Unit 1 
At the Airport



Learning Objectives

 

 Introduce yourself to a new customer. 

 Etiquette of exchanging business cards. 

 Talk about flight/trip.

 Airport farewell and wishes to the customer. 

 Master expressions of welcoming guests.



2

 Warm-up Activities

Task 1

 Brainstorming: 

Look at the following pictures and express them in English.

 

 

Task 2

 Discussion: 

If you are at the airport to meet foreign guests, how do you check the flight information of your 
guests? 

Task 3

 Presentation: 

Choose one topic from below and present it to the class. 

(1) What should be prepared in advance if we welcome guests at the airport? 

(2) What etiquette should we bear in mind if we welcome guests at the airport? 



3

 Vocabulary

import ['.mp..t] n.进口

export ['eksp.:t] n.出口

pleasure ['ple..(r)] n.愉快，满足

airline ['e.la.n] n.航空公司

straight [stre.t] adv.直接地

crew [kru.] n.全体乘务人员

customs ['k.st.mz] n.海关 

business card ['b.zn.s kɑ.d] 名片

sales manager ['se.lz 'm.n.d..(r)] 销售经理

information desk [9.nf.'me..n desk] 问询处

emergent [i'm..d..nt] adj.紧急的 

fruitful ['fru.tfl] adj.富有成效的 

expansion [.k'sp.n.n] n.扩张，扩展 

frequently ['fri.kw.ntli] adj.频繁地，经常地 

Model Dialogues

 Dialogue 1 

(Lu Fei, a sales manager of Guangzhou Foreign Trade Import & Export Company, is 
welcoming his new customer John Smith from America.)

Lu: Excuse me, are you Mr. Smith from America? 

John: Yes, I am. 

Lu: It’s a great pleasure to meet you[1], Mr. Smith. I’m Lu Fei, a sales manager of Guangzhou 
Foreign Trade Import & Export Company. This is my business card. 

John: This is mine. How do you do, Mr. Lu? (Shaking hands)

Lu: How do you do, Mr. Smith? (Shaking hands)

John: It’s very kind of you to come and meet me at the airport. 



Lu: My pleasure. How was your flight? [2] 

John: Oh, it was long but quite comfortable. The airline I was flying provided excellent 
service. The crew were nice. 

Lu: Did you have any trouble clearing customs? 

John: No, it was quick and efficient. 

Lu: Welcome to Guangzhou, Mr. Smith. 

John: Thank you. I have heard a lot about Guangzhou before.[3] It’s modern and beautiful. 

Lu: I hope you can enjoy your stay here. You must be tired after the long flight. Can I take 
you straight to the hotel and take some rest? 

John: Sure. I feel a bit tired. I think it’s the jet lag[4]. 

Lu: Let me help you with your luggage, Mr. Smith. 

John: Thank you. I can manage it.[5] 

Notes:

[1] It’s a great pleasure to meet you. 很高兴能见到你。

 本句还可以表达为Nice to meet you. /Glad to meet you. /It’s good to meet you. 在日常接
待中，常常会用到单词pleasure,要注意不同短语的区别。如：

 —Thanks for your help.（感谢你的帮助。）

 —My pleasure.（不客气。）

 此外，面对别人致谢时，还可以用With pleasure. /Don’t mention it. /You are welcome. /Not 
at all. /Any time.如：

 —Could you pass me the salt, please?（请把盐递给我，好吗？）

 —With pleasure.（很乐意。）

[2] How was your flight?（你的飞行旅途如何？）询问客人旅途情况时可以使用。

[3] I have heard a lot about Guangzhou before. 我久闻广州这座城市的大名了。

[4] jet lag时差反应

[5] I can manage it. 我能搞定。



 More to Learn for Dialogue 1 

1. Asking about the trip

(1) How was the trip/flight/journey? 

(2) Did you have a pleasant journey? 

(3) Did everything go all right during the trip? 

2. Talking about the trip

(1) I was held up for a few hours at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport because of a small 
accident. 

(2) It was very comfortable, except for a little bit of turbulence. 

(3) It was great. The airline I was flying provided excellent service. 

(4) Long, but quite comfortable. ABC Airline treats its passengers well. 

 Dialogue 2 

(David, a sales assistant of Xinhua Foreign Trade Import & Export Company, is seeing 
off a client named Johnson on behalf of his superior, Mr. Gao.)

David: Mr. Johnson, we are so sorry that we haven’t done too much to show you around 
these days. I’m here to see you off on behalf of my manager[1], Mr. Gao. He was eager to come 
but was tied up by[2] some emergent issues this morning. 

Johnson: Thank you so much, David. It’s very kind of you to see me off. (Shaking hands) 
Please say thanks for me to Mr. Gao, too. 

David: I will. I hope you can stay longer next time. 

Johnson: Sure. I’ve had a wonderful time here. I’m glad to return to Mexico with good 
memories and fruitful business outcomes. 

David: I feel the same way. By the way, your visit helps to promote the friendship and 
understanding between us. 

