Exercises

1.Listen to the following words and word combinations, translate them into Russian:

To extend journey; to have a change of plan; to stop off at…; to join smb; to break journey; to hire (rent) a car; to alter open-dated return ticket to a firm booking; to keep documents up-to-date; to cost;

A credit card; special rates; to be eligible for…;”travel now – pay later” scheme; to sort out; to suit smb; to pay the full fare; travel agent; at low rates; low – price inclusive tours; a deposit.

2. Translate the following words into English:

Продлить путешествие; сделать остановку; кредитная карточка; прервать путешествие;

Заменить билет с открытой датой на твердое бронирование; держать документы наготове; залог; специальные/льготные/ расценки; иметь право на…; система кредита.

3. Translate the following sentences into Russian:

I’ll let you know mush all your travel is going to cost you. It’s not expensive for you to travel, you’re eligible for youth fares. The excursion rate is 20 dollars below the normal full fare. I have a credit card so the question of a deposit for the car won’t arise. I want a hire – car at the airport and a hotel reservation, is it possible? – Yes. I think we can arrange it. We’d better make a reservation for 5 days. I always keep my documents up – to – date. Can we alter our open – dated return ticket to a firm booking? You can break your journey with no extra charge. I want my wife to join me for a holiday in Italy. Is it possible? I want to stop off at Rome. They’re going to have a change of plan, they want to extend their journey. Could you find out what could be arranged if the group is delayed? We have a very good “travel now – pay later” scheme.

4.Answer the following questions:

Why do people travel? Who will pay the full fare? Who arranges bulk travel and accommodation at hotels? Is it possible to extend one’s journey? Is there any extra charge if a passenger wants to break his journey? What special rates can passengers qualify for? What do airlines have to do to attract more travelers? What is the attractiveness of travel directly related to?

5.Act out dialogues on the following situations:

1. A passenger travelling to Moscow wants to make a stop over, he asks if it is possible and how it’s arranged.

2. A passenger wants to rent a car, reserve accommodation at a hotel in Moscow and he wants to know how much it’s going to cost him.

6. Test. Translate the following sentences into English:

У нас меняются планы, мы хотим сделать остановку, как это организовать? Этот пассажир хочет продлить путешествие, это возможно? Присоединяетесь к нам, давайте прервем путешествие. – Это не потребует дополнительной платы? Мы хотим взять машину на прокат и забронировать номер в отеле. Какие у вас есть скидки? Мы имеем право воспользоваться специальными тарифами? Я хотел бы выяснить сколько мне будет стоить это путешествие? Все уже организовано, вы можете сделать остановку в Риме. Если группа задержится, мы ее отправим следующим рейсом. Вы хотите отменить путешествие? Где вы хотите сделать остановку? Я уверен, не будет ни каких трудностей, вы сможете прервать ваше путешествие без дополнительных сборов. Вы заменили его билет с открытой датой на твердое бронирование? Вы уже решили сколько дней вы хотите провести в Италии? На сколько дней забронировать номер в отеле для вас? У вас изменились планы? Где он хочет сделать остановку? Вы хотите продлить ваше путешествие? На сколько дней вы бы хотели продлить ваше путешествие? Вам нужна машина на прокат? Вы уже забронировали номер в отеле? Вам забронировать номер в отеле? Вы знаете, что у нас есть скидки? Я позвоню вам позже, когда все выясню. Вероятно, это займет некоторое время, но я смогу тогда сообщить вам детали и общую стоимость. Вас интересует общая стоимость? Позвоните мне снова через несколько минут. Вам не потребуются визы для Рима. Как можно организовать наше путешествие в вашу страну? Я думаю, не будет ни каких трудностей. На сколько дней вы собираетесь продлить ваше путешествие? Я боюсь, ваш рейс могут задержать. Когда вы собираетесь лететь назад в Лондон? Вы можете изменить обратный билет с открытой датой. У вас билет с открытой датой?

Reading and comprehension

Experts in the airline industry believe that there are three main reasons why people travel. There are: business, visiting friends and relatives (the so – called “ethnic” market), and holiday.

The businessman, forced to travel at time that suit his business, will pay the full fare. But the holiday and “ethnic” travelers, unlike the businessman, are under no real compulsion to go abroad, so the airlines have to make more attractive offers to persuade these kinds of travelers to buy an airline ticket.

The attractiveness of the offer is usually directly related to the price. The airlines know that the more they can trim the cost of a holiday, the more people will buy it. So, with the help of travel agents, they can arrange bulk travel and accommodation at holiday hotels at very low rates because of the large numbers of bookings they can provide. Then they pass the benefits of these quantity discounts on to the holiday – maker in the form of low – price inclusive tours.

This kind of holiday travel has been so successful that the airlines themselves are helping to finance new hotels. Many of them are already major investors in big international hotel chains. As more hotels become available, airlines can fly more people to fill them.

UNIT 3

SENDING CARGO BY AIR

Dialogue

Mr. Marshall is taking a model of oil refinery to the conference in Bahrain. He decides to send it by air freight and has his driver, John Davis, take it down to the airline cargo unit for dispatch, where he talks to cargo clerk Richard West.

