passport control

[angliholic]

After you go through customs and passport control, meet your father in the arrivals hall. Here are some gifts for him.




For a start, what does "passport control" refer to? Is it "passport checkstand?
Second, why not "the arrival hall but "arrivals hall?" Thanks.

[rewboss]

I've never heard the phrase "passport checkstand"; the word for the area where your passport is checked is called "passport control" in every airport I've ever been to.

It's odd that we usually talk about the "departure lounge", but the "arrivals hall". The explanation, such as it is, is that we often use "arrival" to refer to a person who has arrived: that is, an arrivals hall is a hall where people who have recently arrived and passed through customs and passport control find themselves in.

We cannot use "departure" in the same way; it can only ever mean the act of departing. A departure lounge is the place from which people depart.

[angliholic]

Originally Posted by rewboss

I've never heard the phrase "passport checkstand"; the word for the area where your passport is checked is called "passport control" in every airport I've ever been to.

It's odd that we usually talk about the "departure lounge", but the "arrivals hall". The explanation, such as it is, is that we often use "arrival" to refer to a person who has arrived: that is, an arrivals hall is a hall where people who have recently arrived and passed through customs and passport control find themselves in.

We cannot use "departure" in the same way; it can only ever mean the act of departing. A departure lounge is the place from which people depart.

Thanks, Rewboss, for your amusing and informative reply.
English is very interesting!