Unit 3 – Check-In

Unit 3

Check-in

Part One Warming Up

1. What is check-in? Discuss in pairs and give the definition orally.

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

2. How many steps are involved in check-in? First of all, tick the following
important elements for check-in and then arrange them in order.
2.1 Reserve the seat 25K 2 Assign the seat
3 Weigh the baggage 4.1 Announce the boarding information
Issue the ticket 1.3 Put the name on the waiting list
4 Issue the boarding pass 4.2 Ask passenger to go to the security check
1.1 Confirm the reservation 3.1 Charge for the overweight baggage
1.2 Endorse the ticket 1 Check the travel documents
3.2 Label the baggage 1.4 Reroute the passenger

1) ___________________________ 6) ____________________________
2) ___________________________ 7) ____________________________
3) ___________________________ 8) ____________________________
4) ___________________________ 9) ____________________________
5) ___________________________ 10) ____________________________

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Part Two Dialogues in Situation

 Dialogue A Check-in for a Flight

A: Next in line, please... Checking in sir? And what's your destination today, sir?
P: Uh, Nice, France... connecting through Paris. Is departure still at 11:45?
A: Yes indeed, everything’s on time today. Can I have your ticket and passport, please.
And... are you checking any baggage?
P: Yes, just one suitcase, but could you tell me what the international baggage allowance
is? I think I might be over the limit.
A: 35 kilos. Could you please place your suitcase on the scale Mr. Strause... Okay...
that’s just under at 34 kilos, so you’ll be fine.
P: That’s a relief.
A: And I see you have one carry-on bag. Here is a list of items that are prohibited in your
carry-on baggage, please be sure to check before you go through the security point.
P: Sure... Er could you tell me if the flight is very busy?
A: It’s almost full, but you’ll have no problem boarding. Your reservation is confirmed.
Now... do you have a seating preference? Window or aisle?
P: Well, I’d like an aisle seat near the front if possible, so I can get off quickly in Paris.
My connection is quite tight, and I want to get through Immigration and Customs as
quickly as possible.
A: I see, but I don’t think that will matter. Your luggage is checked through to Nice but
you’ll still have to take it through Customs in Paris yourself. So being first in line at
Immigration probably won’t save you any time.
P: Well... I’ll try it anyway. So, I’d be grateful if you could put me in an aisle seat close
to the exit.
A: We certainly can. Okay sir, you are in aisle seat 10C on flight 405, departing from
Gate 9 at 11:45. Here is your passport and boarding pass ... and the gate is over to
your left.
P: Thanks very much.
A: Have a nice trip, sir.

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Dialogue B Check in for an Unaccompanied Minor

A: Morning, madam. May I see your travel documents?
P: Sure. Here you are. But they are not for me, for this little boy who will be traveling to
Hong Kong.
A: Huynh Vu. Is he your son, traveling unaccompanied?
P: I’m his aunt. He will be traveling alone, so we need your help, escorting him through
Customs to his destination.
A: Sure. Now let me see the travel documents he needs. Passport, ticket…
P: And here is a form, Unaccompanied Minor Requested for Carriage-Handling Advice.
A: Who will come to meet him at the airport?
P: His parents, of course. I’ve already informed them of the flight schedule.
A: Good. Everything is in order. Now I’ll seat Huynh Vu in a forward row so that our
flight attendants find it easy to keep an eye on him.
P: You are so thoughtful. Thank you very much indeed.
A: We have prepared an envelope to contain his travel documents. As Huynh Vu’s
guardian, could you please read carefully and complete this Unaccompanied Minor
form on the cover of the envelope? ……
P: Here you are. Is that all right?
A: Yes, perfect. Thank you. I’ll put his passport, ticket and other travel documents in the
envelope and pass it to our senior flight attendant on his flight. During the flight he
will be carrying this envelope on his chest so that our flight attendants can easily
identify and look after him. Wait a moment please. He’ll soon be escorted to the
cabin crew.
P: Is there anyone to assist him through Immigration and Customs after deplaning at
Hong Kong airport?
A: Yes, our ground staff at the airport will be informed of his arrival beforehand. When
he arrives he will be escorted through arrival formalities and then to meet his parents
there.

