Travelling by Air

Businessmen usually travel by plane as it is the fastest means. If they fly by international flights, they must arrive at the airport two hours before the departure time; if they go by domestic flights, they must arrive at the airport an hour prior to departure. There must be enough time to complete all the necessary formalities, such as going through the customs, passport control and security check.

There are different classes of travelling, for example, first and economy. First class is more expensive and economy class is cheaper.

At the airport passengers must register their tickets, weigh and register their luggage. Each passenger receives a boarding pass which he must show at the departure gate and then to the stewardess when boarding the plane.

At the arrival area the officials check the passports and visas of the passengers. Then the passengers go to the customs for an examination of their luggage. The customs inspectors check the things very closely to prevent smuggling.

Sometimes all airport formalities take more time than the trip itself, and the passengers must be prepared for it. Another inconvenience that you can face is a jet-lag, that is, the difference between the time you are accustomed to and the new time.

Study and learn the following vocabulary on the topic:

1 travel [ʹtrævəl] – путешествовать

by air [ɛə] (plane [pleɪn]) – самолетом

by sea [si:] (ship) – на корабле

by railway [̗̗̗ʹreɪlweɪ] (train [treɪn]) – на поезде

by road [rəʊd] (car [ka:]) – на машине

on foot [fʊt] – пешком

2 means [mi:nz] – способ, средство

3 fly [flaı] (flew, flown) – летать

flight [flaɪt] – полет, рейс

international flight – международный рейс

domestic flight – внутренний рейс

4 arrive [əʹraɪv] at – прибывать в

arrival [əʹraɪvəl] – прибытие

5 depart [dɪʹpa:t] – отправляться

departure [dıʹpa:tʃə] – отправление

6 prior [praɪə] to – до; syn before

7 complete [kəmʹpli:t] formalities [f̗̗̗əʹmælɪtɪz] – здесь пройти формаль-ности

8 customs [ʹkʌstəmz] – таможня

9 security [sıʹkjʊrɪtɪ] check [ʧek] – проверка безопасности

10 register [ʹreʤ̗̗ɪstə] – зарегистрировать

registration [̗̗̗ˌreʤ̗̗ɪʹstreɪʃən] – регистрация

11 weigh [weɪ] – взвешивать

weight [weɪt] – вес

12 boarding [ʹbɔ:dɪŋ] pass – здесь посадочный талон

13 board [bɔ:d] the plane – садиться в самолет

14 gate [geɪt] – здесь выход на посадку

15 passenger [̗̗̗ʹpæsən̗̗̗ʤə] – пассажир

16 official [əʹfɪʃəl] – служащий, чиновник

17 luggage [̗̗̗ʹlʌg̗̗̗̗ɪʤ] – багаж; syn baggage [̗̗̗ʹbæg̗̗̗̗ɪʤ]

18 examine [ɪgʹzæmɪn] – здесь досматривать

examination [ɪg̗̗̗ˌzæmɪʹneɪʃn] – здесь досмотр

19 closely [ʹkləʊslɪ] – тщательно, внимательно

20 smuggling [̗̗̗ʹsmʌglɪŋ] – контрабанда

smuggler [̗̗̗ʹsmʌglə] – контрабандист

21 inconvenience [̗̗̗̗̗̗̗ˌɪnkənʹvi:nɪəns] – неудобство; ant convenience

22 face – здесь столкнуться

23 jet-lag [ʹʤetlæg] – разница во времени

24 be accustomed [əʹkʌstəmd] to smth – быть привычным к чему-либо

Answer the following questions on the text:

1 What means of travelling do you know?

2 When must passengers arrive at the airport if they fly by international flights?

3 When must passengers arrive at the airport if the fly by domestic flights?

4 What airport formalities must all passengers complete?

5 What is the difference in different classes of travelling?

6 What must passengers do before they board the plane?

7 What do airport officials do at the arrival area?

8 What inconvenience must passengers be prepared for?

Read the dialogues and memorize them or make up your own by analogy.