3.2 Catering for the passengers

Exercise 3.2.1 Read and translate the text.

In the cabin, flight attendants have started the bar service and passengers are sampling the in-flight entertainment, up to 12 channels of CD-quality audio and 18 channels of film and television on the video screens to help pass the time. When the flight ends 10 hours from now, travellers will know the choices well.

British Airways is unique in offering passengers four classes of cabin service. Onboard, each seat in First Class is like a private nook, offering plenty of leg room and individual video screens. But what makes the seats special is their ability to convert into a 6 ft bed, a feature appreciated by passengers on night flights.

Tonight, Speedbird 25 has 276 passengers on board, 8 fewer than had been booked for the flight. Of the 276 passengers, 221 will disembark in Hong Kong. The rest will stay on the jet while it flies on to Taipei, Taiwan, with a new crew. Throughout the aircraft, passengers are now starting on dinner. In First, they can opt for the seven-course a la carte menu or more casual bistro-style dishes. The menu sets out the mouth-watering options. Scottish smoked salmon and a crab and sweetcorn soup are among the starters. For the main course, the offerings include nage of shellfish with basil and classic nantua saunce, or pan dan honey chicken with Thai fragrant vegetables and jasmine rice. A wine list describes the many choices. A red from the vineyards of New Zealand perhaps or a white Chablis. For dessert, there is hot gooseberry crumble with vanilla custard or a bitter chocolate tart with jasmine tea ice cream.

Good service and good food are two key weapons in the battle for passengers. British Airways scores well on both fronts. With its fine china and white linen service, the choices can rival the offerings of better restaurants. Indeed, the airline’s menus are designed with the input of top chefs.

Exercise 3.2.2 Answer the questions.

1. What have the flight attendants started to do?

2. Are passengers sampling the in-flight entertainment?

3. How many channels are there of CD-quality audio?

4. How many channels can they watch on television?

5. Does it help the passengers pass the time?

6. How many hours of flight are they going to have?

7. Is British Airway unique in service?

8. What can you say about each seat in the First Class?

9. What makes the seats special?

10. Why do passengers appreciate it?

11. How many passengers are there on board?

12. What was the number of passengers who booked tickets?

13. How many passengers will disembark in Hong Kong?

14. Will the crew be the same or a new one?

15. What can the passengers opt in First?

16. What does the menu set out?

17. What can you find among the starters?

18. What is there for the main course?

19. What does a wine list describe?

20. Where is the red wine from?

21. What can you have for dessert?

22. Have you ever tasted a bitter chocolate tart with jasmine tea ice cream?

23. What are two key weapons in the battle for passengers?

24. Does British Airways score well on both fronts?

25. Who designs the airline’s menus?

Exercise 3.2.3 Are the following statements true (√) or false (×)? Correct the false ones.

1. In the cabin, flight attendants have started the bar service and the passengers are sampling the in-flight entertainment.

2. British Airways is unique in offering passengers four classes of cabin service.

3. Onboard, each seat in Economy Class is like a private nook, offering plenty of leg room and individual video screens.

4. Speedbird 25 has 267 passengers on board.

5. Of the 276 passengers, 121 will disembark in Hong Kong.

6. In First Class, the passengers can opt for the seven-course a la carte menu or more casual bistro-style dishes.

7. A wine list describes the little choices.

8. Good service and good food are two key weapons in the battle for passengers.

9. Indeed, the airline’s menus are designed with the input of top chefs.

Exercise 3.2.4 Give English equivalents for the following words and word combinations.

Бортпроводники; 18 различных телевизионных каналов; убить время; обслуживание пассажиров во время полета; уникальный; предлагать что-то пассажирам; на борту самолета; личное, индивидуальное; укромное местечко; забронировать место (билет) на рейс; новый экипаж; иметь возможность выбора; на десерт; горький шоколад; хорошее обслуживание; в борьбе (битве) за …; выбор; соперничать, конкурировать.

