When booking a flight, what questions do you need to ask?

Modern business often involves international travel. When booking a flight, what questions do you need to ask?
现代商务经常涉及到国际旅行，当预订航班的时候你需要询问什么样的问题Imagine you are booking a flight and a hotel over the phone. What words and expressions do you use?
假设你正在通过电话预订航班和酒店，你会怎样表达呢？
Telephone: Flights
 
Useful Phrases
I’d like to enquire¹（询问，打听）about flights Could you tell me about the flight availability（可用性）? Do you want to go economy², business or first class? How many of you will be travelling? Does that include airport tax? No, tax is another $70 on top of that Can I book that, then? I’d like to book a hotel roomCould you check if the hotel has any rooms free? Is there a discount rate?Do you mind if I book it provisionally? I’ll call you back later to confirm³
Transcript⁴
Dolores: Hello! Dolores speaking…
Tim: Ah yes, hello. I’d like to enquire about flights to Hong Kong from
Kennedy Airport in New York, please. I’m off to a conference⁵ at the end of
the month - Thursday 22nd until Tuesday 27th. Could you tell me about the
flight availability and prices?
Dolores: Certainly. Do you want to go economy, business or first class?
Tim: Well, I’d like to go first class, but unfortunately I’ll have to go economy -
company rules, you see.
Dolores: Yes, sure, I understand. How many of you will be travelling?
Tim: Ah, it’s just me.
 
. Dolores: Okay, so that’s one seat … economy … New York - Kennedy to Hong
Kong Airport.
Tim: And how much will that be?
Dolores Let me see … to qualify⁶ for the discount rate, you need to stay over a
Saturday, which you are doing … Yes, that’ll be $830.
Tim: Right, and does that include airport tax?
 Dolores: No, tax is another $70 on top of that.
 Tim: Okay. Can I book that, then?
Dolores: Certainly.
Dolores: Can I help you with anything else?
 Tim: Yes, I’d like to book a hotel room too, for the full five nights. Could you
check if the Regency Hotel has any rooms free?
 Dolores: Yes, they do.
Tim: And is there a discount rate for conference delegates（代表）?
 Dolores: Yes, there is. I think it’s 10% but I can check that for you.
Tim: Okay, do you mind if I book it provisionally（暂时的。临时的） for now and I’ll call you back later to confirm? I just need to check one or two details.
Dolores: That’s fine, sir. Can I help you with anything else?
Tim: No, that’s all for now. As I said, I’ll call you back.
(本文由在线英语听力室编辑整理)

1 enquire   

v.打听，询问；调查，查问

参考例句：

• She wrote to enquire the cause of the delay.她只得写信去询问拖延的理由。
• We will enquire into the matter.我们将调查这事。

2 economy   

n.经济；节俭；秩序；机体

参考例句：

• We must do our best to develop the national economy.我们必须努力发展国民经济。
• The country's economy is not very healthy.国家的经济不很景气。

3 confirm   

vt.证实；确认；v.确认

参考例句：

• I'll call you back to confirm.我会给你回电话确认的。
• I need to confirm my reservation on the next flight.我要确认我预订的下一个航班。

4 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

5 conference   

n.（正式的）会议；讨论

参考例句：

• We're having a conference and we'd like you to sit in.我们将举行一次会议，希望你来旁听。
• The conference will come to a close this afternoon.今天下午会议闭幕。

6 qualify   

vt.取得资格，有资格，限定，描述；vi.取得资格，有资格

参考例句：

• I won't qualify until next year.我明年才具备资格。
• You must qualify yourself for the post.你必须使自己具备担任这一工作的资格。