Johnson: I’m glad you think so. I believe, with the expansion of business, we’ll contact 
more frequently in the future. I hope you’ll visit us someday in Mexico.

David: That would be wonderful. Thank you! 



Johnson: I guess it’s time for me to say goodbye. 

David: Have a safe journey back.[3] Goodbye.

Johnson: Thanks! 

Notes:

[1] on behalf of sb 代表某人

[2] be tied up by sth 受到……的阻碍

[3] Have a safe journey back. 一路平安。

 More to Learn for Dialogue 2 

1. Seeing Off Customers

(1) Time flies! 

(2) How I wish you could stay here a little bit longer! 

(3) It’s a pity that you have to leave so soon. 

(4) It’s been a great pleasure to have you with us. 

(5) I guess it’s time for us to say goodbye. 

(6) Please remember me to your CEO.

(7) We hope you’ll visit us again. 

2. Wishes to Customers

(1) Have a good trip! 

(2) Goodbye, take care! 

(3) Wish you a safe landing!

(4) Have a safe flight! 



Practice

Practice One: Matching

 Match the sentences in the left column with the correct responses in the right 
column. Each sentence has only one response. 

A. I had a long flight but I’m doing well. It 
is very kind of you to meet me at the airport, 
Mr. Wilson. 

B. May I help you with your luggage? 

C. You must be tired after such a long flight. 
Can I take you straight to your hotel? 

D. How long did the flight take? 

E. Is this your first trip to Guangzhou?

F. Are there any sights you’d like to see 
while you are in Beijing? 

G. How about having an informal dinner 
with us tonight? 

H. Did you have any trouble clearing customs? 

1. That would be best. I really need to 
take some rest. 

2. Yes. I’d like to see some historic spots 
such as the Summer Palace and the 
Temple of Heaven. 

3. I appreciate that, but I’d rather spend a 
quiet evening in the hotel getting ready 
for tomorrow’s meeting. 

4. No. They were fast and efficient. 

5. It’s my pleasure. Let’s get you to your 
hotel so you can get some rest. 

6. More than twelve hours, including the 
transfer time. 

7. Yes. I’ve visited China several times, 
but it’s my first visit to Guangzhou. 

8. No, thanks. I can manage it. 





A. B. C. D. 

E. F. G. H. 

Practice Two: Blank Filling

Fill each blank in English based on the Chinese meaning. 

(1) David: Did you have a good trip? 



 Johnson: Yes, .

 （除了有点气流，飞行还是挺舒服的。）

(2) Let me . 

 （让我来帮您拿行李吧。）

(3) He is and sends . 

 （他非常想见您，要我先代他向您问好。）

(4) Have you been ?

 （有没有人把您介绍给我们的新总裁？）

(5) We’re sorry that . 

 （很抱歉，您在中国时我们对您帮助很不够。）

(6) I must . 

 （我必须要向您和在场的诸位告别了。）

Situation Practice: Creative Tasks

(1) You are Hu Jie, a sales manager of Zhejiang ABC Import & Export Corporation, is 
welcoming Susan White from Mexico at the airport. It is the first time for you to meet each other. 
Make a dialogue and you should:

. hold a pick-up sign and exchange business cards;

. ask about the trip; 

. assist with the luggage. 

(2) You are Chen Fang, the general manager of BNT Trading Company, is seeing off 
Sally Jones, the general manager of a New York company. During Sally’s visit in China, 
you took her to some famous tourist attractions in Guangzhou. Make a dialogue and you 
should:

. give a positive comment on Sally’s visit; 

. express the desire to cooperate further;

. say wishes to Sally’s trip/flight.

(3) Suppose you are at the airport to welcome an important client, ask about the client’s 
opinion and confirm details of his schedule. Remember to include meeting arrangements, tourist 
attractions, food preference and other possible arrangements. 



Knowledge Zone

Top Nine Tips on Business Card Etiquette

Here are nine basic rules to follow for the exchange of business cards.

(1) Take plenty of cards with you. There is nothing more unprofessional than a business 
person to say “Oh, I’m sorry. I just gave out my last card.” or “ I’m sorry. I didn’t bring any with 
me.”

(2) Keep your cards in a business card case or in something that protects them from wear 
and tear. A crumpled business card makes a poor first impression.

(3) Know where your business cards are at all times. The person who has to go through 
every jacket and pants pocket or every nook and cranny of a briefcase to find his business cards 
loses credibility immediately.

(4) Hand them out with discretion. 

(5) Give and receive cards with your right hand—the hand of discretion. This can make a 
big difference when doing business internationally.

(6) Give the card with the client’s familiar language side up so the person who is receiving 
it can read it without having to turn it around.

(7) Always make a comment about a card when you receive it. Note the logo, the business 
name or some other piece of information. 

(8) Keep your business cards up to date. When any of your contact information changes; 
run, don’t walk, to your nearest printer for new cards. 

(9) Don’t write notes to yourself on someone else’s business card during the exchange 
unless they appear relevant. 

Guidance on Tails of Airline Companies

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