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Lesson Plan: At the Airport

Traveling by air can be a lot of fun. It can also be very confusing dealing with travel agents and airline personnel. If traveling to a foreign country, a traveler has to interact with customs and immigration officials. There are several common expressions that are used when dealing with airlines, travel agencies and customs. Look at the examples below. 

English Expressions

Students should work together in pairs and read the following dialogue, one student reading one part, the other student reading the other. Note the expressions used in the dialogue and the progression of the conversation. The dialogue can be used as a model to have similar conversations.

At a travel agency

Agent: May I help you?

Nancy: Yes, I need a ticket to Paris.

Agent: One way or round trip?

Nancy: Round trip.

Agent: When will you be leaving?

Nancy: Next month, the 2nd. I prefer a morning flight.

Agent: Do you want any particular airline?

Nancy: No, but I do want to go business class and have a direct flight.

Agent: When will you be returning?

Nancy: I want to return on the 15th of next month.

Agent: Let me check the computer. Yes, there is a flight available on Blue Skies Air Ways. The tickets will cost

            $1645.

Nancy: Sounds good, book it.

Agent: Thank you. You can pick up your tickets at this office on the 28th.

Nancy: Thanks.

At the airport check-in

Nancy: Hello

Agent: Hello. May I have your ticket and passport?

Nancy: Yes, here they are.

Agent: How many pieces of luggage will you be checking in?

Nancy: Just one, I also have one carry on bag.

Agent: Your luggage is two kilos over the limit. You will have to pay an extra charge of $100.

Nancy: No problem. Is cash OK?

Agent: Certainly.

Nancy: Here you go.

Agent: Thank you, have a nice flight.

Nancy: Thanks.

At Customs

Agent: Welcome to Paris. Do you have anything to declare?

Nancy: No.

Agent: Could you open your bag please?

Nancy: Sure, is everything OK?

Agent: Yes ma’am, enjoy you stay in Paris.

Nancy: Thanks.

After reading, close your book and tell your partner a summary of the dialogue. Then switch and have your partner tell his or her summary. Start like this: These dialogues are about people traveling. At the travel agency Nancy...This may seem silly, since you both already know what the dialogue is about, but the purpose is to practice using your English, not to give information or test your reading skills.

Conversation Activities

1. Pair Work- discussion

      Have you ever flown on a plane? Tell your partner about it using some of the ideas

     for discussion below. Your partner should ask questions to get more information.

• when and where you went  

• how long the flight took

• the quality of the service from the flight attendants

• how the flight was: (smooth or turbulent, relaxing or nerve-wracking)

• did you enjoy it

• do you like to fly

 2. Pair work- role play

     The situation: At a travel agency asking for information for a flight. 

                         Working with a partner, role play the situation, using the information

                          below

     The roles: A travel agent, a customer