Telephone Cheat Sheet

Ever found it hard to speak to a human being when telephoning a company? Bored of listening to piped music and seemingly endless computer instructions?

The Cheapflights Team believes that very often, especially in the complex world of travel, we want to talk to a live human being. That is why we have compiled a Cheat Sheet to help you get to a real-live-person asap when calling a top travel company. (This was not our idea but copied from a similar list compiled by technology guru Paul English in the USA. Thought it would be helpful to have one this side of the Pond too!)

Top 20 Airlines:

Company / Business	Phone Number / Website	Steps to take to talk to a human
Aer Lingus	0870 876 5000 / flyaerlingus.com	Press 2 then 2 again
Air Berlin	0870 738 8880 / airberlin.com	You’re put straight through
American Airlines	08457 789 789 / aa.com	Stay on line and you will get through
bmi	0870 607 0555 / flybmi.com	Hold through some information
bmibaby	0871 224 0224 / bmibaby.com	Press either 1 and they pick up, or 2 then 4 and wait for a long time
British Airways	0870 850 9850 / britishairways.com Calls charged at national call rate	Hold and then wait to speak to an agent
easyJet	0905 821 0905/ easyjet.co.uk Calls cost 65p per minute, can only be used for making a new booking if flight departs within next 3 months	Dial number, listen to recorded message, just hold and wait for the agent to pick up
Emirates Airlines	0870 243 2222 / emirates.com	They put you straight through
flybe	09062 090 005 / flybe.com Calls cost £1.00 per minute	Just ring they put you straight through
flyglobespan	0870 556 1522 / flyglobespan.com	Press 2 then 2
Flythomascook.com	0870 758 0205 / flythomascook.com	Hold briefly then press 6
Jet2.com	08712 261 737 / jet2.com	Wait through information, then press 5, then hold
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines	020 8750 9200/ klm.com	Straight through to main switchboard
Monarch Airlines	08700 40 50 40 / flymonarch.com	Press 1
Ryanair	0871 246 0000 / ryanair.com Calls cost 10p per minute	Hold to speak to an operator
Singapore Airlines	0844 800 2380 / singaporeair.com	Call is answered by 1st available operator
Thomson flights	0800 107 1517 / thomsonfly.com	Put straight through
Thomsonfly	0870 190 0737 / thomsonfly.com	Press 5 then hold
Virgin Atlantic	01293 562 345 / virgin-atlantic.com	Put straight through

Top 20 Travel Companies:

Company / Business	Phone Number / Website	Steps to take to talk to a human
Airline Network	0870 700 0543 / airlinenetwork.co.uk	Then press 3 then 4
Air Miles	0870 557 7722 / airmiles.co.uk	Press 1 then 5 then wait till they pick up
Argo	0870 066 7070 / argo-holidays.com	Press 1 then 2
Carnival Cruises	02380 534 200 / carnival.com	Press 2 then wait
Cosmos	0870 443 5285 / cosmos.co.uk	Press 1
eBookers	0870 162 4066 / ebookers.co.uk	Press 2
Expedia/Hotels.com	0870 050 0808 / expedia.co.uk	Press 1 then 4
First Choice	0870 850 3999 / firstchoice.co.uk	Press 3 then 1 then 4
Freedom Flights	0870 163 3000 / freedomflights.co.uk	Hold the line and they will pick up
Hotel plan	020 8780 4400/ hotelplan.co.uk	Straight through to the switch board
Kosmar Holidays	0871 700 0747 / kosmar.co.uk	Press 8 then wait
Kuoni	020 758 98959 / kuoni.co.uk	They pick up straight away
Last Minute	0871 222 3200 / lastminute.com	Say yes then wait
Libra Holidays	0871 226 0446 / libraholidays.co.uk	They pick up straight away
My Travel/Going Places	0870 2415 333 / mytravel.co.uk	Press 1 then hold
Saga	0130 377 1111 / saga.co.uk	You will be put through to the switch board and make your enquiries from there
STA Travel	0870 163 0026 / statravel.co.uk	Press 6 then 2 then hold and they will connect you
The Holiday Place	0870 066 5270 / www.theholidayplace.com	They pick up straight away
Thomas Cook	0870 750 5711 / thomascook.co.uk	Follow the instructions, or press 1 then 2 then 2 then 6
Thomson Direct	0870 550 2046 / Thomson.co.uk	Call may be picked up straight away by operator, if defaults to recorded message press 2
Trail Finders	020 7938 3939 / trailfinders.com	They pick up straight away
Travel Care	0870 906 5813 / travelcare.co.uk	Press 2

