Navigating Airport Mishaps (Listening Practice) (Intermediate)
Navigating Airport Mishaps
Listen to the following tips about what to do if you miss your flight or if it is cancelled, then answer the questions below
I. Vocabulary:
1. Run into (Phrasal Verb):
To experience or encounter a problem unexpectedly.
2. Miss the boat (Idiom):
To miss an opportunity or deadline (here: missing a flight/train).
3. Get on top of (things) (Idiom):
To take control of a situation quickly and efficiently.
4. Turn out (Phrasal Verb):
To prove to be; to have a particular result.
5. Book (someone) onto (Phrasal Verb):
To reserve a seat or place for someone on a transport line.
6. Get caught up in (Phrasal Verb):
To be delayed or involved in something beyond your control.
7. Fit (someone) in (Phrasal Verb):
To find time or space for someone in a schedule or list.
8. Keep an eye out for (Idiom):
To watch carefully for someone or something to appear.
9. End up (Phrasal Verb):
To reach or arrive at a final place or situation.
10. Pick up (Phrasal Verb):
To collect or retrieve something (e.g., luggage).
11. Foot the bill (Idiom):
To pay for costs or expenses.
12. Weather the storm (Idiom):
To handle and survive a difficult situation successfully.
13. Flat-tire rule (Industry Term / Policy)
An informal airline practice where late passengers are placed on standby for the next flight without paying for a new ticket.
I. Match the phrase on the left with its correct meaning on the right.
1. Foot the bill _____ A. To pay for expenses
2. Get caught up in _____ B. To watch carefully for something
3. Keep an eye out for _____ C. To encounter a problem
4. Weather the storm _____ D. To be delayed by something
5. Run into _____ E. To get through a tough situation
II. Select the correct option or write a short answer based on the recording.
1. What two things should you do simultaneously if your flight is cancelled?
A) Go home and wait for an email.
B) Stand in line at customer service and call the airline number.
C) Buy a new ticket online immediately.
2. What is the "flat-tire rule"?
A) A rule that gives you free taxi rides to the airport.
B) An informal policy where airlines may put you on standby if you miss a flight due to an emergency.
C) A legal guarantee for full cash refunds.
3. True or False: If a cancellation is the airline's fault and you must stay overnight, you must pay for your own hotel.
4. According to the speaker, where should you go immediately if you miss your flight?
__________________________________________________________________________ 5. Why should you ask the agent about your checked luggage right away?
__________________________________________________________________________
III. Fill in the missing words using the correct verb form from your vocabulary list.
1. If traffic is bad, you might get __________ __________ in gridlock and arrive late. 2. Don't panic! We just need to __________ __________ __________ things before the counter closes.
3. If you lose your baggage receipt, you might __________ __________ waiting at the carousel for hours.
4. Luckily, the airline agreed to __________ the __________ for our hotel night.
5. They tried their best to __________ us __________ on the 6:00 PM flight to Vancouver.
Speaking Activity: "Airport Dilemmas"
Instructions:
1. Think about a time you experienced a travel delay/cancellation, OR imagine you arrived at the airport 20 minutes after your flight left.
2. Pair Discussion: Take turns answering these prompts with a partner:
Option A: "Have you ever missed a flight, bus, or train? What happened, and how did you resolve it?"
Option B: "If you were stranded at an airport overnight with no hotel voucher, what would you do first?"
3. Share your partner's best travel tip or story with the class, using at least one phrasal verb or idiom from today's list (e.g., "My partner got caught up in security, but he managed to weather the storm...").
Comments