Navigating Travel & Daily Communication

Travel & Communication Scenarios

Airport Incidents: Navigating Travel Challenges

Flight Cancellation & Upgrade

• Agent: Can I see your passport, please, madam?
• Passenger: Yes. Here you are.
• Agent: I’m afraid your flight is cancelled.
• Passenger: Cancelled?
• Agent: Yes, there’s a technical problem. But there is another plane for Amsterdam an hour later.
• Passenger: But I have a connecting flight in Amsterdam. I have another plane to Stockholm. I only had one hour between the two flights.
• Agent: Don’t worry, madam. There are planes every hour to Stockholm, too. We can put you on the next one.
• Passenger: But I’ll be late for my meeting.
• Agent: I’m very sorry, madam. But we can offer you a free upgrade to first class.
• Passenger: OK, thanks.

Boarding Pass & Baggage Issues

• Agent: Four people, sir?
• Passenger: Yes, that’s right.
• Agent: You only have three boarding passes here. Where’s the fourth one?
• Passenger: Oh no! I used the online check-in service at home. I didn’t see there were only three.
• Companion: What’s the problem now, Dave?
• Agent: And that suitcase, sir. That’s hold baggage. It’s too big to take on the plane. You need to check it in.
• Companion: Dave, what’s happening?
• Passenger: I’ll have to go back. Can my wife and children go through the security scan now?
• Agent: No, I’m sorry, they can’t. Just go back and explain the situation. Go to the priority check-in. It will be quicker.
• Passenger: OK, thanks.

Excess Baggage Charges & Seating

• Agent: Can you put your bags here, please?
• Agent: I’m afraid I have to charge you for excess baggage.
• Agent: This bag is 28 kilograms. The weight allowance is 23 kilograms per bag.
• Passenger: Oh, I didn’t know that. So what’s the extra charge?
• Passenger: $75! OK, but can I have a window seat, please?
• Agent: I’m sorry, but the only seats I have are here, here, and here.
• Passenger: All middle seats!
• Agent: Yes, sorry about that.
• Passenger: That’s OK. It’s not my day!

Making Plans & Scheduling Meetings

• Fabrizio: Hello, Emily. It’s Fabrizio.
• Emily: Hi, Fabrizio. Great to hear from you. How are you?
• Fabrizio: I’m fine. How about you? Are you still working for ETI?
• Emily: Well, for the moment I’m still here. But I’m going to leave the company soon. At the end of July, probably.
• Fabrizio: Oh really! What are you going to do?
• Emily: I’m doing a one-year Master’s course in Psychology.
• Fabrizio: Ah, that’s great news, Emily. Listen, I’m coming to Montreal for a conference next week.
• Emily: Oh cool! How long are you staying?
• Fabrizio: I’m arriving on Sunday and leaving on Wednesday evening. Are you there? Can we meet up?
• Emily: Yeah, sure. I don’t know my schedule yet, but I’ll let you know. Can we talk about it later in the week?
• Fabrizio: Yes, sure. I’ll call you again on Friday. Is that OK?
• Emily: Great. Speak to you soon, Fabrizio.

Asking for Directions & Location Information

Finding the Station

• Person A: Hello. Can you tell me the way to the station, please?
• Person B: Yes, OK. Turn right at the traffic lights. You come to a roundabout. Take the second, no, the third exit. You’ll see the station in front of you.
• Person A: Great, thanks.

Locating the Conference Registration Office

• Person A: Excuse me. I’m looking for the registration office for the conference.
• Person B: Sure. Turn left at the end of the corridor, then go down the stairs. Registration is the first or second door on your right.
• Person A: Thanks a lot.

Directions to the Motorway & Petrol Station

• Person A: Excuse me. How do I get to the motorway?
• Person B: Er… let me think. Take the first left. Then go straight on for about a kilometre. After that, you’ll see signs.
• Person A: Thanks very much. Oh, do you know where the nearest petrol station is?
• Person B: Yes, there’s one on the road you’re taking. You go past the supermarket… it’s a big supermarket. The petrol station is just after that.
• Person A: Great. Thanks.

Confirming Travel Plans & Meetings

• Emily: Hello?
• Fabrizio: Hi, Emily. It’s Fabrizio.
• Emily: Hi, Fabrizio. Are you calling about your trip to Montreal?
• Fabrizio: Yeah, that’s right. I’m arriving on Sunday afternoon. When can we meet? Are you free that evening?
• Emily: No, sorry. I’m now flying to Toronto on Sunday. I have a meeting there on Monday. Can we find a different time?
• Fabrizio: Sure. I’m staying in Montreal until Wednesday. When would suit you?
• Emily: Well, I’m coming back on Monday evening. What about lunch on Tuesday?
• Fabrizio: Sorry Emily, but I’m having lunch with a customer. What’s your availability later in the day? The conference finishes at five. How about Tuesday evening instead?
• Emily: I’m afraid I’ve got something on that evening. But I really want to see you. When exactly are you leaving?
• Fabrizio: My flight’s at 21:45, so I’ll have to leave for the airport around 19:00.
• Emily: In that case, does Wednesday lunchtime work for you?
• Fabrizio: Yes, that’s fine for me. I only have an hour for lunch, but I can miss the first session in the afternoon.
• Emily: Great. Let’s meet outside the conference centre. I know a nice little restaurant nearby.
• Fabrizio: OK. The morning session finishes at 1:00 PM. Shall we say 1:15 PM?
• Emily: Yes, that suits me. OK, so that’s quarter past one at the conference centre.
• Fabrizio: Yes, see you on Wednesday. It’ll be great to see you again.
• Emily: You too, Fabrizio. Have a good trip on Sunday.