BIT-tuhA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, ticket machines and counters often expect you to specify the return date and time if you want a discounted round-trip ticket. If you are unsure, it is fine to ask 'Was ist billiger?' (What is cheaper?). Politeness is important: always use 'bitte' when making a request, and 'Danke' when receiving your ticket. In formal situations, use 'Sie' with the agent; with friends, 'du' is fine.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Eine Rückfahrt nach Flughafen' instead of 'zum Flughafen'.
Try this instead: Use 'zum' for the airport because 'Flughafen' is masculine (der Flughafen). 'Nach' is only for cities and countries without an article. Correct: 'Eine Rückfahrt zum Flughafen, bitte.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask for a return ticket to the airport?
Show a sample answer
Eine Hin- und Rückfahrt zum Flughafen, bitte.
This is the standard phrase. You could also say 'Eine Rückfahrkarte zum Flughafen, bitte.' Both are correct.
2How do you say 'on Monday at 3 p.m.' in German?
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Am Montag um 15 Uhr.
Use 'am' for the day and 'um' for the time. '15 Uhr' is the 24-hour clock; you can also say 'um drei' in informal contexts.
3What question might the ticket agent ask you?
Show a sample answer
Wann möchten Sie zurückfahren?
This means 'When would you like to return?' You can answer with 'Am [day], um [time] Uhr.' Other possible questions: 'Einfach oder hin und zurück?' (Single or return?).
To buy a return ticket in German, say 'Eine Hin- und Rückfahrt zum [destination], bitte.' Add the return date and time with 'am [day], den [ordinal] [month], um [time] Uhr.' Always use 'bitte' to be polite.
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