Scotland

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?

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	They connect you straight away
bmibaby	0870 264 2229 / 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 hold again through the different options
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
Excel Airways	0870 998 9898 / xl.com	Hold the line and 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 3 then 8
Flythomascook.com	0870 758 0205 / flythomascook.com	Press 3 then wait
Jet2.com	08712 261 737 / jet2.com	Press 5 then hold.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines	020 8750 9200/ klm.com	Straight through to main switchboard
Monarch Airlines	01582 556 332 / flymonarch.com	Hold the line and they will connect you
Ryanair	09062 705 656 / ryanair.com Calls cost 25p per minute	Just ring they put you straight through
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 460 7000 / argo-holidays.com	Press 1
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 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 / kosmarholidays.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 160 0599 / statravel.co.uk	Press 6 then 2 then hold and they will connect you.
The Holiday Place	020 7644 1770 / theholidayplace.co.uk	They pick up straight away.
Thomas Cook	0870 750 5711 / thomascook.co.uk	Press 1 then 2 then 5
Thomson	0870 550 2046 / Thomson.co.uk	Call may be picked up straight away by operator, if defaults to recorded message press 2
Trail Finders	020 793 71234 / trailfinders.com	They pick up straight away.
Travel Care	0870 906 5813 / travelcare.co.uk	Press 2