Text b. Traveling by Plane

Traveling by plane is much faster than traveling by train. It gives you additional comfort and saves your time.

Whenever you want to go somewhere by plane you should book a ticket (seat) on a flight to your destination for a certain date.

You may book a single, return or open return ticket. When booking a ticket you should mention what class you are going to fly: first, business or economy class. You may ask the booking clerk (travel agent) what time the coach leaves the air terminal for the airport and what is the latest time of checking-in at the airport.

Before boarding the plane you should register (check-in) your luggage at a check-in desk. Here you are required to have your luggage weighed and then a uniformed clerk (attendant) attaches a special label to it and gives you a boarding pass. There is no need to worry about your suitcase any longer. It will be put into the luggage compartment of the plane. If your luggage weighs more than allowed, you are supposed to pay for the additional weight. Then you must go through the security check where your carry-on luggage is checked.

Then you may wait in the departure lounge.

The announcer will announce when and at what gate your flight is boarding or there is a delay on your flight. It often happens that a delay on a flight is due to adverse weather conditions. In this case you can obtain a voucher for refreshments. These vouchers are accepted at the cafeteria and you can have your meal free of charge till you hear the announcement that your flight is boarding.

Exercise 1.

Memorize the following words and word combinations.

plane самолёт

fast быстрый

to save экономить

whenever всякий раз, когда

flight рейс

destination место назначения

certain определённый

date дата

single ticket билет в один конец

return ticket билет туда и обратно

open return ticket билет с открытой датой

mention упомянуть

economy class туристический класс

coach экспресс-автобус

air terminal аэровокзал

checking-in регистрация

to board сесть в самолёт

check-in desk стойка регистрации

to weigh взвесить

clerk служащий

to attach прикрепить

label бирка, ярлык

boarding pass посадочный талон

to worry беспокоиться

luggage compartment багажное отделение

to allow разрешать

you are supposed вам надлежит

carry-on luggage ручной багаж

departure lounge зал ожидания

announcer диктор

gate выход на посадку

flight is boarding производится посадка на

delay on the flight is due to рейс задерживается из-за

adverse неблагоприятный

to obtain получить

voucher for refreshments талон на питание

to accept принимать

Exercise 2.

Answer the following questions.

1. Have you ever flown?

2. When was it?

3. Did you feel nervous?

4. Did you enjoy the flight?

5. Was the flight smooth or rough?

6. Were you airsick?

7. Where do we get tickets for airplane?

8. How many airports are there in Moscow?

9. Is there a special bus or train service for passengers?

10. What are you supposed to do if you want to go somewhere by plane?

11. In what case would you buy a single ticket? And a return ticket? And an open return ticket?

12. Do you usually travel by first, business or economy class?

13. What should you do with your suitcase before boarding the plane?

14. Why do they weigh your luggage at a check-in desk?

15. Why does the attendant attach a label to your suitcase?

16. What does he/she give you a boarding pass for?

17. What do they do with your suitcase after the checking-in?

18. What happens if your luggage weighs more than allowed?

19. Why must you listen to the announcer very attentively while sitting in the departure lounge?

20. Are flights sometimes delayed? When does it happen?

21. Why is it necessary to do up a safety-belt during take-off and landing?

22. Is smoking allowed on board a plane?

23. What information is always given to the passengers before the flight?

24. What speed and altitude do modern planes fly at?

25. Are the passengers offered drinks and meals during the flight?

26. Can the passengers use their mobile phones during the flight?

27. What are advantages and disadvantages of travelling by air?

28. Do you agree that the future belongs to air transport?

Exercise 3.

Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and phrases.

путешествовать самолётом; заказывать билет на рейс; билет в одну сторону; билет туда и обратно; экономичный класс; аэровокзал; аэропорт; автобус «экспресс»; регистрация; стойка регистрации; взвесить багаж; прикрепить бирку; посадочный талон; багажное отделение (в самолёте); зал ожидания; кафетерий; задержка рейса; неблагоприятные погодные условия; производится посадка на рейс; ручной багаж.