Exercise 3.2.5 Find in the text synonyms for the following words and expressions.

Crew members; passenger compartment; spend time; inequitable; place; personal; transform; make a choice; preference; sweet-smelling; project (to plan).

Exercise 3.2.6 Match the word combinations and expressions in column A with those in column B.

A	B
1. flight attendants	a. способность
2. key weapon	b. в борьбе за …
3. in-flight entertainment	c. порционное блюдо (в ресторане)
4. to pass the time	d. ценить
5. unique	e. бортпроводники
6. to offer	f. забронировать билет
7. ability	g. развлечения во время полета
8. to convert smth into …	h. проводить время
9. to appreciate	i. основной (ключевой) момент
10. a la carte	j. высаживать пассажиров
11. china	k. уникальный
12. to book a ticket	l. хорошее обслуживание
13. disembark	m. превращать что-то в …
14. good service	n. предлагать
15. in the battle for …	o. фарфор

Exercise 3.2.7 Fill in the gaps with the words from the text choosing from the ones given in brackets.

1. In the cabin _____ (flight attendants, stewards, air-hostesses) have started the bar service.

2. The in-flight entertainment helps the passengers _____ (to spend, to waste, to pass) the time.

3. British Airways is ______ (good, unique, special) in offering passengers four classes of cabin service.

4. Onboard, each _______ (place, room, seat) in First class is like a private ______ (space, nook, site), offering plenty of leg room.

5. But what makes the seats special is their ability ______ (to change, to transform, to convert) into a 6 ft 6 in bed.

6. They can ______ (to opt, to make a choice, to choose) for the seven-course a la carte menu.

7. Good service and good food are two _______ (main, principal, key) weapons in the ______ (fight, struggle, battle) for passengers.

8. The airline’s menus are _____ (planned, sketched, designed) with the input of top chefs.

Exercise 3.2.8 Fill in the gaps with the related words.

1. In the cabin the passengers are sampling the in-flight _________. (ENTERTAIN)

2. When the flight ends 10 hours from now, __________ will know the choices well. (TRAVEL)

3. British Airways is unique in __________ passengers four classes of cabin service. (OFFER)

4. Throughout the aircraft, passengers are now ___________ dinner. (START)

5. The airline’s menus are ___________ with the input of top chefs. (DESIGN)

Exercise 3.2.9 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. В пассажирском салоне бортпроводники начали раздавать пассажирам еду.

2. 12 аудио и 18 телевизионных каналов помогают пассажирам хорошо провести время во время полета.

3. Авиакомпания ”Бритиш Эйрвейз” уникальна в предоставлении пассажирам четырех видов пассажирских (салонных) услуг.

4. На борту самолета, в салоне первого класса, каждое место представляет собой укромный уголок.

5. Индивидуальный видео экран есть на каждом кресле.

6. Способность превращать каждое кресло в небольшую кровать делает кресла салона первого класса особенными.

7. Способность использовать кресла как кровати во время ночных перелетов особенно ценится пассажирами.

8. На борту самолета 276 пассажиров, на 8 человек меньше, чем бронировали билеты на этот рейс.

9. 221 пассажир из 276 выйдут (высадятся) в Гонг Конге.

10. Остальная часть пассажиров полетит на Тайвань с новым экипажем.

11. Пассажиры первого класса могут выбрать одно любое порционное блюдо.

12. Имеется большой выбор разных вин.

13. Хорошее обслуживание и хорошие продукты являются ключевыми моментами в борьбе за пассажиров.

14. Обслуживание “Бритиш Эйрвейз” может конкурировать с обслуживанием самых лучших ресторанов.

Exercise 3.2.10 Make up your sentences using the following words and word combinations.

Flight attendants; in-flight entertainments; pass the time; unique; cabin service; individual video screen; appreciate; book a ticket; disembark; good service; key weapon; fine china and white linen; a la carte menu.

Exercise 3.2.11 Retell the text.