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  1. Travel Tips

    1. Bagging a bargain

      1. Airport Lounges
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      11. Guide to the Cheapflights Site
      12. Low Cost Airlines
      13. Shopping Abroad
      14. Shoulder Seasons
      15. Travelling in a Recession

    2. Before you go

      1. Airline facilities for flying with children
      2. Airline Food
      3. Backpacking
      4. Before You Go
      5. Credit card charges abroad
      6. Fear of Flying
      7. Flying with Pets
      8. Food from Around the World
      9. Guide to Getting into the United States
      10. How to Avoid Jet Lag
      11. Money saving ways of getting to the airport
      12. Packing Check List and Tips
      13. Staying healthy on vacation
      14. Taking flights in the US?
      15. The Web's Best Travel Blogs
      16. Travel Insurance
      17. Travel Sickness and DVT
      18. Travelling when Pregnant
      19. Travelling with Children
      20. Travelling with your iPhone
      21. Twitter For Travel
      22. WiFi access at Europe's busiest airports
      23. Wireless Access at UK and Irish Airports

    3. Facts about flying

      1. Air Pass
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      3. Airline In Flight Entertainment
      4. Airline Meals
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      6. Airport Amusements
      7. Carbon Emissions
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      9. Compensation
      10. Consumer Rights
      11. Customs
      12. eServices
      13. Glossary of Flying Terms
      14. Legroom Report
      15. Returning Home
      16. Scheduled and Charter Flights
      17. Special Assistance Services
      18. Telephone Cheat Sheet
      19. Travelnomics UK

    4. Types of travel

      1. Alternative Valentine’s Breaks
      2. Autumn Events Not To Be Missed
      3. Beach Holidays
      4. Business Travel
      5. Celebrating Christmas Abroad
      6. Disabled Travel
      7. Easter Breaks
      8. Europe's Best Christmas Markets
      9. Family Friendly Beaches
      10. Family Ski Resorts
      11. Getting Ready for Festival Travel
      12. Honeymoons
      13. Luxury Travel
      14. Non-Skier’s Guide To Ski Resorts
      15. Nude Beaches
      16. Romance on a Shoestring
      17. Round the World Flights
      18. Safari Holidays
      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 Lingus0871 718 5000 / flyaerlingus.comPress 2 then 1
Air Berlin0871 500 0737 / airberlin.comPut straight through
American Airlines0207 365 0777 / aa.comPut straight through
bmi0870 607 0555 / flybmi.comHold through some information
bmibaby0905 828 2828 / bmibaby.com (65p / minute)Put straight through
British Airways0844 493 0787 / britishairways.comHold and then wait to speak to an agent
easyJet0905 821 0905/ easyjet.co.uk (65p / minute)Hold and then wait to speak to an agent
Emirates Airlines0844 800 2777 / emirates.comPut straight through
flybe09062 090 005 / flybe.com (£1 / minute)Put straight through
Flythomascook.com0870 758 0205 / flythomascook.comPress 3 then 5
Jet2.com0906 302 0660 / jet2.com (50p / minute)Hold and then wait to speak to an agent
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines020 8750 9200/ klm.comStraight through to main switchboard
Monarch Airlines0871 940 5040 / flymonarch.comPress 1 then hold
Ryanair0871 246 0000 / ryanair.com (10p / minute)Press 4 then hold
Singapore Airlines0844 800 2380 / singaporeair.comPress 2 then 2 then 2 or 3
Thomson flights0800 107 1517 / thomsonfly.comHold and then wait to speak to an agent
Thomsonfly0871 231 4787 / thomsonfly.comPress 1 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 / netflights.comPress 1 then choose your country
Air Miles0844 493 3366 / airmiles.co.ukPress 1 then choose your country
Argo0870 066 7070 / argo-holidays.comPress 1 then 1
Cosmos0871 423 8422 / cosmos.co.ukPress 3 then hold
eBookers0871 223 5000 / ebookers.co.ukEnter booking details then 1 then 8
Expedia/Hotels.com0870 050 0808 / expedia.co.ukPress 2 then 1
First Choice0871 200 7799 / firstchoice.co.ukPress 2 then 5 then hold
Kuoni020 758 98959 / kuoni.co.ukThey pick up straight away
Last Minute0871 222 3200 / lastminute.comPress 1 then choose relevant department
Libra Holidays0871 226 0446 / libraholidays.co.ukThey pick up straight away
My Travel/Going Places0870 2415 333 / mytravel.co.ukPress 1 then 2 then hold
Saga0130 377 1111 / saga.co.ukYou will be put through to the switch board and make your enquiries from there
STA Travel0871 230 0040 / statravel.co.ukPress 4 then hold
The Holiday Place0870 066 5270 / www.theholidayplace.comThey pick up straight away
Thomas Cook0870 750 5711 / thomascook.co.ukPress 2 then 3 then 2
Thomson Direct0870 550 2046 / Thomson.co.ukPress 2 then hold
Trail Finders020 7938 3939 / trailfinders.comThey pick up straight away
Travel Care0800 707 6495 / co-operativetravel.co.ukPress 2 then hold
 

