AIRMEN’S JOURNAL
PILOT’S TALK
← Level A lessonsNORTHEAST STORM · LEVEL A · UNIT 4

Changing Your Ticket

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Practice note: Grammar examples and role-play details may be hypothetical. Questions explicitly about the article use the reported facts. This is a historical report, not current travel advice.

Words from the text: extra fee, extra money, pay extra, let, change a flight, storm, flight, cancelation, delay, airport, passenger, weather, waiver

A We use can to talk about permission. It shows that a rule allows something. The form is the same for every person: I can, you can, he/she/it can, we can, they can.

Passengers can change a flight after a cancelation.

You can ask the agent for a new flight.

Passengers with a waiver can fly on a different day.

Can здесь показывает разрешение — что-то официально позволено правилами авиакомпании.

B We use can to say what a rule allows. Without paying a change fee tells us which fee is removed; it does not always mean that every extra cost is removed.

Eligible passengers can change a flight without paying a change fee.

A different fare may cost more. Check the airline's conditions.

Can't pay means unable or not allowed to pay. It does not mean no payment is needed.

Can — разрешение/возможность. «Не нужно платить» — don't have to pay, а не can't pay. Waiver может отменять сбор за изменение, но не любую возможную доплату.

C We use Can I...? to ask for permission politely. Short answers: Yes, you can. / No, you can't.

Can I change my flight? Yes, you can.

Can I fly tomorrow instead? Yes, you can.

Can I use the waiver for this flight? No, you can't.

Can I...? — вежливый вопрос о разрешении. Краткие ответы: Yes, you can. / No, you can't.

Exercises

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4.1 Complete these practice situations with can/can't and the verb in brackets. Use can unless the bracket says not.

Example: Eligible passengers ______ (change) their flight. → can change

  1. Eligible Cape Air passengers (fly) on a new date through October 2.
  2. Under this waiver, you (change) your flight without a change fee.
  3. Eligible passengers (avoid) a change fee under the waiver's conditions.
  4. Agents (help) you change your flight.
  5. This waiver covers September 25–27. You (not/use) it for a ticket dated October 10.
  6. In this practice situation, the airport is closed. Aircraft (not/depart) now.
  7. In this practice situation, all earlier flights are full. The passenger (not/avoid) the delay.
Answers

For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.

  1. can fly
  2. can change
  3. can avoid
  4. can help
  5. can't use
  6. can't depart
  7. can't avoid

4.2 Complete the passenger's questions with Can I...?. Use the verb in brackets.

Example: Passenger: ______ (change) my flight today? Agent: Yes, you can. → Can I change my flight today?

  1. Passenger: (fly) tomorrow instead? Agent: Yes, you can.
  2. Passenger: (get) a new flight for Sunday? Agent: No, sorry. Sunday is full.
  3. Passenger: (change) my flight without a change fee? Agent: Yes, you have a waiver.
  4. Passenger: (pay) extra money for a better seat? Agent: Yes, you can.
  5. Passenger: (use) the waiver for a flight from New York? Agent: Yes, you can.
Answers

For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.

  1. Can I fly tomorrow instead?
  2. Can I get a new flight for Sunday?
  3. Can I change my flight without a change fee?
  4. Can I pay extra money for a better seat?
  5. Can I use the waiver for a flight from New York?

4.3 Rewrite each sentence with can.

Example: The waiver lets passengers change a flight. → Passengers can change a flight.

  1. The airline lets Cape Air passengers fly until October 2.
  2. Delta's waiver lets passengers change a flight to, from, or through Boston.
  3. JetBlue's waiver lets passengers change a flight without a change fee.
  4. The airline lets passengers pay extra for a better seat.
  5. American Airlines lets passengers in the waiver change their plans.
Answers

For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.

  1. Cape Air passengers can fly until October 2.
  2. Passengers can change a flight to, from, or through Boston.
  3. Passengers can change a flight without a change fee.
  4. Passengers can pay extra for a better seat.
  5. Passengers can change their plans.