Travel in Chinese Lesson 62 Plane Tickets

（在酒店前台）

黄：你好，/前台：你好！

黄：我想订三张26日回北京的火车票。

前台：先生，现在到北京的火车票太紧张了，我只能给您订一下试试，能不能订到很难说。

黄：到26号还有好几天呢，票应该没问题吧？

前台：很难说，我给您打个电话问一下吧，请稍等。

（打电话）：恩，好的，好的，谢谢。

（对人豪）对不起，先生，您要的26号的票没有了，已经卖完了。26号以后的还有票。

黄：哎哟，那怎么办呢？28号我有一个非常重要的会议，必须赶回去。再晚的话就赶不上了。

前台：那样的话，您就只能坐飞机了。

黄： 飞机票好买吗？

前台：飞机票绝对没有问题，我们这里无论春夏秋冬，飞机票都很充裕。

黄：看来也只能这样了，那你们这里可以订飞机票吗？

前台：可以。是三张飞机票吗？

黄：对。

前台：好的，请您填一下预定单（递给他单子），还有，在这儿要写清楚你们三个人的证件号码。

黄： 证件号码？对不起，我记得不太清楚，我给我太太打个电话，请等一下。

（打电话）恩，对，只能坐飞机回去了。你下来一下，顺便把我们三个人的证件号码告诉我。

（前台）

黄：雪梅，在这儿呢。

雪梅：（给人豪一张纸），这是证件号码。（对前台）麻烦问一下，都有几点的飞机？

前台：到北京的航班很多，你们要订几点的？

雪梅：（看人豪）下午的吧？（对前台）下午都有几点的？

前台：我看看，（查航班表）下午有3点15的和4点半的。

黄：到北京要多长时间？

前台：一个多小时。

黄：那就要3点15分的吧。

雪梅：现在到北京的有没有打折的飞机票?

前台：优惠活动已经结束了，只有学生票打折，凭学生证可以六折。

女：（对人豪）那小杰的票可以买学生票。

黄：（对前台）三张票中有一张要学生票。来，给您（把表递给前台）

前台：好的，票来了以后我们会立刻给你们送去的。

黄：谢谢，再见！
 

（at the hotel frontdesk ）

Huang: Hello!

Frontdesk : Hello！

Huang: I’d like to book three train tickets back to Beijing on the 26th.

Frontdesk : Sir, train tickets to Beijing now are in short supply, I can only try, it’s hard to say whether we can get any tickets.

Huang: It’s still quite a few days till the 26th, shouldn’t be a problem getting the tickets？

Frontdesk : It’s hard to say, I’ll make a phone call, please wait.

（makes phone call）: Hmm, OK, OK, thank you.

（to Renhao）Sorry, sir, tickets for the 26th that you wanted are sold out, but there are tickets for after the 26th.

Huang: Oh no, what can we do？I have a very important meeting on the 28th and I must go back, any later and I won’t be able to make it.

Frontdesk : Then you’ll have to go by plane.

Huang: Are plane tickets easy to get？

Frontdesk: there wouldn’t be a problem getting plane tickets at all, no matter what season it is, there are plenty of plane tickets.

Huang: Looks like that’s the only option, can you reserve plane tickets？

Frontdesk : Sure. Is that three plane tickets？

Huang: Yes.

Frontdesk : OK, please fill out the reservation form（hands over form）, another thing, write your ID numbers here for the three of you.

Huang: ID numbers？Sorry, I don ’t remember them off by heart, I’ll call my wife, just hold on a minute.

(makes phone call)Yes, we have to go back by plane. Why don’t you come down, and tell me our ID numbers.

（Frontdesk ）

Huang: Xuemei, over here.

Xuemei: （gives Renhao a sheet of paper）, these are the ID numbers.

（to front desk ）excuse me, what time are the flights？

Frontdesk : There are many flights to Beijing, what time would you like？

Xuemei: （looks at Renhao）in the afternoon？（to front desk ）Which ones are there in the afternoon？

Frontdesk : Let me see, （checks flight schedules）in the afternoon there’s the 3:15 and 4:30.

Huang: How long does it take to get to Beijing？

Frontdesk : Over an hour.

Huang: Then we’ll take the 3:15.

Xuemei: Are there any discounts on airfares to Beijing?

Frontdesk: The promotion is finished, there’s only student discounts, you get a 40% discount with a student ID.

Xuemei: （to Renhao）well then Xiaojie could get the student fare.

Huang: （to front desk ）One of the three tickets is a student fare.

Here.（hands over form to the front desk ）

Front desk : OK, as soon as the tickets arrive we’ll send them to you.

Huang: Thank you, goodbye！
 

Bookmarks

1)必须 must, have to

例）看演出的时候必须保持安静。

You must remain silent while watching a performance.

例）你不必说了，我都知道了。

You don’t have to say it. I know all about it.

2）凭 base on

例）游客必须凭票入场。

Tourists must show their tickets to be admitted.

例)必须凭学生证才能买到打折票。

You must show your student ID to buy a discount ticket.

3）立刻 immediately, right away

例）别急，我立刻把钱给你送过去。

Don’t be anxious. I’ll send the money to you right away.

例）我一拿到票就立刻给你送过去。

As soon as I get the tickets, I’ll send them over to you right away.

Sign Posts

CAAC

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is a the government department that manages air transportation in China. Air China is the national carrier, serving domestic as well as international routes and having one of the best safety records in the world. There are a number of domestic regional airlines, but in recent years there has been a movement to merge smaller airlines into more efficient and competitive regional groups. So, for most major domestic routes there will be a choice of different airlines. Prices, however, are regulated by the government and usually do not vary from airline to airline on domestic routes. That being said, it is often possible to obtain discount fares, with certain restrictions, on domestic flights in China. Interestingly, you often cannot get a discount fare by booking far in advance, as the discount tickets are not available until closer to the departure date. A travel agent can help you negotiate through the different choices available.

At last count, domestic airlines served 135 cities in China. And the days of old Soviet-style turboprop airlines is almost completely gone. Many domestic airlines fly the latest models from Boeing and Airbus. And you will find airports in most major cities to be very modern. Sometimes it seems that most airports have been built or rebuilt in the last 10 or 15 years.

To reserve a ticket, there are many of ticket offices all around the city, all linked by computer network. You can even book tickets by phone or on the Internet. Nowadays, airport fees are normally included in the ticket price, so you no longer have to pay a separate fee at the airport. When you buy tickets, you also have the option of buying accident insurance, usually with a premium of 20 RMB. 

Substitution and Extension

1) 看来 it seems

例）看来你是故意不告诉我的。

It seems that you’re deliberately not telling me.

例）看来雨是不会停了，我们只能推迟出发时间了。

It seems that the rain will not stop. We just have to delay our departure time.