Learn Hardcore Korean: gonghange dochakhamyeon meonjeo tapseunggwoneul hwaginhaeyo. - When you arrive at the airport, first check your boarding pass.

The ending -면 attaches to a verb stem to form a conditional clause meaning “if” or “when.” In 도착하면, 도착하다 (to arrive) + -면 = “when/if (you) arrive.” It sets up the condition for the main action that follows.

How is 공항에 도착하면 different from 공항에 도착했을 때?

Both can mean “when you arrive at the airport,” but:

도착하면 (with -면) suggests a general or habitual condition (“whenever/if you arrive”).
도착했을 때 uses the past-tense time noun 때 (“when (you) have arrived”) to describe a specific time point.
In instructions or habits, -면 is more natural; ~했을 때 is often used in storytelling or to mark a precise moment.

Why is it 공항에 도착하다 and not 공항에서 도착하다?

The verb 도착하다 takes 에 to mark the destination or point of arrival. 공항에 도착하다 literally means “arrive at the airport.”
Particles:

에 = “to/at” (destination, arrival point)
에서 = “at/from” (location of action or origin)

Why is there no subject (like “I” or “you”) in this sentence?

Korean is a pro-drop language: when the subject is clear from context, it’s often omitted. Here it’s understood that the speaker is talking about oneself or giving a general instruction (“you”). Adding 저는 or 당신은 is possible but usually unnecessary and sounds less natural.

Why is 확인해요 in the present tense instead of past or future?

In Korean, the present tense often covers habitual actions, general truths, or instructions. 확인해요 here means “(I/you) check” as a routine step. If you wanted to say “checked” once, you’d use 확인했어요; for “will check,” 확인할 거예요.

What does 먼저 mean, and why is it placed before 확인해요?

먼저 is an adverb meaning “first” or “before anything else.” It naturally precedes the verb it modifies.
Structure: [조건절], 먼저 [주절].
Example: 공항에 도착하면 먼저 탑승권을 확인해요. = “When you arrive at the airport, first you check your boarding pass.”

What is 탑승권 exactly?

탑승권 is the Korean word for boarding pass—the document you receive (paper or mobile) that lets you get on a plane.
Components:

탑승 (登乘): “boarding”
권: “ticket/pass”

Can I use 체크해요 instead of 확인해요?

Yes, 체크하다 (from English “check”) is used colloquially by many learners and Koreans, especially in casual speech: 체크해요. However, 확인하다 is the pure Korean verb meaning “to confirm/verify” and is slightly more formal or native-sounding. Both are understood.