Called United from Beijing yesterday morning to reconfirm return flight. Used [the 800 1P number, the] only number I've used for years, programmed into my cell phone. Got a note on the screen that the call was being "forwarded" but within seconds got computer man giving me options of flight status, reservations, etc. Maybe it's the way my cell phone is set up but didn't add any other access codes. Just hit the speed dial.

Have tried in the past to call "local" numbers but found it a waste of time. Usually no answer at all or taped message.