Air Transport

If you are in a hurry and want to save your time you’d better travel by plane because it is the fastest, the most comfortable and convenient way of travelling.

After the procedure of registration you board the plane and in a few minutes you are already above the clouds. The land can be seen below between the clouds and it looks like a geographical map. Flying itself is a thrilling thing.

Many companies of the world have been redefining travel for the 21 century and therefore they have launched large programmes of product innovations, both on the ground and in the air. They improve their portfolios offering the cost-conscious business traveller more choice than ever before. Exclusive Club Europe lounges have been opened at 26 airports for those who wish to work or simply relax using contemporary and stylish facilities prior to their take-off. Travellers also experience these changes on board or some planes.

Important changes are to be expected in the development of on-line business. Booking on-line has many advantages: people can book their flights from the comfort of their homes they can easily compare all currently available flight connections with the respective best tariffs.

E-tickets are already offered by major carriers. An e-ticket is a virtual ticket, which is safely stored in the airline’s booking system as an “electronic record” enabling you to dispense with the traditional paper-ticket. What are the main benefits of an e-ticket? It makes travel more relaxing, as it’s impossible to lose the ticket or forget it at home. It makes travel easier as all you need is your credit card to book the flight, and your boarding card (pass) will be available to you from check-in or self-service machines at the airport. It makes travel faster as there is no more queuing at ticket desks and check-in counters.

One can also save time by checking-in directly at self-service check-in machines.

Vocabulary of the text

Exercise 1. a) Give the Ukrainian equivalents for:

to make a car rental reservation; to purchase an airline ticket; to pick up; to stroll; at retail shop; modes of transportation; contemporary jet airlines; to have a tremendous impact; to be in a hurry; to board the plane; to define; contemporary and stylish facilities; prior to; booking system; to enable smb to do smth; to dispense with; to be the main benefit; take-off; to book the flight.

b) Make up situations using some of these words and word-combinations.

Exercise 2. Form the most common word partnerships used in air-travel.

Example: stand-by ticket

hand;	desk;
departure;	tag;
luggage;	ticket;
boarding;	lounge;
check-in;	card/pass;
stand-by.	luggage/baggage.

Speaking

Exercise 1. Answer the questions using the words in brackets.

1. What do we call the building where check-in counters are situated?

2. What is a town terminal used for?

3. If you send your luggage to the destination in advance, what is the baggage called?

4. You are allowed to carry 20 kilos free of charge. What is this amount of baggage called?

5. What do you call the baggage you take with you into the cabin?

6. Where do you go if you cannot find your luggage after landing at the airport of destination?

(1) terminal; 2) baggage claim area; 3) carry-on baggage/hand baggage; 4) free allowance; 5) seat of the national airline company, the place where the shuttle for the airport leaves from; 6) unaccompanied baggage.)

Exercise 2. Find the opposites.

to be 5 minutes delayed;	long-haul flight;
scheduled flight;	passenger plane;
cargo plane;	aisle seat;
to take off;	to be ahead;
to board the plane;	international flight;
window seat;	to disembark;
domestic flight;	to land;
short-haul flight.	chartered flight.

Exercise 3. Put the sentences into the correct order.

1. You go to the departure lounge and wait for your flight to be announced.

2. You have your luggage weighed and x-rayed.

3. You show your passport and air-ticket.

4. Your baggage is tagged.

5. You arrive at the airport according to the minimum check-in time noticed in your flight itinerary.

6. You may go to the shops to buy some gifts or have a cup of coffee in a snack bar.

7. You go to your check-in counter.

8. You get your card with the number of your seat.

9. The captain welcomes you on board, asks you to fasten your seatbelts and the plane takes off.

10. You board the plane and find your seat.

11. You have your baggage scanned and go through security check.

12. You go to the announced gate and show your boarding card to the flight attendant.

Exercise 4. Match the definitions in column one with the words which tell you where:

you collect your bags after your flight;		international flights;
you catch a plane to a different country;		check-in;
you can wait for a connecting flight;		transit lounge;
you must say if you are carrying alcohol, tobacco, or luxury goods;		baggage claim;
you go to show your ticket and get your seat on the plane;		customs;
your passport is checked before you enter a country;		tax-free shops;
you can buy things at a reduced price;		domestic flights;
you catch a plane to a different part of the same country;		left luggage;
you can leave your bags for a few hours;		information desk;
you can get information about transport, accommodation, etc.		passport control.

Exercise 5. Match the first part of these questions or sentences (1-8) with the endings (a-h). What is the name of the job of the person who says them?

Can I see.	anything for anyone else?
How many.	is 16 A
Did you.	your ticket and passport please?
Are you.	will start boarding at 30 at gate 25
Are you carrying.	pack the bags yourself?
Would you like.	carrying any of these items in your hand baggage?
Your seat number.	bags are you checking in?
Your flight.	an aisle or a window?

Exercise 6. Read the dialogue “Gatwick Express”.

Agent:	“Hello, British Airways, can I help you?”
Customer:	“Hello, I have just realized that my flight to Kyiv is not from Heathrow but from Gatwick airport. I have never been to Gatwick before and don’t know how to get there. Could you help me?”
Agent:	“Of, course. I would recommend you to take the Gatwick Express. It offers a very fast and frequent service from the centre of London to the airport. It operates throughout the day and night all through the week, with hourly service at night. Are you going from London or some other town?”
Customer:	“From Winchester”.
Agent:	“O.K. Then you should buy a Saver or SuperSaver ticket which will take you across London without the need for you to obtain a London Underground ticket. Simply transfer from your InterCity station, which is a Waterloo in your case, onto the Underground train to Victoria. There is a Gatwick Express terminal at Victoria, which offers advice on all services. British Airways have an office situated at this terminal with immediate check-in facilities taking care of all your baggage.”
Customer:	“Does it matter when I’ll fly?”
Agent:	“If you fly during the day, the Gatwick express leaves Victoria every 15 minutes. Let me also inform you that there is a trolley refreshment service on most trains and that you can use on-board credit card operated telephones. If you need some more information, there is a recorded information service available on 071-928 2113, just in case …”
Customer:	“Oh, great. Thank you, thank you very much.”