Tips From an Airline Reservations Agent for Travelers Calling an Airline

1-800 Etiquette

I am an airline reservations agent for an international carrier.Like most airline employees, I don't know what weekends or holidays are.Some of you may say, "you airline employees have it easy, being able to fly to all those great places for just the tax."That's true, but while most travelers are sitting comfortably in their seats, waiting for the plane to take off, airline reservations agents, among others, are waiting patiently outside, hoping we'll get on that flight to Hawaii or Paris.Having said that, here are some tips, which we'll call Reservation toll free number etiquette 101.These "tips' not only go for calling domestic United States carriers, but international carriers as well.After all, a reservation agent is a reservation agent.Don't tell us how long you've been on hold, and then after you reach us, you don't have any information on your flight.This only makes the calls longer and you're making some other person, who does have their information wait on hold longer.Don't ask us to change your ticket and you don't have any ticket information.Bring your ticket to the phone with you, if you don't , you'll only have to make another call to us.Don't compare airlines.If you want a cheap fare from United Airlines or British Airways, don't call American or Virgin Atlantic.Some fares are not competitive.Also, don't compare the service you received from Cathay Pacific with the service from Singapore airlines.All airlines are different.International carriers do serve food, lots of it, but this doesn't mean that we are Burger King, and "you can have it your way."You won't get pizza, cheeseburgers, or hot dogs, nor will your children get Chicken Nuggets or Spaghetti with Meat Balls, especially if you are flying on Air India or Emirates.If you're flying First or Business Class and you call the 800 number, please do us a favor-act like you've sat there before.Don't ask why the airline doesn't provide you with everything that you can't buy at Victoria's Secret or Bed, Bath, and Beyond, like pajamas or slippers.Don't ask what kind of china your food will be served on or what kind of champagne or wine you will be served.We aren't Spago's or Red Lobster.Don't ask if the plane is a 747 or an Airbus 330. Unless you're a rocket scientist or airplanes are your hobby, you won't know the difference.Don't ask how long the flight is to Cairns or Osaka is.The flight is long enough and as long as you arrive safe and sound, what does it matter?Don't ask for the exit row if you want extra leg space.You won't get it if you're under 15, pregnant and especially if you came on the plane in a wheelchair.Above all, if you call, you don't have to know your record locator, but at least know the date you're flying and the flight number.Don't call to make a reservation and say, "I can fly the first week of August."We aren't flying, you are. Have those dates available for us.When you call, know where the airline flies.Hawaiian Airlines isn't going to take you to Buffalo or Charlotte.Reservation agents only make reservations for you.We are not CNN. We aren't going to tell you if it's safe to travel to Manila or if they are friendly to Americans in Singapore or Seoul, Korea.We aren't here to give you a geography lesson.Kuala Lumpur may sound like it, but it's NOT in Hawaii.We aren't the World Bank. We won't tell you how much money you can bring into London or what currency they use in Ho Chi Minh City.We can't tell you the time difference between JFK and Taiwan.Nor are we the Weather Channel.We aren't here to tell you when the rainy season will begin in Sri Lanka nor what the seasons are in Argentina or South Africa.We are not here to tell you whether people speak English in Myanmar or if the food is safe to eat in Dubai.Nor are we here to tell you whether the beaches are better in Bali than Phuket.None of these things are in our job description.What we can tell you is what documents you need to bring and what the fares are, plus provide you with the best service we can.We just ask that you be patient with us and HAPPY TRAVELS!