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Conversation at the airport

Objective
To be able to book a flight

Vocabulary
Airline (N)

I need to book a flight to Berlin next week. Which airline do you suggest I fly with?

The cheapest airline that flies to Germany is Lufthansa. It’s a German carrier.

Arrivals (N)

Jane, I’ll meet you in the arrivals lounge. I’ll be holding a sign to tell you I’m looking for you.

Board (V)

All passengers on Belle Air flight 2216 must go to the gate. The plane will begin boarding in 10
minutes.

Boarding pass (N)

Sir, this is your boarding pass. You will be boarding at gate 22 at 6.35.

Boarding time (N)

Boarding time was changed due to a technical problem. We would like to apologize for the
delay.

Book (a ticket) (V)

Hi, how can I help you?

I’d like to book a return ticket to Paris, please.

Business class (N)

We’d like to invite all our passengers flying in business class to start boarding.

Carry on (luggage) (N)

I’m sorry, but your carry on is too heavy. You will have to check it.

Check in (V/N)

When you check in, you notify the airline you have arrived at the airport. They will take your
suitcase and give you a boarding pass. The area where you do this action is also called check-
in.

How many passengers are checking in with you?

It’s a large school group. We have 45 people in our party (group).

Conveyor belt/carousel/baggage claim (N)

All passengers arriving from New York can pick up their luggage from carousel 4.
Customs (N)

Before you’re allowed to enter the country, you must go through customs where you will be
met by a customs officer. Here they will check if you’re bringing anything illegal into the
country such as firearms (guns), drugs or too much money and they will ask you if you “have
anything to declare?” If you’re not carrying anything that is forbidden, you should answer
“no.”

Delayed (Adj)

Ladies and gentlemen, this is an announcement that flight NZ245 has been delayed. Your new
departure time is 2.25.

Departures (N)

All passengers flying to Istanbul are kindly requested to go to the departures lounge.

Economy class (N)

I’d like to book an economy class ticket to Rome next Friday.

Would you like to make it return or one-way?

A return ticket. I’d like to come back the following Friday.

Okay then, for one week?

First class (N)

Next time I want to fly first class.

Why? It’s so expensive!

I’m just too tall. I have no leg room in economy.

Fragile (Adj)

Sometimes we carry things that are delicate or easily broken when we travel. A way of letting
the people handling our suitcases know is to mark it with a sticker saying fragile. This will show
them that they need to be a little more careful with your stuff.

Gate (N)

Can you tell me where flight AZ672 to New York departs from, please?

Yes, it leaves from gate A27.

ID / Identification (N)

I’d like to book a flight to New Jersey for tomorrow.

Certainly, can I see your ID please?

Liquids (N)

Are you traveling with any liquids?

Yes, I have this deodorant.

I’m sorry, but that is too big. Each container must not exceed (go over) 100ml.
Long-haul flight (N)

A flight that travels a long distance in one go for example a long-haul flight would be flying
from New York to Sydney.

I really don’t like long-haul flights and wished we had a stopover somewhere, but we really
need to get back on that day and we don’t have time.

On time (Adj)

When you are traveling and you want to check the status of your flight you can look at the
departures board. Here you will see all your flight information and if it says that your flight
number is on time then the plane will depart at the right time.

One-way (ticket) (N)

Hi, I’d like to book a one-way ticket to Hong Kong.

What’s your purpose (reason) for traveling?

We’re emigrating there.

Oversized baggage/Overweight baggage (N)

I’m sorry madam, but your bag is overweight.

By how many kilos?

Two.

One minute, let me just take a few things out.

Stopover (N)

If you are traveling on a long-haul flight, you usually have to have a short stop in another
country first. This stop is called a stopover or a layover.

If you’re traveling from Europe to Australia, it’s recommended that you have a stopover either
in Los Angeles or Dubai because the flight is very long otherwise.

Travel agent (N)

I tried looking for a flight online, but I couldn’t book it with my credit card.

You should visit the travel agent in the mall, she is very good and they have great offers

Visa (N)

Could you tell me if a person from Albania needs a visa to travel to Italy?

How long are you going for?

3 weeks.

No, you don’t require (need) a visa. Albanian citizens can travel up to 3 months without a visa
to any EU country.
The word bag/suitcase is countable, which means we can say many bags or 3 bags whereas
luggage is uncountable and it can mean either one bag or many. If you want to make the word
luggage plural, you would add the phrase ‘pieces of…’ in front of it.

How many pieces of luggage do you want to check in today sir?

2 pieces. Okay, that’s fine.

If we want to wish someone a good flight or journey in English, we can also use the French
phrase “Bon voyage.” You can also say “Have a safe trip”

Speaking
At the check-in desk
Agent: Good afternoon! Where are you flying to today?

Dan: Los Angeles.

Agent: May I have your passport, please?

Dan: Here you go.

Agent: Are you checking any bags?

Dan: Just this one.

Agent: OK, please place your bag on the scale.

Dan: I have a stopover in Chicago – do I need to pick up my luggage there?

Agent: No, it’ll go straight through to Los Angeles. Here are your boarding passes – your flight
leaves from gate 15A and it’ll begin boarding at 3:20. Your seat number is 26E.

Dan: Thanks.

Going through security


Agent: Please lay your bags flat on the conveyor belt, and use the bins for small objects.

Dan: Do I need to take my laptop out of the bag?

Agent: Yes, you do. Take off your hat and your shoes, too.

(he walks through the metal detector)

[BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP]

Agent: Please step back. Do you have anything in your pockets – keys, cell phone, loose
change?