Mr. Davis: Good morning. I don’t know if I’ve come to the right place, but I want to send a package to Bahrain.

Mr. West: Yes, sir, you’ve come to the right place. If you give me the details, I ‘ll be able to help you.

Mr. Davis: Well, it’s a scale model of an oil refinery and my chief, Mr.Marshall, of Western oil Company, wants it sent to Bahrain as quickly as possible.

Mr. West: Good. Well now, first of all, has Western Oil given you an IDG form – Instructions for the Despatch of Goods?

Mr. Davis: No, but I’ve been given a letter for you that should have all the instructions and information you’ll need. Here it is.

Mr. West: Splendid. Now let’s see what it says. It’s to be sent to Marshall, care of International Hotel, Bahrain, and will be collected from the airport by Mr. Marshall’s representative.

Mr. Davis: Yes, I understand the local Western Oil representative will pick it up.

Mr. West: Good. Then it says the weight is 21 pounds – that’s 9,5 kilos – and the value for Customs purposes is 4.50. No value declared for carriage. Western Oil will pay all charges at origin and all carriage charges, and finally, they want us to handle the documentation.

Mr. Davis: Is that all you needed to know?

Mr. West: Yes, that’s fine. It gives us all the information we need. Oh, there’s just one more thing though.

Mr. Davis: What’s that?

Mr. West: Well, the letter says it’s a model of a refinery. Do you know whether it’s a working model – in other words, are there any actual oils or petroleum products present in the model for demonstration or other purposes?

Mr. Davis: Oh, no. I know this model well. Mr. Marshall takes it all over the place with him. It’s made of papier mache and wood, with some bits of plastic and so on. There’s no actual oil or petrol in it at all.

Mr. West: That’s good. So we shan’t have any problems of classifying it as restricted on safety grounds.

Mr. Davis: No, it’s a perfectly harmless model.`

Mr. West: Right. Now let’s check the weight and size. Where is the consignment?

Mr. Davis: It’s outside in the boot of my car. I’ll bring it in… Here it is, it’s very light for it’s size.

Mr. West: Right. On to the scales with it then… Yes, the weight’s O.K., and now for the dimensions.

Mr. Davis: When you consider how large it is, it’s surprisingly light, isn’t it?

Mr. West: Yes, it is. That means, of course, that the charges will be assessed on the basis of volume, not weight.

Mr. Davis: There are a number of other things that Mr. Marshall wanted me to check with you. First of all, when will it get there?

Mr. West: There’s our Singapore flight leaving this afternoon that arrives at Bahrain during the night, or there is the Far East freighter which leaves early tomorrow. If there isn’t enough room on the first flight, it’ll certainly be carried on the freighter.

Mr. Davis: So our rep could collect it from the Bahrain airport some time tomorrow?

Mr. West: We’d better say the day after, to allow for local Customs clearance, which might hold things up for a few hours.

Mr. Davis: O.K. And then Mr. Marshall asked me to tell you to make sure nothing is stood on top of the model in the aircraft. The flat cover over the top is only thin plastic and could easily be broken.

Mr. West: Yes, we have plenty of experience of handling fragile cargo, and you can be sure we’ll take very good care of it.

Mr. Davis: And then there’s the question of the cost, Western Oil has an account with you. Will you invoice them in the usual way?

Mr. West: Yes, we’ll do that. Do you want me to calculate the cost now?

Mr. Davis: No, Mr. Marshall didn’t ask for that. I think he’ll be quite happy if you invoice the company in due course.

Mr. West: Have you any other queries?

Mr. Davis: No, I don’t think so. What about the consignment note, or whatever you call it – do you want me to sign it or anything?

Mr. West: No, that’s all right, we can make that out in our office here, acting on your behalf as authorized in your letter, and so a signature isn’t necessary. Incidentally, it’s usually called an air waybill nowadays, not a consignment note.

Mr. Davis: Well, that seems to be everything then. I’ll go back and tell Mr. Marshall it’s all O.K. and he can tell our rep in Bahrain when to collect. Many thanks for your help. Goodbye.

Notes:

1. rep: representative

2. stood: place, put

3. on your behalf: for you

Reading and Comprehension

Sending goods by air is a rapidly growing business. Exporters have realized that although it may cost more to send an item by air than by surface transport, the extra cost frequently justifies itself in better service to the customer, less risk of damage or pilfering, and reduced insurance, packing and warehousing charges.

When goods are sent from one country to another, the Customs authorities have to check and inspect consignments in order to stop prohibited goods, and also to assess the duty where appropriate. With the exception of these formalities, the transport of merchandise by air is a simple matter. Cargo agents and airlines cooperate to provide swift collection and delivery services by road from the airports.

Cargo is carried in the cargo holds of passenger aircraft situated under the cabin in which the passengers travel. In recent years, as the business of air cargo has grown, many airlines have put freighter aircraft into operation. These aircraft carry no passengers. They operate to regular schedules, just as passenger aircraft do, and provide a reliable service for the world’s industries.

At one time, air freight was regarded only as a means of shipping a vital part or commodity in an emergency. Now, many businessmen plan their marketing and distribution strategies using air transport as an intrinsic part of the whole operation.