Top Hotel Companies:

Company / BusinessPhone Number / WebsiteSteps to take to talk to a human
Accor International0871 663 0624

Parent Company for
Ibis Hotels & Novotel
Put straight through
Best Western International0800 393 130 / bestwestern.comPut straight through
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
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 Hotels0845 375 2808 / www.devereonline.co.uk/Press 3 then hold
Hilton Hotels Corporation0870 590 9090Hold through short message, then put through
Holiday Inn0800 40 50 60 / www.ichotelsgroup.co.ukPress 2 then hold
Ibis Hotels0871 6630624 / www.ibishotel.com
Part of the Accor Group
Short recorded message then operator
Inn Keepers Lodge0870 243 0500 / www.innkeeperslodge.comStraight through to the 1st available operator
Inter-Continental Hotel Group0800 028 9387 / ichotelsgroup.comShort recorded message then operator
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.0800 221222 / www.marriott.co.ukPress 2 then hold
Moat House Hotels01708 730 522 / www.moathousehotels.com/Main Switchboard
Novotel0871 663 0624 / www.novotel.com
Part of the Accor Group		Put straight through
Premier Travel Inn0870 242 8000 / www.premiertravelinn.comPress 3 then hold
Quality Inns0800 444444 / choicehotels.com
Parent Company Choice Hotels		Hold and get put through
Radisson Hotels00353 1706 0200 / Radisson.com
Part of Carlson Hospitality		Hold and get put through
Ramada08081000783 / ramada.co.uk
Part of Cendant Corporation		Straight through to the 1st available operator
Supranational Hotels02073570770 / snrhotels.comYou’re put straight through
Swallow0843 050 2020 / www.swallow-hotels.comPress 6 then hold
Thistle0800 181 716 / www.thistle.comPress 5 for switchboard
Travelodge0871 984 8484 / travelodge.co.uk
Part of Cendant Corporation		Press 1 then 1
Wyndham Worldwide
001 972 915 7070 / wyndham.com
Parent Company for:		Straight through to the 1st available operator (USA office hours)
Days Inn
0800 0280 400 / daysinn.com		Straight through to the 1st available operator
Howard Johnson
001 800 446 4656 / hojo.com		Short recorded message then straight through to the 1st available operator
Knights Inn
001 800 843 5644 / knightsinn.com		Short recorded message then straight through to the 1st available operator.
Ramada Worldwide
0808 100 0783 / ramada.co.uk		Straight through to the 1st available operator
Travelodge
08719 848484 /travelodge.co.uk		Press 1 then hold
Wingate Inn
001 800 228 1000 / wingateinns.com		Straight through
Super 8 Motel
001 800 800 8000 / super8.com		Straight through
Youth Hostels Association01629 592 700 / www.yha.org.ukPress 4 then hold

 

© Cheapflights Ltd

 

Updated January 2010

Telephone Cheat Sheet photo

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