Dan: I don’t think so. Let me try taking off my belt.

Agent: Okay, come on through.

(he goes through the metal detector again)

Agent: You’re all set! Have a nice flight.


The phrase “you’re all set” is a common expression that means “you’re finished and
everything is OK.”

Phrasal Verbs: SET OFF and GO OFF

When the alarm sounds, we say “the alarm went off.” To describe what caused the alarm to
sound, we say “set off” – for example, “My keys set off the alarm” or “My keys set off the
metal detector.”

On the plane
Flight attendant: Chicken or pasta?

Dan: Sorry?

Flight attendant: Would you like chicken or pasta?

Dan: I’ll have the chicken.

Flight attendant: Anything to drink?

Dan: What kind of soda do you have?

Flight attendant: Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Orange, and Dr. Pepper.

Dan: A Diet Coke, no ice, please.

Flight attendant: Here you go.

Dan: Thanks.

Passport control and customs


Passport official: Good morning. Can I see your passport?

Passenger: Here you are.

Passport official: Thank you very much. Are you a tourist or here on business?

Passenger: I'm a tourist.

Passport official: That's fine. Have a pleasant stay.

Passenger: Thank you.

Customs official: Good morning. Do you have anything to declare?

Passenger: I'm not sure. I have two bottles of whiskey. Do I need to declare that?

Customs official: No, you can have up to 2 quarts.

Passenger: Great.

Customs official: Have you brought any food into the country?

Passenger: Just some cheese I bought in France.

Customs official: I'm afraid I'll have to take that.

Passenger: Why? It's just some cheese.


Customs official: Unfortunately, you are not allowed to bring cheese into the country. I'm
sorry.

Passenger: OK. Here you are.

Customs official: Thank you. Anything else?

Passenger: I bought a T-shirt for my daughter.

Customs official: That's fine. Have a nice day.

Passenger: You, too.

Only in the USA


Checking in desk: I will be going to ask some questions. Just answer with a simple yes or a no.

Mr Mrs Jones: OK, no problem.

Checking in desk: As anyone you don't know asked you to take anything on the plane for
them?

Mr Mrs Jones: No.

Checking in desk: Have you have sole possession of all your luggage since you packed?

Mr Mrs Jones: Yes.

Checking in desk: Have you at any time left your luggage unattended while being in the
airport?

Mr Mrs Jones: No.

Checking in desk: Do you have any weapons or firearms in your possession?

Mr Mrs Jones: No.

Checking in desk: Have you any flammable material in your luggage?

Mr Mrs Jones: No.

Checking in desk: Do you have any perishable food items in your bags or suitcases?

Mr Mrs Jones: No.

Checking in desk: That's good. Can you put your luggage here please

Mr Mrs Jones: OK.

Suggested writing
Write a complaint letter

Examples
Example 1
Dear Sir/Madam,
[Reference: flight number]

I am writing to you in connection with the above flight on which I was booked to
travel on [date].

The flight was supposed to depart from [departure airport] at [time] and arrive at
[arrival airport] at [time], but it was [delayed by x hours].

Under the EU Denied Boarding Regulation 261/2004 I am entitled to the sum of


€[the amount you are claiming - use the table above] in compensation and look
forward to receiving the sterling equivalent within the next 14 days.

I include a copy of my ticket[s].

Yours sincerely,

Example 2
Dear Sir/Madam

I have traveled with Oriental Airlines several times in the past five years. Normally,
I am very happy with the service. However, on August 14, 2014, I had an
unpleasant experience. This has been very upsetting for me, and I want to send
you a letter to give you the opportunity to respond.

This was not a scheduled trip. My mother unexpectedly passed away. I bought the
tickets at full price at the last minute to attend her funeral. I was to leave
Bangalore at 8:16 am and supposed to arrive in Mumbai. My flight number was
12345. I have enclosed a copy of my ticket for your reference.

Unfortunately, the flight was delayed for one and half hour. The reason I was given
was for “mechanical issues.” It was not related to the weather. As a result, this
flight delay prevented me from reaching my connected flight in Delhi to Mumbai but
coincidentally I got another flight at the moment to reach there but still had
reached late. I am very sad that I was unable to be there.

I am kindly asking that you please compensate me for the delay. I have enclosed a
self-address stamped envelopment for your convenience and let me know if you
require any related query.

Regards

Sanjay
Other type of letters
Dear Sir/ Madam,

(INTRODUCTION)

I am writing to express my strong dissatisfaction at the disgraceful treatment I received at the


Walford Branco of Stimpson’s Electronics yesterday afternoon.

(MAIN BODY)

Firstly, the product I was given was not the model I had asked for. The new X-401 calculator
was demonstrated to me by the sales assistant, and I agreed to buy it. However, on unpacking
my purchase, I saw that I had been given the smaller X-201 model instead.

Furthermore, this calculator was much cheaper than the model I requested and paid for. It did
not have many of the features I needed and was much more basic than the one I was shown to
begin with.

To make matters worse, I was deeply offended by the behaviour of the sales assistant when I
went back to the shop to complain. He was not only impolite, but also unhelpful. He refused to
contact the manager when I asked to speak to him about the incident.

(CONCLUSION)

As you can imagine, I am extremely upset, I must insist on a full refund, in addition to a written
apology from the local manager, or else I shall be forced to take further action.

I expect to hear from you as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,

Caroline Adams

Yours sincerely vs. yours faithfully


Dear Martha,

ssadad

Yours sincerely,

Dear Sir or Madam.

sdfsd

Yours faithfully.

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