Making flight arrangements for business or pleasure

This ESL lesson plan is designed to equip learners with essential vocabulary and phrases to confidently make flight arrangements, whether for business or pleasure.

Tailored for beginner to intermediate English learners, the lesson focuses on practical, travel-related language that is easy to understand and apply.

Through engaging activities like role-plays, vocabulary games, and real-world simulations, students will build fluency in booking flights (e.g., online, by phone, or through an agent), specifying dates and preferences, comparing options, and using polite expressions when speaking with airline staff or travel agents.

By incorporating example conversations and cultural tips, this lesson creates a dynamic and relatable learning experience, preparing students to arrange flights with confidence and clarity.

Basic vocabulary

Introduce keywords related to making flight arrangements. These should be simple, practical, and commonly used in travel contexts.

Vocabulary list

• Flight: The airplane trip (e.g., “I need a flight to Tokyo”).
• Book/reserve: To arrange and pay for a ticket (e.g., “I want to book a flight”).
• Round-trip: Flight to a place and back (e.g., “A round-trip ticket, please”).
• One-way: Flight only to a destination (e.g., “I need a one-way ticket”).
• Direct flight: Flight with no stops (e.g., “Is there a direct flight?”).
• Connecting flight: Flight with one or more stops (e.g., “I have a connecting flight in Dubai”).
• Departure: When the plane leaves (e.g., “Departure is at 8 AM”).
• Arrival: When the plane lands (e.g., “Arrival time is 6 PM”).
• Date: The day of travel (e.g., “What date are you flying?”).
• Airline: The company that operates the flight (e.g., “Which airline?”).
• Fare/price: The cost of the ticket (e.g., “How much is the fare?”).
• Travel agent: Person who helps book travel (e.g., “I spoke to a travel agent”).

Vocabulary for extension

• Economy class: Standard seats (e.g., “I’m flying economy”).
• Business class: More comfortable seats (e.g., “Business class is expensive”).
• First class: The most luxurious seats (e.g., “First class has better service”).
• Layover: Time spent waiting between connecting flights (e.g., “I have a three-hour layover”).
• Flexible dates: Able to change travel days (e.g., “I have flexible dates”).
• Non-stop: Same as direct flight (e.g., “I prefer non-stop”).
• Return flight: The flight back home (e.g., “When is your return flight?”).
• Outbound: The flight going to the destination (e.g., “Outbound is on Monday”).
• Inbound: The flight coming back (e.g., “Inbound is on Friday”).
• Discount: Lower price (e.g., “Is there a discount?”).

Teaching tips

• Use descriptions or drawings of airplane tickets, calendars, and airline websites to make vocabulary relatable.
• Practice pronunciation, especially for words like “departure” (/dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/) or “connecting” (/kəˈnektɪŋ/).
• Create a matching game: Pair words (e.g., “round-trip”) with definitions.

Useful phrases

Teach simple, polite phrases for arranging flights. These should be easy to memorize and adaptable.

Key phrases

Stating purpose and details

• “I’d like to book a flight to [destination].”
• “I need a round-trip/one-way ticket.”
• “I’m traveling on [date] and returning on [date].”
• “For business/for pleasure.”

Asking about options

• “Is there a direct flight?”
• “What time does the flight depart/arrive?”
• “Are there any cheaper flights?”
• “Can I see flights on different dates?”

Specifying preferences

• “I prefer morning/evening flights.”
• “I want economy/business class.”
• “I need a window/aisle seat.”

Polite expressions

• “Could you help me book a flight, please?”
• “Thank you for your help.”
• “Could you repeat that, please?”

Teaching tips

• Write phrases on a whiteboard or handout and have learners repeat them to build fluency.
• Practice variations by substituting key words (e.g., “round-trip” → “one-way”).
• Emphasize polite language, as it’s important when dealing with airline staff or agents.

Example conversations

Use short, realistic dialogues to model how to arrange flights. These examples show how to state needs, ask about options, compare prices, and confirm bookings politely.

Conversation 1: Booking online (phone call to airline)

Passenger: Hello, I’d like to book a flight to London.
Agent: Certainly. When are you traveling?
Passenger: Departing on June 15 and returning on June 22.
Agent: Round-trip, economy class?
Passenger: Yes, please. Are there any direct flights?
Agent: There’s a direct flight departing at 10 AM, arriving at 1 PM. The price is $850.
Passenger: That sounds good. Can I book that?
Agent: Yes. I’ll need your full name and payment details.
Passenger: Thank you very much.

