Epic Disgrace by AA on 2/26 AA126 HKG-DFW diversion to HND
Feb 27, 2019, 9:11 pm
#76
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
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This is with a Caveat and a big one as well as we learned about this when we really needed it.
The Collect Call number often can only work with a LAND LINE based phone. With many hotels these days go VoIP for the guest rooms, the Collect Call Number does NOT work!
We had one such occasion needed the service and at the end, Hilton FCO used its phone at the check in counter to call the bank on our behalf. Then we learned about what was required to successfully make Collect Calls.
We had another incident in a London hotel - the whole hotel was on VoIP - the in-house telecommunication engineer apologized that there was no way to make a collect call to US.
Some banks phone reps know about this and would give reminders when you give Travel Notice to them. Though a good portion of the phone reps have no clue about this requirement.
The Collect Call number often can only work with a LAND LINE based phone. With many hotels these days go VoIP for the guest rooms, the Collect Call Number does NOT work!
We had one such occasion needed the service and at the end, Hilton FCO used its phone at the check in counter to call the bank on our behalf. Then we learned about what was required to successfully make Collect Calls.
We had another incident in a London hotel - the whole hotel was on VoIP - the in-house telecommunication engineer apologized that there was no way to make a collect call to US.
Some banks phone reps know about this and would give reminders when you give Travel Notice to them. Though a good portion of the phone reps have no clue about this requirement.
Feb 28, 2019, 9:02 am
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
Not the Radisson Blu Edwardian Vanderbilt in London when we asked. They insisted they could not connect to AT&T (the global service or whatever the name is called these days.)
Hilton FCO simply placed a regular call to Chase and handed the phone to us.
Feb 28, 2019, 10:24 am
#78
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 134
Happy, that's...interesting. I think the thing others are reacting to is that you kind of made it a recommendation, instead of "hey this is how I operate." Personally I only travel with a single Timbuktu Command backpack (just barely fits in the overhead bin of an Embraer ERJ-145 regional) and I can live out of that thing indefinitely. But I certainly wouldn't offer that as generic advice...I make some tradeoffs to roll that light. Definitely never hand wash anything though!
Feb 28, 2019, 10:25 am
#79
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 134
After landing, seems like most had received an apologetic letter and 15,000 miles (ymmv).
What is appropriate in this situation?
- 27 hour delay
- 4 hours on plane with no service (drinking water, food, or otherwise)
- 1 hour + with no running water or restrooms that could be flushed.
- hotel paid by airline
- limited personal out of pocket expenses
- use of SWU to go to first but HND-DFW was J amenities since HND doesn’t support F. No bedding, pajamas, amenity kit, J menu, J wines.
What is appropriate in this situation?
- 27 hour delay
- 4 hours on plane with no service (drinking water, food, or otherwise)
- 1 hour + with no running water or restrooms that could be flushed.
- hotel paid by airline
- limited personal out of pocket expenses
- use of SWU to go to first but HND-DFW was J amenities since HND doesn’t support F. No bedding, pajamas, amenity kit, J menu, J wines.
Feb 28, 2019, 11:13 am
#80
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
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Posts: 8,315
I did it on my cell phone from London last fall(think I got help from Verizon to do it). Maybe it’s country specific, but I have always been able to reach Verizon help from abroad (my carrier).
Feb 28, 2019, 11:53 am
#81
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Jose, CA
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Posts: 283
Feb 28, 2019, 11:00 pm
#82
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
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https://www.att.com/media/att/2012/s...pleteGuide.pdf
Feb 28, 2019, 11:25 pm
#83
Join Date: May 2006
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Posts: 2,910
I've stayed in a hotel in HK where they charged HK$5 just to make these "800" calls (9-digit toll-free number in HK). Local calls were included free for that room rate.
Mar 1, 2019, 12:14 am
#84
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFO, CLT
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Posts: 1,395
Mar 1, 2019, 9:06 am
#87
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SAN
Programs: AA CK, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 839
Actually the longer trip you do, the more likely you DONT check bags - because it is much more practical to use laundry services than carry lots of clothes for the duration. When staying at reasonably good hotels, you have lots of fluffy towels that can do a lot of good for your handwashed small / light weight items. Heavy duty stuff such as jeans, send them out for cleaning or find a service
Mar 1, 2019, 9:48 am
#88
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
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The relevant AT&T service is called USA Direct. They provide a local or toll free access number in most countries. You dial the local access number, and then you have direct access to the AT&T system. You can then place a collect call, calling card call, or get an AT&T operator for assistance. It completely bypasses local operators and whatever the local system is for collect calls. As far as the hotel is concerned, it's a local or domestic toll free call, so whether or not their phone provider supports collect calls is not relevant.
https://www.att.com/media/att/2012/s...pleteGuide.pdf
https://www.att.com/media/att/2012/s...pleteGuide.pdf
) payphones* still exist, but you can't always connect (even though TOLL FREE) into the AT&T network.About two years ago I was staying at Hilton in Zurich and wanted to make a collect call to my bank in the USA, I asked the front desk agent how they contact their phone systems Operator, his response was he NEVER has to--from my recollection I've NEVER had to contact one in the USA in the last 20 years either.
*A few years ago my cellphone needed a charge and I had to call a local parking company for a p/u at JFK, after going through T8 at JFK looking for a payphone, nearly all were disconnected, I found one
but a 3 minute local call was $20
Mar 1, 2019, 7:32 pm
#90
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