The flight
1. Adam is on holiday in South Africa. In Johannesburg, he decides to change his travel plans so he speaks to Helen, a travel agent. Listen to their conversation. What does Adam ask to change? Choose a, b, c or d.
a the airline
b the travel date
c the destination
d the type of ticket
Show answers
b
2. Listen again and complete Helen’s notes.
Answer & Transcript
b Lister
c Monday 15th
d SAA 235
e 9 am
f budget econo
g Thursday 18th
h 11.30 am
i normal econo
j 740
Transcript
(Helen = South African)
Helen: Good afternoon, sir. How can I help you?
Adam: Yes, hello. I’d like to change flight to Cape Town.
Helen: Hmm. OK, so can you tell me the booking number?
Adam: Umm ___ I don’t remember booking number, to be honest.
Helen: OK. That’s OK. Maybe just your family name then. Can you give me that?
Adam: Yeah, family name is Lister.
Helen: Is that L-I-S-T-E-R?
Adam: That’s right. Adam Lister.
Helen: OK, let me just check that for you.
Adam: The airline is South African Airlines and I think the flight number is SAA 235.
Helen: Great. And when are you flying?
Adam: Oh, it’s next Monday, the 15th.
Helen: Ah yes, that’s right, SAA 235 from Johannesburg to Cape Town at 9 am. OK. What would you like to change?
Adam: Would it be possible to fly three days later?
Helen: OK, let me just check the availability. ___ Ah yes. There are flights on Thursday the 18th, but unfortunately the nine o’clock flight is full. What about another time that day?
Adam: Is it possible to go in the morning? Are there other morning flights?
Helen: There’s another flight at 11.30. How about that?
Adam: 11.30 sounds good.
Helen: OK that’s great. There’s a different flight number. It’s SAA 327. Now one thing I just need to sort out with you is that your original ticket was a budget econo class ticket and ___
Adam: Yes, that’s right.
Helen: Well, it’s the cheapest fare and unfortunately that can only be changed if it’s upgraded. So you’d need to get a normal econo class ticket.
Adam: Normal econo class? So does that mean I have to pay more for another ticket?
Helen: Yes, you do.
Adam: Oh. How much more do I have to pay?
Helen: Er, let me check ___ Er that’s 740 rand. Is that OK?
Adam: Oh that’s quite a bit but ___ but I’ll change it anyway.
Helen: OK. All right. Let me just print this out for you – print out your new itinerary.
A change of plan
1. Listen to Adam talking to Tom, a Tourist Information Officer in Cape Town. Look at the photos and match them to the statements below.
a Adam went to this place today. ________
b Adam cancels a trip to this place. ________
c Adam decides to go to this place. ________
Show answers
a Table Mountain.
b Cape Point and Peninsula.
c Robben Island.
2. Listen again and correct the mistakes below.
a Adam went to Table Mountain yesterday.
b Adam cycled up Table Mountain.
c Adam hurt his back.
d Adam paid a deposit of 50 rand.
e The company needs 12 hours notice to cancel a booking.
f Adam will travel to Robben Island by helicopter.
Answer & Transcript
a yesterday today
b cycled walked
c back leg
d 50 rand 150 rand
e 12 hours 24 hours
f helicopter boat
Transcript
(Tom = South African)
Adam: I’ve got a problem. Perhaps you can help me.
Tom: Yes, I’m sure I can. So what’s the problem?
Adam: Well, I booked a trip to Cape Point and Peninsula for tomorrow. The problem is that today I did another tour – the Table Mountain tour.
Tom: Right. That’s the hike isn’t it?
Adam: Yes, and we walked all day and ___
Tom: Yes, it’s a really good trip.
Adam: But I hurt leg, so I don’t think I can do the tour tomorrow.
Tom: Oh right. That’s the one by bike, isn’t it?
Adam: Yeah. I really don’t want to do more exercise.
Tom: Yeah, I can imagine.
Adam: So I’d like to cancel the booking.
Tom: Hmm. OK< so let me just check on the system. Have you already paid a deposit?
Adam: Oh yes, there was a deposit of 150 rand.
Tom: Unfortunately, if you cancel now, you will lose that deposit.
Adam: Oh. Why is that?
Tom: Well, because the company needs more than 24 hours notice.
Adam: Oh, I see. Oh well ___
Tom: You can use the deposit for another activity.
Adam: Yeah?
Tom: We could look at something that doesn’t involve exercise.
Adam: Good idea.
Tom: A trip that lots of people do is a boat trip to Robben Island.
Adam: OK.
Tom: Would you be interested in doing that?
Adam: Yeah, that sounds interesting.