Do we not know what "contact" numbers mean??? The airlines should accept our contact phone numbers at face value, plain and simple! They ask us for a contact number for our departure and destination cities and even if they are not "local" numbers, they should not play judge, jury, and at times executioner!!! They're wasting their time and ours, time better spent on serving the next passenger, thus cutting down the "on-hold" time and/or the waiting time.

I would think that in these modern, technologically advanced times, airline personnel would realize we have numerous phone options available to us -- voice mail that immediately pages us, call forwarding, even remote call forwarding that allows us to program (from any touch-tone phone in the world) our "contact" phone to be forwarded to our current (phone) location.

The toll free (800/888/877) cell phone number is a great idea, I've used one for some time. Most all the carriers offer it and you simply designate that you want it to terminate on your local cell phone number. Prices do vary quite a bit, so it's important to shop around.

I know the airlines mean well, I just hope they're ready for the next millenium. Excellent topic, steve100. Thank you.

MRLIMO