Travel & Culture - Handling Delays

Activity 1: Let's Get Started! 🤔 (Warm-up)

Let's talk about flight delays!

Has your flight ever been late? How did you feel?
What do you think causes flights to be delayed? (Example: weather, plane problems)
What can you do at the airport if your flight is delayed for a long time?

Activity 2: New Words & Phrases 🗣️ (Vocabulary)

Here are some important words for when flights are not on time!

1. Delayed: When a flight is going to leave later than scheduled.

Example: "Oh no, our flight to Paris is Delayed by two hours."

2. Cancelled: When a flight will not be happening at all.

Example: "Due to bad weather, the 7:00 PM flight has been Cancelled."

3. New Departure Time: The updated time your flight is expected to leave.

Example: "Please check the screen for the New Departure Time of your flight."

4. Rebook: To arrange a new flight if yours is cancelled or significantly delayed.

Example: "We need to go to the airline counter to Rebook our flight."

5. Announcement: Information given over the airport speakers or by airline staff.

Example: "Listen carefully to the Announcement about flight BA245."

Activity 3: Reading - A Long Wait at the Airport 📖

Read this story about a flight delay.

Linda was excited to go on vacation. She arrived at her gate on time, but then she heard an Announcement. "Attention passengers on flight JK101 to Miami. This flight is Delayed due to a technical issue with the aircraft." Linda sighed. She looked at the departures screen. Her flight now had a New Departure Time, three hours later than planned. Some passengers looked upset. After waiting for an hour, another Announcement said the flight was now Cancelled. Everyone groaned. Linda knew she had to Rebook her flight. She went to the airline's customer service desk. There was a long line. While waiting, she heard other passengers talking. Some were trying to Rebook on their phones. Finally, it was Linda's turn. The agent was very helpful and managed to Rebook her on a flight for the next morning. The airline also gave her a voucher for a hotel. It wasn't ideal, but Linda was glad she would still get to Miami.

Questions about the Story:

Answer these questions:

Why was Linda's first flight Delayed?
What did the second Announcement say about her flight?
What did Linda have to do after her flight was Cancelled?
What was the New Departure Time after the first delay?
What did the airline give Linda because of the cancellation?

Activity 4: Role Play - At the Airline Counter 🎭

Let's pretend! One person is Mr. Kim (Passenger), and the other is Ms. Davis (Airline Agent).

Mr. Kim (Passenger): Excuse me, I heard an Announcement that my flight QR789 is Delayed. Can you tell me more?

Ms. Davis (Airline Agent): Yes, sir. Flight QR789 is Delayed due to air traffic congestion. The New Departure Time is now 5:30 PM.

Mr. Kim (Passenger): 5:30 PM? That's a four-hour delay! Will I miss my connecting flight?

Ms. Davis (Airline Agent): Let me check that for you. ... Yes, unfortunately, you will miss your connection. We will need to Rebook that part of your journey for you.

Mr. Kim (Passenger): Oh dear. What are my options to Rebook?

Ms. Davis (Airline Agent): We can put you on the next available flight tomorrow morning, or a flight with a different airline later tonight, but it has a longer layover.

Mr. Kim (Passenger): What happens if this flight gets Cancelled altogether?

Ms. Davis (Airline Agent): If the flight is Cancelled, we will do our best to Rebook you on the soonest possible alternative or offer a full refund. We will make an Announcement if there are further changes.

Mr. Kim (Passenger): Okay, I understand. I'll wait for a bit and hope there are no more delays. Thank you.

Ms. Davis (Airline Agent): You're welcome. Please keep an eye on the departure boards for any updates.

Let's Talk About It:

After you read, talk about this:

Why was Mr. Kim's flight Delayed?
What did Ms. Davis offer to do about Mr. Kim's connecting flight?

Activity 5: Let's Practice - Dealing with Changes ✍️

Help Anna (Passenger) complete her part of the dialogue. Airline Staff (Staff) will speak first. Use words from Activity 2!

Airline Staff: Good afternoon. I'm afraid I have some news about your flight, FG303.

Anna (Passenger): Oh? Is it ? I hope not!

Airline Staff: It's not cancelled, but it is significantly delayed due to weather at the destination.

Anna (Passenger): So, what is the now?

Airline Staff: We don't have an exact time yet. We will make an as soon as we know more. It might even be if the weather doesn't improve.

Anna (Passenger): If it's cancelled, will I be able to onto another flight easily?

Airline Staff: Yes, we will assist all passengers with rebooking. Please listen for further announcements or check the departure screens.

Anna (Passenger): Okay, I will. Thank you for the information.

Airline Staff: We apologize for the inconvenience.

Anna (Passenger): I understand, it's not your fault.

Show Answers! (Activity 5) ✨