Travel English

Episode 2:

Booking
a Flight
Pre-Reading
Match up as many words and meanings
as you can. Check this exercise again after
seeing the words in context on pages 2 and 3.

1. destination a)  to leave

2. book b)  liking better
3. return flight c)  a person who is traveling
4. direct flight d)  a schedule or detailed plans of a trip
5. passenger e)  a card that allows a person to buy things and pay later
6. depart f)  to join or add to something
7. credit card g)  ending, no longer in effect
8. round-trip h)  an amount of money still owing
9. connect i)  a plane trip with no stops or connections
10. outbound j)  proof, showing something is true
11. arrive k)  a place that a person is going to
12. terminal l)  to reach a place
13. agent m)  money paid for a ride on a bus, plane etc.
14. itinerary n)  to make a reservation, to save a place
15. confirmation o)  an airport building used for arriving and departing passengers
16. expiration p)  a passageway between rows of seats
17. preference q)  on the way out, going away from a place
18. balance due r)  an employee or representative of a company
19. aisle s)  a plane trip coming back from a destination
20. fare t)  a two-way trip, a return trip, going and coming back

Copyright 2018, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( I N T / V E R S I O N 1. 0) 1
 Booking a Flight
Episode 2 of 13 | Travel English

Reading
A. Dialogue

Read the dialogue out loud with a partner.

Underline any words or phrases you don’t understand. Martin Sophie

Destination Airlines. Sophie speaking. My name is Martin Baxter,

How may I help you? B as in boy, A, X, T as in today, E, R.
And my wife’s name is Ellen Baxter.
I’d like to book a round-trip flight
for two people from Calgary to New York
How would you like to pay for that, Mr. Baxter?
on May 14th, returning on the 21st.

Do you have a preference for With my American Express credit card.

what time of day you’d like to fly? My number is 321 678 0009.

We’d like to leave Calgary early in the

And the expiration date?
day and leave New York in the evening.

Okay. Let’s look at the outbound flight first.

Zero eight, zero nine.
There are no direct flights, but we have
flight 360 leaving Calgary at 8:00 am on the
And what telephone number
14th, arriving in Chicago at 11:00. Then you’ll
can we reach you at?
connect to flight 241, which departs Chicago
at 12:00 and arrives into New York Kennedy
Area code 417-323-4468.
Airport at 1:00. How does that sound?

Okay. Here is your confirmation number,

That’s good. Is there a terminal change?
Mr. Baxter. L as in light, M as in mother,
D as in dog, C as in cat, 324. Would you
Yes, there is, but you’ll have enough time
like me to email you your confirmation?
to do that. On the return, we have a direct
flight leaving Kennedy Airport at 7:30 pm, Yes, please. My email address
arriving into Calgary at 9:30. is [email protected].

Okay. That sounds fine. Okay. That confirmation is being

What will the fare be for that ticket? sent to you right now. Is there anything
else I can help you with today?
The base fare for each round-trip ticket
is $380, plus $120 in taxes. So for the two
No, that’s fine. Thank you.
of you, the total with taxes will be $1000.

Thank you, Mr. Baxter. Have a good day

Okay. Let’s book it.
and thank you for choosing Destination Air.

What are the names of the

passengers who will be traveling?

Copyright 2018, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( I N T / V E R S I O N 1. 0) 2
 Booking a Flight
Episode 2 of 13 | Travel English

Reading cont.
B. Travel Itinerary

Read through the itinerary out loud with a partner.

Underline any words or phrases you don’t understand.

To: [email protected]
From: Destination Airlines
Subject: Travel Itinerary
Date: March 21 at 2:10 pm

Destination Airlines **** Confirmation Number LMDC324 ****

32007 West 4th Ave. Name: Martin Baxter
Denver, Colorado 90814 Email: [email protected]
Agent #11078 Date Booked: March 21

Welcome Martin Baxter, Ellen Baxter

Outbound Flight
Flight Date: May 14 Depart: 8:00 am, Calgary Seat: Aisle 7C / Middle 7B
Flight Number: 360 Arrive: 11:00 am, Chicago (Terminal 1) Stops: 0

Connection

Flight Date: May 14 Depart: 12:00 pm, Chicago (Terminal 2) Seat: Aisle 11D / Middle 11E
Flight Number: 241 Arrive: 1:00 pm, New York (Kennedy) Stops: 0

Return Flight
Flight Date: May 21 Depart: 7:30 pm, New York (Kennedy) Seat: Window 4A / Aisle 4B
Flight Number: 627 Arrive: 9:30 pm, Calgary Stops: 0

Balance Due: $0
Base fare:  $380 × 2 = $760
Taxes:   $120 × 2 = $240
Total: $1000
American Express Credit Card: $1000 -

Copyright 2018, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( I N T / V E R S I O N 1. 0) 3
 Booking a Flight
Episode 2 of 13 | Travel English

Comprehension
A. True or False?

Read the statements below.

If the statement is true based on the reading, write T beside the sentence.
If it is false, write F and correct the information in your notebook.

1. Martin is going to New York for two weeks.

2. Martin has two stops on the way to New York.

3. Martin has a terminal change on the return flight.

4. Martin’s return flight is direct.

5. Martin is paying for the tickets with his credit card.

6. Martin is booking a round-trip flight.

7. One of the Baxters has an aisle seat on the return flight.

8. Martin and Ellen have no connections on the return flight.

B. Multiple-Choice

Circle the correct answer for each question.

1. What is the expiry date of Martin’s credit card? 3. What day did Martin call
the airline to book his flight?
a) August 2009
b) August 9 a) August 9
c) September 8 b) May 14
d) August 2008 c) March 21
d) May 21

2. Where is the main office of Destination Air located? 4. If Martin wants to change his flight, what number
will he need to give the agent when he calls?
a) New York
b) Denver a) 90814
c) Chicago b) LMDC324
d) Calgary c) 11078
d) 360

Copyright 2018, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( I N T / V E R S I O N 1. 0) 4
 Booking a Flight
Episode 2 of 13 | Travel English

Vocabulary Review
Complete the sentences using the vocabulary on page 1.
You may need to change the word forms.

1. A               ticket is usually double the cost of a one-way ticket.

2. We have a long trip. There are three stops before we reach our final               .

3. You should renew your passport before the               date.

4. I don’t care where I sit. Any seat is fine. I have no               .

5. We have one stop on our trip to Miami. We have to make a               in Toronto.

6. I didn’t have any cash with me at the store, so I had to use my               .

7. I prefer an               seat on the plane

so that I don’t have to climb over anyone if I have to get out.

8. I’m not going to book a               flight yet because I don’t know how long I want to stay.

9. I can’t remember what time I leave tomorrow. I have to check my               .

10. When I called to change my flight, the agent asked for my               number.

Copyright 2018, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( I N T / V E R S I O N 1. 0) 5