5 Tips For Navigating Airline Reservation Lines
Although I prefer to do most of my travel research and actual booking online, there are occasions when a direct call to the airline or hotel reservation center is desired.
Here are five tips that will help you reduce the annoyance factor, and make the phone process more efficient and courteous:
- Place your call at a non-peak time. Late nights are always a good time to call; late night defined as any time after 8 pm. If you must call during the day, mid-day during the week is the next slowest call period.
- If a breaking news story about your airline or destination is occurring, place your routine calls at another time. (For example, during Hurricane Katrina it would have been time wasting to try to get to an airline or hotel about your New Orleans stay six months down the road.) Let critical situations play out, then place routine phone calls; you’ll get more efficient and courteous service.
- If you don’t know exactly what you need, and just what to do a little research for some future travel plans, let the agent you are speaking with know this right up front, and then ask if they have time to check some things for you. I use this frequently and have never been told no. On the other hand, most agents are evaluated timed by how long they are on a call and what kind of booking results they achieve, so if you get someone who is under the gun to produce, this allows them to suggest that you call back. It helps you get better service, and helps them keep their job.
- Don’t be a know it all. If what you are told doesn’t seem right, don’t become belligerent or abusive. Politely point out how that doesn’t match up with what you were expecting, and ask if the agent could check again. Sometimes a minor change or misunderstanding can result in different information. Mistakes can, and do, happen ““ on both ends of the phone line.
- If the discussion is centered on the quoted price, ask if it’s the best available. I sometimes phrase this: “Wow! I didn’t think it would be that high. Is that the best you can do?” Sometimes the agent can find another discount that might apply. Just don’t get upset if that really is the best price available.
The common thread seems to be manners. You never lose when you treat people courteously.
Tags: airfare, airlines, travelRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Air Travel
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