scheduled to take off between 5 pm and 5 15 and the airport can only handle 120 an hour that means some will always be late landing or taking off. And if the weather is bad... So, passengers have to be loaded into each plane and then the planes have to line up to take off. There's a marvelous story of the people who'd been waiting for over an hour for their plane to reach the head of the line to take off, when they heard the captain on the intercom telling them that he was so fed up he was quitting his job, and he walked through the cabin, opened the door, jumped to the ground and walked off across the Queuing on the tarmac is frustrating( with no drinks or meals available until you're in the air ), but queuing in the air with other planes circling just below you and above in the clouds Another problem thats very common is overbooking you hear an announcement on the airport loudspeakers: "We have oversold on this flight and would like volunteers to go on the next flight out. If you decide to volunteer, you may get a cash bribe, or a free trip voucher-but make sure you get a guaranteed seat on the next flight and a free phone call to whoever is meeting you the other end. Worse still you arrive with a confirmed reservation and you discover you've been bumped off the flight. Theres another story of a man who was raising hell when this happened to him and he said to e check-in clerk, "If I was a Senator, you'd get me a seat and the man behind him in the line said, 'Son, I am a Senator and they wont give my a seat either Presenter: Presumably, if you choose to travel at off-peak times, there are no problems igel: Well, there are no off-peak times-all flights seem to be full, expect Saturday, oddly enough. If there's public holiday, things are likely to be especially busy: Thanksgiving in November, Labor Day in September, Independence Day in July and so on. The special fare systems on the airlines'computers encourage more people to fly on less popular flights and this means that as a result all flights are equally full Presenter: So what advice would you give to a traveler in the USA? Nigel. The worst hubs are O Hare( Chicago)and Atlanta and Denver because they have so many flights-l'd say these are to be avoided at all costs Don't ever check your baggage if you can help it And be prepared for delays-take something to eat and drink in your hand luggage 9.3 Traveling S 2. Id like to change my reservation on flight LJ879 on May 16 to flight Zz 857 on May 17. 3. Is it too early to check in for flight RA 372? 4. Excuse me, could you show me how to get a ticket from this machine? 5. The main railway station? Yes, you go down this road for two blocks and then turn left. You 6. I'm terribly sorry I'm so late. I rented a car and it wouldnt start, you se 7. Could you explain some of these dishes on the menu for me, please? 8. Id like to have just a plain omelette, if thats all right 9. Can you recommend a nice local dish?scheduled to take off between 5 pm and 5.15 and the airport can only handle 120 an hour that means some will always be late landing or taking off. And if the weather is bad…So, passengers have to be loaded into each plane and then the planes have to line up to take off. There’s a marvelous story of the people who’d been waiting for over an hour for their plane to reach the head of the line to take off, when they heard the captain on the intercom telling them that he was so fed up he was quitting his job, and he walked through the cabin, opened the door, jumped to the ground and walked off across the tarmac! Queuing on the tarmac is frustrating (with no drinks or meals available until you’re in the air), but queuing in the air with other planes circling just below you and above you is downright terrifying. Especially if you’re in the clouds. Another problem that’s very common is overbooking: you hear an announcement on the airport loudspeakers: “We have oversold on this flight and would like volunteers to go on the next flight out.” If you decide to volunteer, you may get a cash bribe, or a free trip voucher-but make sure you get a guaranteed seat on the next flight and a free phone call to whoever is meeting you the other end. Worse still you arrive with a confirmed reservation and you discover you’ve been bumped off the flight. There’s another story of a man who was raising hell when this happened to him and he said to the check-in clerk, ‘If I was a Senator, you’d get me a seat’ and the man behind him in the line said, ‘Son, I am a Senator and they won’t give my a seat either.’ Presenter: Presumably, if you choose to travel at off-peak times, there are no problems. Nigel: Well, there are no off-peak times-all flights seem to be full, expect Saturday, oddly enough. If there’s public holiday, things are likely to be especially busy: Thanksgiving in November, Labor Day in September, Independence Day in July and so on. The special fare systems on the airlines’ computers encourage more people to fly on less popular flights and this means that as a result all flights are equally full. Presenter: So what advice would you give to a traveler in the USA? Nigel: The worst hubs are O’Hare (Chicago) and Atlanta and Denver because they have so many flights-I’d say these are to be avoided at all costs. Don't ever check your baggage if you can help it. And be prepared for delays-take something to eat and drink in your hand luggage. 9.3 Traveling Suggested answers 2. I’d like to change my reservation on flight LJ879 on May 16 to flight ZZ 857 on May 17. 3. Is it too early to check in for flight RA 372? 4. Excuse me, could you show me how to get a ticket from this machine? 5. The main railway station? Yes, you go down this road for two blocks and then turn left. You can’t miss it. 6. I’m terribly sorry I’m so late. I rented a car and it wouldn’t start, you see. 7. Could you explain some of these dishes on the menu for me, please? 8. I’d like to have just a plain omelette, if that’s all right. 9. Can you recommend a nice local dish?