Collect call to USA from Switzerland
Jun 16, 2017, 7:05 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
Wow, how refreshingly Retro! While I was a huge user of ATT USADirect up until the mid 1990's. I would say that the service somewhat faded with the advent of GSM telephony, the internet, the deregulation of Telecoms around the World, not to mention that ATT probably has changed composition ten times since then. I cannot recall the last time I made a collect call!
Dial 1141 for the international operator in Switzerland.
Dial 1141 for the international operator in Switzerland.
Using Google I found a page of special SWISSCOM numbers, 1141 is supposed to get an operator--but doesn't; 1181 is a valid "special number", but it is for assistance with Mobile issues.
Jun 17, 2017, 3:06 am
#32
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,580
Jun 17, 2017, 5:14 am
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
In the USA when I'm using my landline phone I NEVER in recent years have I had to contact a. VERIZON operator. About 8 years ago my landline phone had NO dial tone so I tried to call the OPERATOR to report the issue
So I could understand the front desk agent at my hotel when I asked how HE contacts a SWISSCOM operator: "I never have to contact an operator".
Line from ORIGINAL movie "Day The Earth Stood Still"
Secretary to boss "the power and PHONE lines are not working"
Boss to secretary "call the OPERATOR to report this issue..."
So I could understand the front desk agent at my hotel when I asked how HE contacts a SWISSCOM operator: "I never have to contact an operator".
Line from ORIGINAL movie "Day The Earth Stood Still"
Secretary to boss "the power and PHONE lines are not working"
Boss to secretary "call the OPERATOR to report this issue..."
Jun 17, 2017, 11:48 am
#34
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
During the old days, there used to be a way to reach a US-based AT&T operator while traveling overseas. This was useful before the days of cell phones and prepaid SIM cards. There may still be a way to do this, but I have not tried it in probably 10 years. It may be easier to figure out how to reach a US-based operator while you are in the US and before you leave the US on your next trip.
I doubt this is done anymore. What would be the point? Pretty much everyone has a mobile phone, and the charge would be a lot less than an operator-assisted international collect call.
Jun 17, 2017, 11:49 am
#35
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Jun 17, 2017, 1:25 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
AT&T used to give out cards which had local numbers across something like 100 countries to reach a US-based AT&T operator. When I was in my teens and travelling around the world I used it a good number of times ("standby Sir, I'm connecting you now" then "please proceed, you are now connected to your party.") I think I may have a few of these lying around in a storage box.
I doubt this is done anymore. What would be the point? Pretty much everyone has a mobile phone, and the charge would be a lot less than an operator-assisted international collect call.
I doubt this is done anymore. What would be the point? Pretty much everyone has a mobile phone, and the charge would be a lot less than an operator-assisted international collect call.
As I noted somewhere in this thread, American Airlines has an arrangement with AT&T, if I dial into AT&T direct TOLL FREE for say SWITZERLAND. 0-800-89-0011 they prompt me to enter a USA based phone number, if I dial AA I get connected WITHOUT having to pay--AA "picks up the tab"^
