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      18. Telephone Cheat Sheet
      19. Travelnomics UK

    4. Types of travel

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      14. Non-Skier’s Guide To Ski Resorts
      15. Nude Beaches
      16. Romance on a Shoestring
      17. Round the World Flights
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      19. Ski - Travel Tips and Guides
      20. Skiing Airports
      21. The Perfect Romantic Getaway
      22. Top Five Clubs
      23. Top Ten Diving Sites
      24. Unaccompanied Children
      25. Venice Carnival
      26. Weddings Abroad
      27. Winter Sun Escapes

Telephone Cheat Sheet

How to talk to a human

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 / BusinessPhone Number / WebsiteSteps to take to talk to a human
Aer Lingus0870 876 5000 / flyaerlingus.comPress 2 then 2 again
Air Berlin0870 738 8880 / airberlin.comYou’re put straight through
American Airlines08457 789 789 / aa.comStay on line and you will get through
bmi0870 607 0555 / flybmi.comHold through some information
bmibaby0871 224 0224 / bmibaby.comPress either 1 and they pick up, or 2 then 4 and wait for a long time
British Airways0870 850 9850 / britishairways.com Calls charged at national call rateHold and then wait to speak to an agent
easyJet0905 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 monthsDial number, listen to recorded message, just hold and wait for the agent to pick up
Emirates Airlines0870 243 2222 / emirates.comThey put you straight through
flybe09062 090 005 / flybe.com Calls cost £1.00 per minuteJust ring they put you straight through
flyglobespan0870 556 1522 / flyglobespan.comPress 2 then 2
Flythomascook.com0870 758 0205 / flythomascook.comHold briefly then press 6
Jet2.com08712 261 737 / jet2.comWait through information, then press 5, then hold
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines020 8750 9200/ klm.comStraight through to main switchboard
Monarch Airlines08700 40 50 40 / flymonarch.comPress 1
Ryanair0871 246 0000 / ryanair.com Calls cost 10p per minuteHold to speak to an operator
Singapore Airlines0844 800 2380 / singaporeair.comCall is answered by 1st available operator
Thomson flights0800 107 1517 / thomsonfly.comPut straight through
Thomsonfly0870 190 0737 / thomsonfly.comPress 5 then hold
Virgin Atlantic01293 562 345 / virgin-atlantic.comPut straight through

Top 20 Travel Companies:

Company / BusinessPhone Number / WebsiteSteps to take to talk to a human
Airline Network0870 700 0543 / airlinenetwork.co.ukThen press 3 then 4
Air Miles0870 557 7722 / airmiles.co.ukPress 1 then 5 then wait till they pick up
Argo0870 066 7070 / argo-holidays.comPress 1 then 2
Carnival Cruises02380 534 200 / carnival.comPress 2 then wait
Cosmos0870 443 5285 / cosmos.co.ukPress 1
eBookers0870 162 4066 / ebookers.co.ukPress 2
Expedia/Hotels.com0870 050 0808 / expedia.co.ukPress 1 then 4
First Choice0870 850 3999 / firstchoice.co.ukPress 3 then 1 then 4
Freedom Flights0870 163 3000 / freedomflights.co.ukHold the line and they will pick up
Hotel plan020 8780 4400/ hotelplan.co.ukStraight through to the switch board
Kosmar Holidays0871 700 0747 / kosmar.co.ukPress 8 then wait
Kuoni020 758 98959 / kuoni.co.ukThey pick up straight away
Last Minute0871 222 3200 / lastminute.comSay yes then wait
Libra Holidays0871 226 0446 / libraholidays.co.ukThey pick up straight away
My Travel/Going Places0870 2415 333 / mytravel.co.ukPress 1 then hold
Saga0130 377 1111 / saga.co.ukYou will be put through to the switch board and make your enquiries from there
STA Travel0870 163 0026 / statravel.co.ukPress 6 then 2 then hold and they will connect you
The Holiday Place0870 066 5270 / www.theholidayplace.comThey pick up straight away
Thomas Cook0870 750 5711 / thomascook.co.ukFollow the instructions, or press 1 then 2 then 2 then 6
Thomson Direct0870 550 2046 / Thomson.co.ukCall may be picked up straight away by operator, if defaults to recorded message press 2
Trail Finders020 7938 3939 / trailfinders.comThey pick up straight away
Travel Care0870 906 5813 / travelcare.co.ukPress 2

Top Hotel Companies:

Company / BusinessPhone Number / WebsiteSteps to take to talk to a human
Accor International0870 609 0961

Parent Company for
Ibis Hotels & Novotel
Short recorded message then operator
Best Western International0800 393 130 / bestwestern.comShort recorded message then operator
Carlson Hospitality Worldwide001 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 Corporation001 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 Inns0800 444444 / choicehotels.com
Parent Company Choice Hotels		Hold and get put through
Days Inn08000280 400/ daysinn.com
Part of Cendant Corporation		Straight through to the 1st available operator
De Vere Hotels01928 712111 / www.devereonline.co.uk/Main Switchboard
Hilton Hotels Corporation0870 590 9090Hold through short message, then put through
Holiday Inn0800 40 50 60 / www.ichotelsgroup.co.ukPress 2
Ibis Hotels0870 609 0961/ www.ibishotel.com
Part of the Accor Group
Short recorded message then operator
Inn Keepers Lodge0870 243 0500 / www.innkeeperslodge.comStraight through to the 1 st available operator
Inter-Continental Hotel Group08000289387/ ichotelsgroup.comYou’re put straight through
MacDonald Hotels0870 830 4812  / www.macdonald-hotels.co.ukHold the line and they will pick up
Malmaison Hotels0845 365 4247 / www.malmaison.comStraight through to the 1st available operator
Marriott International. Inc.0800221222 / www.marriott.co.ukHold the line and they will pick up
Moat House Hotels01708 730 522 / www.moathousehotels.com/Main Switchboard
Novotel0870 609 0961 / www.novotel.com
Part of the Accor Group		Short recorded message then operator
Premier Travel Inn0870 242 8000 / www.premiertravelinn.comAutomated message, just hold the line and will default to operator
Quality Inns0800 444444 / choicehotels.com
Parent Company Choice Hotels		Hold and get put through
Radisson Hotels00353 1706 0200 / Radisson.com
Part of Carlson Hospitality		You’re put straight through
Ramada08081000783 / ramada.co.uk
Part of Cendant Corporation		Straight through to the 1st available operator
Supranational Hotels02073570770 / snrhotels.comYou’re put straight through
Swallow0870 600 4666 / www.swallow-hotels.comYou’re put straight through
Thistle0800 181 716 / www.thistlehotels.comHold the line and they will pick up
Travelodge0870 085 0950 /travelodge.co.uk
Part of Cendant Corporation		Press 5
Wyndham International. Inc.001 800 9963 426 / wyndham.comShort recorded message to advise call is not toll free then straight through to the 1 st available operator
Youth Hostels Association0870 770 8868 / www.yha.org.ukPress 2, then press 1

 

© Cheapflights Ltd

 

Updated September 2008

Telephone Cheat Sheet photo

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