I have (and suspect that some of you) may be using your cellphones almost exclusively as your primary telephone contact method, especially while on the road.

Many of the airlines ask for contact telephone information so in the event of a delay or cancellation, they can contact you. They want numbers at your origination and at your destination (for return trip contact information).

Well, when I told USAirways to use my cellphone number as the contact information, the women blantly told me that since the area code on my cellphone was in Boston, and I was going to be in Los Angeles, they wouldn't call me! I was flabergasted...

Here, in this technology age, where I carry my cellphone with me all the time, they want a number at a local hotel instead. I tried to explain to her that my cellphone works anywhere in the USA, and that it is a sure way of getting in touch. She said that it didn't matter, the agent assumes that they can't get in touch with you because the area code that is listed is to geographically far away from the airport that you are leaving from!

Have any of you had similiar problems with other airlines? Talk about trying to do something good (ie: notification to the passenger about delay/cancels) but then not having sound princples in place to accomplish that fact!

It's bloody amazing how many problems you'd solve by giving cellphones their own special area codes...

I do this very think all the time with my preferred carrier (Canadian), and they don't bat an eye. I'd think it so common that they would experience it every day.

However, sometimes when I give other airlines the number, I get the response "Sir, I need a number where we can reach you in (destination city)." I then have to explain my cel phone (haven't they been around since the 80's?), to which they say "Oh, OK."

Regards,

Ken Hamer

Slightly off-topic:

Is there an (affordable) way to get a personal 1-800 number and link it to your cell phone ? That could be very useful, and solve this problem as well as other issues of people contacting me enroute.

Megamiles - Yes, I have done that very thing - connected an 800# to my cell phone. Basically, an 800# can connect to any telephone number.

There are literally hundreds of companies out there that can do this. Search around - you can find ones with no monthly fee and less than $0.10/minute call charges from anywhere in the USA. I did a Yahoo search and found this (but there are many, many more).

see: http://easycall.net/ld/#3

When I enrolled my cell phone (and others) in the MCI 25,000 mile offer, they give you a personal toll free number for your use on that line. No monthly fees but the rates are quite high. If you don't use it you don't pay anything. But it is handy to have if needed, but nothing to write home about.

Steve100- Did you ever think of getting a toll free number from one of the companies like ureach.com, which offer free limited service. You can receive a voice mail message and pick it up either as an e-mail or call in yourself to check. It's not a bad alternative and it works for me but I'm not a big cell phone type!

You don't really expect a small cap company like US Airways (new name, same old nonsense) to spring for 0.25 just because you spent $1000. for one of their tickets and they messed up, do you?

Doc, not sure where you are coming from here.... Here in the USA, yt doesn't cost the orignator of a call any more to call a cell phone versus a POTs (Plain Old Telephone) line. - it costs the user of the cellphone extra money to receive that call. (This isn't true in other parts of the world).

So, for example - If I am presently in Connecticut (my local airports are in NY & NJ - JFK, Laguardia, Newark), and their service center is in NYC, it is the same price for them to call my cell or my home number. Actually, they are probably calling out of their nationwide service center, which might be in WhoKnowsWhere, Middle America - so every call is a long distance call.

So, my choice of using a cell phone doesn't cost them one extra cent. It is simply an uneducated airline that isn't up to speed on technology and the benefits to them and their passengers... Afterall, a freq. flyer is extremely well matched with a heavy cell phone user because they are never at home.

[This message has been edited by steve100 (edited 06-04-99).]

Agreed. I realize it doesn't cost them, but they seem not to realize it! They also probably have some type of unlimited phone service deal. However, they want a number-period! What could possibly make them unhappy about a 1-800- or 1-877- number?

By the way I was aware of the more "normal" or traditional way for charges to/from cell phones in most non-US locations. I think its ridiculous to pay to take a call from some joker that you dont even want to talk to!

You know, I don't think it has anything to do with cost or $$$ at all.

The women explained to me that they look at the area code and if it isn't somewhat near the area code where you are 'supposed' to physically be present, they figure that they can't get in touch with you.

All they really need to do is add another field in their database that says Cell Phone Number. Viola! Then, the agents would know that you probably have that on you.

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

I don't have any phone but a cellphone any more. Never have had anyone bat an eye at that. (A piece of trivia for everyone--in big cities, cellular phone exchanges (the middle 3 numbers) are unique to cellular, but in small towns the exchange can be shared between cellular and landline, so there really isn't an easy way to tell.