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Long call wait / delay / hold times for AA phone lines (master thread)

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Old Feb 11, 2015, 7:54 am
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Last edit by: Prospero
AA operates non-status, Gold, Platinum and Platinum Pro combined call center as well as Executive Platinum, Concierge Key dedicated call centers.

Read on for alternatives

There can be several causes of lengthy call answering, among them irregular or off schedule operations (OSO / IROPS) caused by weather.

● Call wait times extend as OSO develop - storms, etc. particularly affecting hubs, which produce knock-on effects that may persist a day or two.

● You can see current AA travel policies: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInform...avelAlerts.jsp

● You can always check FlightStats current North America airport delays, for example, to see how things are - here.

● For other useful links, tools etc. see the wiki for AA OSO, IROPS / IRROPS, delay, cancelation etc. resources (master thread).

● Try using the AA Twitter team: @AmericanAir can help. Send them a request they follow you so you can send them DM (Direct Messages), then you can send them your AAdvantage number and EP status,which they can add to their profile on you. Then you can DM them privately with your PNR etc. (You must have a Twitter account.) This can be useful and rapid.

● At times like these AA may open their OSO (Off-Schedule Operations) desk to help inconvenienced travelers. 800-446-7834 is the number, and the desk is only staffed during severe OSO. (Please call only if your travel is disrupted, of course.)

● Others have called 1.800.222.2377 (web services) and had shorter response times.

● If you speak Castilian Spanish, Chinese Mandarin, Japanese or use a TDD, you may get faster attention; see numbers below.

● You can try calling non-USA numbers, listed here:

● bchandler42 reports "During weather events, the elite line will have the option to press 1 for the callback. I use that, longest I've ever waited was about 40 minutes which was accurate with the expected time it gave me."

● giblet called Thailand using Skype (2.3 cents a minute).

● There is one call-handling nexus, with prioritized lines for Gold, Platinum and Platinum Pro status holders, and separate Executive Platinum and Concierge Key "desks". Gold, Platinum and Platinum Pro callers are prioritized to be answered by the same agents that respond to non-status customers.


Code:
Telephone numbers for speakers of Castilian Spanish, Chinese Mandarin, Japanese:

English (Inglés)
1-800-433-7300
7 days a week

Japanese 1-800-237-0027
6:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. CT 7 days a week

Mandarin Chinese 1-800-492-8095
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. CT Mon - Fri
8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. CT Sat and Sun

Spanish 1-800-633-3711 7 días a la semana

TDD 1-800-543-1586
(for hearing impaired or deaf people /
para personas con discapacidad auditiva o del habla)
Link to archived previous posts in ARCHIVE: Long wait / delay / hold times for AA phone lines (2014) [/FONT]

"Transplanted from another post, for those affected overseas.

So many ways of calling AA directly; I'd try:

AT&T.
Smartphones that will automatically switch to using Internet for calls.
Skype 2 cents per minute), Google Hangouts or other VOIP services, including WiFi or Internet.

English 800-433-7300 24 hours, Daily

Japan +81 03-4333-7675

If you are calling from outside the U.S. or Canada, you may reach U.S. Reservations by using the following procedures. (Please note that the call is not toll free.)
  • Access the website http://www.business.att.com/bt/access.jsp. The site lists eligible countries and phone numbers.
  • Dial the AT&T access number provided on the website (it is different for each country).
  • An AT&T operator or English language voice prompt will ask for the telephone number you are calling. Dial 800-433-7300 for all American Airlines departments (except AAdvantage) or dial 800-882-8880 for the AAdvantage department.
  • After the tone, enter your regular AT&T Calling Card number (not the international number). You may also use the AT&T Corporate Calling card and many other U.S. local phone company cards. MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover/Novus or Diners Club cards can be used from many countries to place calls back to the U.S.
  • For assistance, press zero or stay on the line for an AT&T operator.
Also:

Originally Posted by Dr. HFH
I'm currently in BKK, and needed to talk to AA about my rezzy. I didn't want the local number which would be answered in who-knows-where, I wanted a direct US number. Looked around both AA.com and FT (which is how I found this thread). Found nothing particularly helpful or which worked. The back of my EXP card has only an 800 number for the U.S., no local DFW area number.

Eventually, I just dialed +1-800-xxx-xxxx, the regular 800 number on the back of my EXP card, the same way I dial regular, non-800 numbers from abroad. Voila!!! I was connected with the EXP desk, just as if I were in the U.S.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MODERATOR'S NOTE

There are several ways to contact AA's U.S. numbers by telephone from outside the U.S. & Canada:

1) Those with Skype, Google Hangouts or other VOIP internet phone providers may be able to dial various AA 800 numbers directly toll free. Direct dialing an 800 number from a landline or mobile phone overseas may or may not work, and will not be toll free.

