Travelling by Air

Read the text and say if there are any inconveniences when traveling by plane.

The rules for passengers who are going abroad are similar in most countries but there may be a slight difference in formalities.

If you are supposed to begin with going through customs, you’d better fill in the customs declaration before you talk to the customer officer. He may ask any passenger routine questions, for instance “Do you have anything to declare? ” or “Any spirits, tobacco, presents? ” The usual answers would be, “Yes, I’ve got some valuables, but I’ve put them all down in the declaration”, or “I have two blocks of cigarettes for my own use” or something of that kind.

Then you go to the check-in counter where your ticket is looked at, your things are weighed and labelled, a claim-check for each piece of luggage is inserted in the ticket and you are given a boarding pass which has a sit number on it. The next formality is filling in the immigration form and going through passport control. The form is to be filled in block letters. In most countries there is also a security check when your carry-on luggage is inspected. This is an anti-hijacking measure.

After fulfilling the formalities you go to the departure lounge where you can have a snack, read a paper, buy something in the duty-free shop and wait for the announcement to board the plane.

Some of the formalities repeat when you arrive at your destination. The customs declaration and the immigration form are often filled in on plane board. At the airport you may be met by a specially trained dog that will make sure that you are not carrying drugs, and the immigration officer might want to know at whose invitation you are coming and whether you have a return ticket.

There is another inconvenience you have to be prepared for when travelling long distances by plane. It’s the jet-lag, a difference between the time you are accustomed to and the new time.

Say if the statements are true or false:

1. The rules for passengers who are going abroad are similar in most countries but there may be a slight difference in formalities.

2. If you are supposed to begin with going through customs, you’d better fill in the customs declaration after you talk to the customer officer.

3. At the check-in counter your ticket is looked at.

4. A boarding pass has a flight number on it.

5. The immigration form is to be filled in block letters.

6. After fulfilling the formalities you go to the duty-free shop where you wait for the announcement to board the plane.

7. The jet-lag is a difference between the climates you are accustomed to the new climate.

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