Top Hotel Companies:

Company / Business	Phone Number / Website	Steps to take to talk to a human
Accor International	0870 609 0961 Parent Company for Ibis Hotels & Novotel	Short recorded message then operator
Best Western International	0800 393 130 / bestwestern.com	Short recorded message then operator
Carlson Hospitality Worldwide	001 402 501 5000 / carlson.com Parent Company for:	Straight through to Main Switchboard
	Regent International Hotels 001 310 275 5200 / regenthotels.com	Straight through
	Radisson Hotels & Resorts 00353 1706 0200 / Radisson.com	Straight through
	Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts 00353 1706 0200  / parkplaza.com	Straight through
	Country Inns & Suites By Carlson 00353 1706 0269 / countryinns.com	Straight through
	Park Inn 00353 1706 0200 / parkinn.com	Straight through
Cendant Corporation	001 800 854 7854 / cendant.com Parent Company for:
	Wyndham Worldwide 001 972 915 7070 / wyndham.com phones will only be answered during USAoffice hours	Straight through to the 1st available operator
	Days Inn 0800 0280 400 / daysinn.com	Straight through to the 1st available operator
	Howard Johnson 001 800 854 7854 / hojo.com	Short recorded message to advise call is not toll free then straight through to the 1st available operator
	Knights Inn 001 800 843 5644 / knightsinn.com	Short recorded message to advise call is not toll free then straight through to the 1st available operator.
	Ramada Worldwide 0808 100 0783 / ramada.co.uk	Straight through to the 1st available operator
	Travelodge 0870 085 0950 /travelodge.co.uk	Press 1
	Wingate Inn 001 800 228 1000 / wingateinns.com	Short recorded message to advise call is not toll free then straight through to the 1st available operator.
	Super 8 Motel 001 800 800 8000 / super8.com	Short recorded message to advise call is not toll free then straight through to the 1st available operator.
Comfort Inns	0800 444444 / choicehotels.com Parent Company Choice Hotels	Hold and get put through
Days Inn	08000280 400/ daysinn.com Part of Cendant Corporation	Straight through to the 1st available operator
De Vere Hotels	01928 712111 / www.devereonline.co.uk/	Main Switchboard
Hilton Hotels Corporation	0870 590 9090	Hold through short message, then put through
Holiday Inn	0800 40 50 60 / www.ichotelsgroup.co.uk	Press 2
Ibis Hotels	0870 609 0961/ www.ibishotel.com Part of the Accor Group	Short recorded message then operator
Inn Keepers Lodge	0870 243 0500 / www.innkeeperslodge.com	Straight through to the 1 st available operator
Inter-Continental Hotel Group	08000289387/ ichotelsgroup.com	You’re put straight through
MacDonald Hotels	0870 830 4812  / www.macdonald-hotels.co.uk	Hold the line and they will pick up
Malmaison Hotels	0845 365 4247 / www.malmaison.com	Straight through to the 1st available operator
Marriott International. Inc.	0800221222 / www.marriott.co.uk	Hold the line and they will pick up
Moat House Hotels	01708 730 522 / www.moathousehotels.com/	Main Switchboard
Novotel	0870 609 0961 / www.novotel.com Part of the Accor Group	Short recorded message then operator
Premier Travel Inn	0870 242 8000 / www.premiertravelinn.com	Automated message, just hold the line and will default to operator
Quality Inns	0800 444444 / choicehotels.com Parent Company Choice Hotels	Hold and get put through
Radisson Hotels	00353 1706 0200 / Radisson.com Part of Carlson Hospitality	You’re put straight through
Ramada	08081000783 / ramada.co.uk Part of Cendant Corporation	Straight through to the 1st available operator
Supranational Hotels	02073570770 / snrhotels.com	You’re put straight through
Swallow	0870 600 4666 / www.swallow-hotels.com	You’re put straight through
Thistle	0800 181 716 / www.thistlehotels.com	Hold the line and they will pick up
Travelodge	0870 085 0950 /travelodge.co.uk Part of Cendant Corporation	Press 5
Wyndham International. Inc.	001 800 9963 426 / wyndham.com	Short recorded message to advise call is not toll free then straight through to the 1 st available operator
Youth Hostels Association	0870 770 8868 / www.yha.org.uk	Press 2, then press 1

© Cheapflights Ltd

Updated September 2008