2) Use AT&T World Traveler Service to access AA 800 numbers from overseas. Long distance charges will apply and can be paid using an AT&T Calling Card, AT&T Prepaid Phone Card, credit card, or via collect call. AAdvantage elite customers (GLD, PLT, EXP) can dial their elite 800 number using this service and AT&T's systems will recognize these numbers and put the call through without asking for a payment method.

3) Call the AMR Headquarters number at 1-817-963-1234 from any telephone. Either an operator or the IVR system can then connect you with the appropriate department.

In addition, AA provides local numbers in many countries here: Worldwide Reservations Phone Numbers

See also the AA Wiki for additional information: Contacting American Airlines

This thread was extracted from an outdated 2002 thread, and merged with recent posts on this topic.

dstan
AA Forum Co-Moderator
and

Link to USA airport delays (FlightAware)

Link to FlightAware “Misery Map” (graphic representation of troubles on a USA map)

Link to AA cancelled flights today (FlightAware)

Link to cancelled flights (today, to two days out - FlightAware)

Link to FT Original Routing Credit thread in cases of involuntary reroute

Link to archive of this thread, posts 2015-2019

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Long call wait / delay / hold times for AA phone lines (master thread)

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Old Mar 22, 2024, 3:00 pm
  #691  
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AAdvantage Exec Platinum, Hertz #1 Club Gold Five Star, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 2,039
First I've ever heard of this. I'm wondering if the agent hit the wrong button by mistake. It definitely isn't common.
GNRMatt is offline  
Old Mar 22, 2024, 3:21 pm
  #692  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Rolling Lakes Yacht Club
Posts: 4,985
Looks like the agent HUCA'ed you! Yikes!
ZenFlyer likes this.
DataPlumber is offline  
Old Mar 23, 2024, 3:13 pm
  #693  
 
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: GRR (RRRRRR)
Programs: AA Exp, Hyatt Globalist, DL Silv, Hilton Dim, Marriot Gld, Amex Plat
Posts: 111
EXP - Was quoted a 4+ hour wait time. I decided to stay on the line thinking that was only for call back. I was waiting for 4 hours and 56mins before someone picked up for EXP line. What IROPPS is going on?
JackIs is offline  
Old Mar 23, 2024, 3:38 pm
  #694  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: DCA/MIA
Programs: AA CK; UA 1P
Posts: 40
MIA was closed due to tornado warning.
senatestaffer is online now  
Old Mar 24, 2024, 3:22 pm
  #695  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Pacific Standard Time
Programs: AA EXP / CK
Posts: 136
Over 5 hours and still waiting for a CB (promised in 1hr). Assuming it's ORD IRROPS but this is nuts for the EXP line.
maat777 is offline  
Old Mar 24, 2024, 5:33 pm
  #696  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL / NYC / PSA-BLQ
Programs: AA PPRO, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,110
Originally Posted by maat777
Over 5 hours and still waiting for a CB (promised in 1hr). Assuming it's ORD IRROPS but this is nuts for the EXP line.
Similar. I was told 1:07 - 1:30 over 2 hours ago and still no call. Am trying to book an award flights that I had put on hold for my nephew. I was able to book the outbound online but it tells me that I need to call to book the return. If only AA IT would let one do more on the website...
JMN57 is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2024, 1:02 pm
  #697  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Pacific Standard Time
Programs: AA EXP / CK
Posts: 136
I tried again last night and got an EXP call back at the 2hr mark. They must have lost my first request.

Still, entirely unacceptable for EXP.

My call was 3 minutes when I finally spoke to them as it was quickly resolved.
maat777 is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2024, 1:10 pm
  #698  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT - 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz Precs Crcl
Posts: 2,213
Originally Posted by JackIs
Has this always been a thing or is this new? Before, I always thought GLD, P, and PP just had "priority" and EXP had their own line. My son has gold and I have EXP and I just saw this in his account.

Since when did Gold have their own number? Do Platinum and PP members see their own as well?
AFAIK, each level has always has it's own number - printed on the back of the cards back when they issued them. And maybe a decade ago it mattered. Now, you can even dial the CK line or EXP line and even though it identifies as that, you will only go to the queue of the advantage level of the person who is registered to the calling number in AA system. If not recognized, you hit the general group and the non-elite level.
Madison Guy is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2024, 2:22 pm
  #699  
 
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 949
I called EXP desk on Saturday and it was 4.5 hour call back. Was trying to route from ILM/MIA after twice engine failure on take off out of ILM to CLT (A320). GA said the best she could do was the next day ILM/DFW/MIA with DFW/MIA arriving 12:30 AM Monday. Finally got ahold of an EXP TA and refused to even look at options even though there were seats. In fact when I went to the airport on Sunday the ILM/CLT I was trying to get on and connect out of CLT instead showed 5 standbys cleared and 2 upgrades cleared. The EXP Desk has become totally useless.
EXP100 is offline  


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