Dialogue C Check in for a Handicapped Passenger

A: Mr. Le, would you like any assistance through Immigration and Customs?
P: No, thank you all the same. I can manage it with my son’s help.
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A: I don’t think your son will help you through these formalities. As he is not a
passenger traveling with you he is not allowed to enter Immigration and Customs
area.
P: That’s what I was not thinking of. In this case I really need your special assistance.
A: We can get you a wheelchair if you’d like one.
P: Yes, please.
……
A: Mr. Le, this is Tam, our ground service agent who will assist you through
Immigration and Customs and then take you right on to your flight. Also we will
advise our ground staff of meeting you at arrival and keep watching until your family
comes.
P: Thank you ever so much.
Useful Expressions

prohibited items be escorted

go through formalities be informed
a seating preference to keep an eye on smb
Immigration and Customs ground staff / ground service agent
unaccompanied minor handicapped passenger

Vocabulary Airport language

1. Complete the questions with the words in the box, and say where each
question would be asked.

on time check in boarding get an upgrade if

need may aisle upstairs excess

may
1. _________ I see your ticket and passport, please?
2. Is the flight going to depart ____________________
on time ?
3. How many bags do you have to__________________?
check in

4. Would you like a window or an _________

aisle seat?
upstairs
5. It’s ________________ on the third floor.
6. Your seat number is 38C. Your _______________
boarding time is at 10:10 AM.

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 Unit 3 – Check-In
excess
7. I have to charge you for the __________________ weight.
get an upgrade from economy to prestige class.
8. I would like to use some of my miles to __________
need
9. You _________________ 15,000 miles for a free return ticket.
10. Let me check ________________________
if the seat is still available.

2. Which questions are asked by passengers?

Part Three Language Practice

I. Match the phrases in column A with those in column B

(A) (B)
1. I’d like to ask you to pay… a. …are you going to check in
2. What…? b. …on your suitcase while the other is stuck
3. How many pieces of baggage…? to your air ticket.
4. You can take… c. …carry-on baggage with you in the cabin
5. One half of your baggage ticket d. …on the back of this baggage claim check
goes… e. …excess baggage charge for overweight.
6. Please sign your name… f. …check over this list of personal items.
7. Would you care to…? g. …check in one hour before the scheduled
8. Passengers are requested to… departure time.
h. … if I miss my connecting flight.

II. Practice the conversation with your partner. Use the information in the
box below.
A: Would you like a window or an aisle seat?
P: _______________
window seat , please. In the front of the cabin.
A: Your seat number is 38C. Your boarding time is at 9:10 AM from Gate 19.
Internet cafe
P: Where is the ________________ ____________________?
A: It’s ___________________________
on the second floor . Have a nice trip.
B: Thank you.

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Seat Place Location

a window seat pharmacy downstairs
an aisle seat Internet cafe on the second floor
a middle seat currency exchange on the right
an emergency exit seat duty-free shop on the corner
a seat with legroom mobile phone rental office on the left

III. Dialogue Completion: Fill in the blanks with the given words:
the conveyor belt; overweight; the limit; passengers; late; baggage; tickets and
passports; check in
A: Good evening, sir.
check in
P: Evening. Is this where we ____________________ for the flight to Copenhagen?
A: That’s right, sir, Flight 402.
P: I hope we’re not ________________________.
late

A: No, there are still quite a lot of ___________________to

passengers come. What name, please?
P: Chesterton, Mr. and Mrs. Chesterton.
A: Mr. and Mrs. Chesterton… Here we are. May I see your _______________.
tickets and passports Please?
P: Here you are.
A: Fine. Is this all your ________________________________?
baggage

P: That’s right. These two cases and the two smaller bags.
the conveyor belt
A: Would you lift them onto _________________________?
P: I hope we’re not _____________________________.
overweight

A: No. You’re well within __________________.

the limit

Part Four Communication Activity

I. Discuss the following situations then make dialogues with your partner.
1. Mr. White and his wife are going to London on Flight BA034. They request the
party seat in economy class. They have two large pieces of baggage. As an agent,
you assign them two seats: 7A and 8A in economy class. You weigh their baggage

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which is within the limit. Then you announce the boarding time: 14:50p.m. and the
boarding gate: 7.
2. Mr. George Brown is going to check in for Flight MU559 to Madrid. He is carrying
two pieces of baggage. He is traveling first class and wants a window seat. The
agent assigns him seat 2A and tells him that his flight is expected to begin boarding
at 20:00p.m. The boarding gate is 5.

II. Your passengers will check in the following flights and request the
window seats. First you should examine the passengers’ travel
documents and then reserve the seats for your passengers:
1. A passenger checks in for CA957 to Singapore and requests a window seat.
You reserve a window seat 28K in Y class.
2. A passenger checks in for BA2828 to Paris and requests a window seat. Unfortunately
there is no window seat available. You reserve an aisle seat 15E in Y class.

III. Passengers will check in the following baggage. You weigh and label
the baggage and then issue the boarding pass. Meanwhile you
announce the boarding information:
1. A passenger will check in two suitcases and two handbags. His seat number is 15A in
economy class; boarding time; 9:50a.m.; boarding gate: 20.
2. A passenger will check in one trunk and one large suitcase and one briefcase. His seat
number is a window seat 11K in Y class; boarding gate: 15; boarding time: 10:55
a.m.

