UNIT 2 •• TRAVEL

Counting the ways to bridge the gulf

by Jill James

As morc carriers open up more routes, by British Airways and Air France .
travelling to and arollnd the Middle He always travels with his wife.
East has never been easier. Liliane, who worked with him
Edmond Moutran, the 63-year-old 30 until very recently, and prefers to
5 Chairman and Chief Executive travel first class. He also uses business
of Memac Ogilvy & Mather, the class . He says he will travel economy
multinational advertising and 'in an emergency' .
communications company, should He uses airline lounges. '1 want
know. The Lebanese execut.ive 35 good chairs, plenty of newspapers and
10 reckons he spends 60% of his television. Airlines that spend millions
working week in the air. 'I spend on decor and have uncomfortable
200 days in Beirut, 40 days in Dubai, chairs really need to look at
40 days in Bahrain and 25 in the themselves.' staff sometimes,' he says. ' I f they're
UK. I also spend one week in each 40 'MEA gets me a car to the airport tired of their jobs, they should
15 of Cairo, Jordan, Jeddah, Riyadh, and they open a special counter for
55 give il up. I also dislike the casual
Kuwait, Tunis and Algeria. I go to me as an individual,' he says. 'Staff
attitude of ground staff. Employees
South Africa once a year, Barcelona take your boarding pass. check you in
should be trained to cope with
once or twice a year for conferences and walk you through to the lounge.
customers who have problems.'
and I go to Paris four times a year.' 45 The airline saves me abollt an hour o f
Mr Moutran says that problems with
He says his choice of airline is standing i n line. I t shows real respecl.
dictated by convenience, but his You don't really get this extra­ 60 ground staff are one of the reasons he
preference is for Middle East Airlines special treatment on other airlines. hales (ravelling to the US. 'No one
and its 'new aircraft and equipment, With MEA, it's the whole process 4 ever has time 10 answer a queslion
and well-trained, fresh and energetic 50 - that's why I ' m so loyal to them.' there,' he says . He also doesn't like
staff'. His second choice is Gulf So what annoys him most about the lack of openness shown by airlines
Air, with Emirates third, followed Hying? 'The attitude of crew and 65 when there are problems and delays.

B In pairs, share information about the two articles. Compare the attitudes of
the two travellers. Whose point of view is closest to yours?

m Match the sentence halves to complete the definitions of the words in bold.
1 Peak travel happens a) a change to a better seat or level of service.
2 When you check in, b) a room in a hotel/airport where people can sit and
relax.

3 Frequent-flyer points are c) a card you must show in order to get on a plane.
4 An upgrade is d) all the people who work at an airport, but not the
pilots or cabin crew.
S A lounge is e) awarded by airlines to reward customer loyalty.
6 A boarding pass is f) at times when the largest number of people are
travelling.
7 Ground staff are g) you go to desk at a hotel/airport to say you have arrived.

D Complete the text with the phrases from Exercise D.

I don't always pay a lot of money and I try to avoid . . . . . . . . . . . . '. However, I do travel a
lot, earn . . . . . . . . . . . . ' and usually gel an . .. . . . . . . . . )
to first class. The airline gets me a car
to the airporl. I am met by helpfu i . . . . '
. . They take my . . . . . . . . . . . > and help me
. . . . . . . . . . . . ' . Then they take me to the . . ... . . . . . . 7 , where I read the newspapers.

17
scanned for Paul Jennings
UNIT 2 •• TRAVEL

LANGUAGE REVIEW
We can use different language forms to talk about the future.
Talking about • We use going to to talk about what we intend to do and have already decided to do.
the future My col/eague and I are going to attend our Chairman's wedding in Seattle next month.
Some airlines are going to increase fuel surcharges this week.
• We use will or '/I to talk about something we have decided to do at the time of
speaking.
The deal's off. I'll call the travel agent to cancel the flights.
• We use the present continuous to talk about a fixed arrangement.
I'm travelling from Australia to Europe in September.
• We use the present simple to talk about a timetable or programme.
The flight/eaves Ho Chi Minh City at 11 :30 on Tuesday. It arrives in Danang at 12:40.

c:) Grammar reference page 146

EI Complete each dialogue with the correct form of going to or will.

1 A Have you decided where to hold the sales conference?
B Yes, we . . . . . . . . . . book the Emory Centre in Atlanta.
2 A I can't find my passport.
B OK, you look in your bag, and I . check the back seat of the car.