Conversation 2: Asking about cheaper options

Passenger: Hi, I need a flight to Sydney next month.
Agent: One-way or round-trip?
Passenger: Round-trip. I’m flexible with dates.
Agent: The cheapest option is $1,200 with one connection. There’s a direct flight for $1,600.
Passenger: What dates are the cheaper flights?
Agent: Departing July 10, returning July 24.
Passenger: Okay, I’ll take the cheaper one.
Agent: Great. Booking confirmed.
Passenger: Thanks for your help!

Conversation 3: Business travel arrangement

Passenger: Good morning. I’m booking a business trip to Berlin.
Agent: When do you need to travel?
Passenger: Outbound on Monday, return on Friday. Business class, please.
Agent: There’s a morning direct flight on Monday and an evening return on Friday. Total $2,500.
Passenger: Perfect. My company will pay. Can you email the itinerary?
Agent: Of course. What’s your email?
Passenger: It’s john.smith@example.com.
Agent: Done. Have a good trip!
Passenger: Thank you.

Teaching Tip

• Role-play these conversations, with you as the agent and the learner as the passenger, then switch roles.
• Encourage learners to personalize dialogues (e.g., use their own destination or dates).
• In a group, pair students to practice, asking them to add one new question or detail to the conversation.

Teaching strategy

Here’s a step-by-step plan for a 45-minute lesson.

Step 1: Warm-up (5 minutes)

Ask: “How do you usually book flights?” or “Do you prefer direct or cheaper flights?” to engage learners.
Describe a typical airline booking website or phone call to set the context.

Step 2: Vocabulary introduction (10 minutes)

Present the vocabulary list using descriptions or drawings.
Practice pronunciation and have learners repeat words like “round-trip,” “direct,” and “layover.”
Play a quick game: Say a definition (e.g., “Flight with no stops”), and learners say the word (“direct flight”).

Step 3: Phrase practice (10 minutes)

Display key phrases and model their use (e.g., “I’d like to book a flight to Paris.”).
Have learners practice by inserting their own details (e.g., “Departing on Friday”).
Correct pronunciation and stress polite tone (e.g., “Could you help me, please?”).

Step 4: Conversation practice (15 minutes)

Read one example conversation aloud as a model.
Role-play with learners, alternating between passenger and agent roles.
Encourage learners to create their own dialogue based on a specific scenario (e.g., business trip or flexible dates).

Step 5: Wrap-up and review (5 minutes)

Ask each learner to say one sentence about booking a flight (e.g., “I need a round-trip ticket.”).
Provide feedback on pronunciation, grammar, or politeness.
Assign homework: Write a short dialogue about booking a flight or practice saying phrases.

Additional tips

• Cultural sensitivity: Teach learners to provide clear dates and be patient, as booking systems can be detailed.
• Visual aids: Describe flight search screens, calendars, or ticket confirmations to make scenarios real.
• Listening practice: Play audio clips of flight booking calls or describe short scenarios of passengers arranging travel.
• Adapt for level: For beginners, focus on simple phrases like “I want a flight to Rome.” For intermediate learners, add details like “I’m flexible with dates.”
• Real-world practice: Simulate a booking call in class, with one student as the agent and props like a calendar.

Common mistakes to address

• Grammar: Learners might say “I want book” instead of “I’d like to book.” Teach polite forms with “would like.”
• Pronunciation: Words like “departure” or “itinerary” (/aɪˈtɪnəreri/) can be tricky. Practice these explicitly.
• Politeness: Learners may forget “please” or “thank you.” Model and reinforce these.
• Word choice: Clarify “round-trip” (to and from) vs. “one-way” (only going).

Example activity: “Flight booking role-play”

For a group or solo learner.

• Set up a mock travel agency desk in class (use a table and props like a calendar or fake ticket).
• Give learners cards with scenarios (e.g., “Book a business trip to New York,” “Find the cheapest round-trip to Bangkok”).
• Have them call or approach the “agent” (you or another learner) and book the flight using the phrases learned.
• Encourage follow-up questions like “Is it direct?” or “When does it arrive?”

Homework or follow-up

• Writing: Write 3-5 sentences about booking a flight for business or vacation.
• Speaking: Record a short audio or video of yourself booking a flight by phone.
• Research: Think about how you would book a real flight online or recall the steps for arranging travel.