Part Five Read and Discuss

Check-In
The passenger who finally arrives at the departure area must find his way to the
right check-in desk. The check-in clerk, or counter agent, or whatever the official at a
check-in counter is called, likes to see a passenger’s ticket before discussing any details.
As we have seen, the ticket is a complete record of the contract between an airline and a
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passenger. Because the ticket contains all the facts, passenger clerks are naturally
reluctant to begin talking without seeing it. If the passenger has not yet obtained his
ticket he often has to be referred to a separated ticket reservations counter, which is
another reason why the check-in clerk does not want to become involved until he has
seen the ticket. If several people are traveling together the clerk will usually ask to see all
the tickets at once. Sometimes an irregularity in the ticket of say one member of a family
traveling together may call for changes in the travel arrangements of the whole family.
When the check-in clerk has verified the ticket he will begin to complete it. The
seat is assigned on a first-come and first-served basis. Baggage is weighed, a number of
pieces are noted and the details recorded on the ticket. Labels are attached and
counterfoils clipped to the ticket. The baggage is then taken away and held until it is
loaded on the aircraft. The clerk will want to see any hand baggage the passenger wishes
to take with him into the passenger cabin.
Some airlines ask passengers to mark all baggage, including what they take with
them into the cabin, with their names and addresses in case an article is mislaid. Special
labels may be provided for this purpose. Baggage should contain personal effects only
but commercial samples may be carried provided customs regulations are complied with.
Baggage taken into the cabin may be limited by weight or by dimension but in general it
includes items such as typewriters, night-bags, brief cases, ladies’ vanity cases and large
cameras. Under the regulations of the International Air Transport Association these items
have to be included as part of the free baggage allowance.
Passengers are advised to avoid putting certain types of articles into baggage going
into the aircraft hold. These include fragile and perishable articles, money, jewellery,
silverware, negotiable papers, securities and other valuables, samples or business
documents. Bottles containing liquids should have screw caps and should be firmly
closed. State regulations prohibit the carriage on aircraft of a number of articles including
inflammable or explosive material, and passengers are reminded that they may not carry
with them or in their baggage things such as cylinders of compressed gas for picnic or
camping stoves, cylinders of compressed air for use with aqua-lungs and underwater
equipment, containers of lighter fuel and explosives, including blank cartridges. Matches
and cigarettes are not allowed in the checked baggage but they may be carried for use on
board.
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On international journeys (including domestic sectors forming part of an

international journey) the free allowance for each adult or child paying the adult fare is
Tourist or Economy Class 20 kg (44lb), First class 40 kg (88lb). There is no free
allowance for an infant carried at 10% of the adult fare, but infant’s food for
consumption en route and an infant’s carrying basket are carried free of charge.
The use of cameras in aircraft is subject to restriction over some countries and
passengers wishing to take photographs from the air are asked to consult the stewardess
before doing so. Passengers may use hearing aids, heart pacemakers, portable dictating
machines or tape recorders provided these are not used for playing music through a loud
speaker. The use of all other forms of portable electronic equipment, including radio sets
and mobile phones, is not allowed, because of possible interference with the aircraft’s
navigational aids.
After dealing with the
baggage the agent will return to
the passenger the ticket and
passport he previously examined.
Then he will issue the boarding
pass which shows the passenger’s
name, flight number, seat and
gate number, and boarding time.
Equipped with his boarding pass, passport, visas and whatever other official
documents he requires, the passenger may then go through the security check carrying
his own hand baggage. Porters and passenger’s relatives and friends who come to see
him off are not allowed to assist him through controls.
It is the passenger’s responsibility to ensure that the documents necessary for travel
are in order, and carriers do not accept any liability for loss occurring because of an
irregularity in a document. Certain countries require valid certificates of inoculation
and/or vaccination and passengers should enquire well in advance whether any such
certificates are needed for their journey. It may be too late to deal with these matters at
the airport just before departure.
Once through the controls the passenger will find himself in the pre-departure
assembly lounge. Here he may sit quietly and attentively awaiting the announcement of
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the departure of his flight, or he may join the throngs at the duty free shops. If he buys
anything at the duty free shops he will probably be allowed to pay in any reputable
currency but may be required to show his passport and boarding pass to prove he is a true
traveler. The articles purchased will be specially wrapped and sealed and must not be
opened until the passenger is airborne.

Notes
1. …an irregularity in the ticket of say one member of a family traveling together may
call for changes…
2. … on a first-come and first-served basis
3. Baggage should contain personal effects only but commercial samples may be carried
provided customs regulations are complied with.
4. The use of cameras in aircraft is subject to restriction over some countries.
5. …because of possible interference with the aircraft’s navigational aids
6. …carriers do not accept any liability for loss occurring because of an irregularity in a
document.
7. … the pre-departure assembly lounge
8. to pay in any reputable currency
Questions for Discussion:
1. What is check in?
2. How many steps are involved in the check-in?
3 What type of articles should not be packed into the baggage going into the aircraft
hold?
4. While in the departure lounge ready for boarding, what else may a passenger do?

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