3 A What are you planning to do in Tokyo?

B We . . . . . . . . . . meet our agent to discuss next year's advertising budget.
4 A I'm afraid the flight's been cancelled.
B I need to get there tonight. I . . . . . . . . . . . take the train. I think it leaves at nine.
S A The Hertz counter is a good place to meet.
B OK, I . . . . . . . . . . . wait for you there.

Il Choose the correct tense (present continuous or present simple) to complete

the sentences.
1 We stay / are staying at the Ritz for next week's conference.
2 According to the timetable, the coach deports / is deporting from Victoria at 8:00,
reaches Lille at 12:30 and arrives in Paris at 13:30.
3 Excuse me, what time is the conference beginning / does the conference begin?
4 What do you do / are you doing on Tuesday afternoon?
S What time is this train getting / does this train get to Osaka?
6 Next time, I travel / am travelling to Madrid by train.

II In pairs, take turns to complete the sentences below. Use going to, will, the
present continuous or the present simple.
1 The flight's delayed, so . . . . . . . . . . . .
2 OK, I've decided. I .
3 Let's check the timetable. The flight . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 It's OK, I don't need a lift. I . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S Friday afternoon? I'll just check my diary. I . . . . . . . . . . . .

6 There are two flights to Hong Kong on Friday. .

7 It's all arranged, we
8 Next week, . . .

18
scanned for Paul Jennings
 UNIT 2 •• TRAVEL

SKILLS III �)>> CD1.12, 1.13 Jennifer North, Sales Director at Madison i n New York, makes
Telephoning: two telephone calls to Cristina Verdi, a fashion buyer in london. listen and
note a) the purpose of each call and b) the result.
making
arrangements
[] �)>> CD1.12 listen to the first call again and complete this extract.
Jennifer I'm calling because I'll be in london next week and . .. ........ . .

......... ............ ............ ' t o see you. I want to tell you about
our new collection.

Cristina Great. What . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

' ? I'm fairly free next
week, I think.

Jennifer . . . . . . . '? In the afternoon? Could . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . " then?
Cristina let m e look now. Let . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' . Yes, that'd be
no problem at all. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 two o'clock? Is that OK?
. .

II �)>> CD1.13 listen to the second call again and complete this extract.
Receptionist Thank you. I'm putting you through ... Hello, I'm afraid she's engaged at
the moment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' or can I put you through to her
voicemail?
Jennifer Would you be able to take a message for me, please? I'm in a bit of a hurry.
Receptionist Yes, certainly.
Jennifer The thing is, I should be meeting Ms Verdi at 2 p.m., .......... .

. . . . . . . . . ' . My plane was delayed, and I've got to reschedule my

appointments. If possible , . . . ..... ............ .. . ....... .. . .

tomorrow, . . . . . . . . . . . . " in the morning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. .

. . . . . . . . . . . . ' here al the hotel, please, to confirm?

Receptionist Certainly. What's the number?
Jennifer II's . . . . . . . . . . '.

m Role-play these two telephone situations.

1 Student A, you are a company employee who has arranged to meet Student B,
a cOlleague from one of your subsidiaries. Explain that you cannot keep the
appointment and give a reason. Suggest an alternative day.
2 Student B, you are on a business trip to Singapore and need to stay an extra day.
Your hotel is full. Telephone the airline office. Talk to the representative, Student A,
to arrange a different flight and a night at another hotel.

USEFUL LANGUAGE

ANSWERING THE IDENTIFYING MAKING CLOSING CHANGING

PHONE YOURSELF ARRANGEMENTS Good. So, I'll see you ARRANGEMENTS
Hello, Carla This is / My name's Could we meet on on the 8th. I'm afraid I can't come
Rodriguez speaking. Karin Nordby. Monday at 1 1 :00? Thank you. Goodbye. on Friday. I'm very
Good morning, Tiger Karin Nordby How/What about busy that day.
Right. / OK, then.
Ltd. speaking. June 12th? I'm sorry, I can't make
That's great, I'll see it on Tuesday. I've got
Is 9:30 convenient/ you ...
OK? something on that
MAKING CONTACT STATING YOUR morning.
I'd like to speak PURPOSE
We've got an
to Martin Krause, I'm calling about ... RESPONDING appointment for ten
please. The reason I'm o'clock, but I'm afraid
That's fine/OK for me.
Could I have the calling is ... something's come up.
Sorry, I can't make it
sales department,
then. Could we fix another
please?
No problem. time?

19
scanned for Paul Jennings