DL's system asks for your Skymiles number and pin - I always assumed that if you didn't enter it you would be dumped from the system or routed to the regular line - I'll have to try it with one of my kids' numbers and see what happens!

Actually, you can skip entering the number on DL -- and thank goodness.

I've called the U.S.800 elite number from Europe using AT&T direct (or MCI WorldPhone).

Once you enter the "pound" sign in the Delta phone tree, it is picked up by AT&T as the signal for wanting to make a new call. Bye-bye Delta.

So, you can wait and eventually someone comes on the line (and asks you for your SkyMiles number )

The touch tone problem is also there if you are calling from a tone-free country (like Switzerland, for the most part) and don't have a tone generator handy.

I would think it's not a great idea for people to publish elite numbers, but it hardly seems like a cardinal sin. Besides, let's not overstate things here. While a few people at FT might pick it up and use it, it's not like publishing it in the Yellow Pages.

I don't like it when people get so uptight about the possibility of a small number of others "taking away" something they "earned," whether it's Platinum vs. Silver elite or Silver elite vs. no status. It's just petty.

Opus17:

A tip I learnt last time I was in the UK and Ireland - call the local DL office after hours and you'll be rerouted to the USA and you'll be speaking to an agent extremely quickly - no prompts; just straight through.

[This message has been edited by leroy11 (edited 07-16-2000).]

FQTV, I forgot do you have an opinion on this?
(actually I agree with you, but the gag was too good!)

And the sad part is that CO changes their Platinum number every year to try to reduce the number of people who shouldn't know the number. Unfortunately this means that for those of us who are recurring Platinum you need to learn a new phone number each year. American's EP desk does ask you to either speak your American AAdmiral's number (or touch type it in) into their VRU before you get a counselor (though if you say nothing you do get through).

For me, this is not an issue of protectionist grubbing - it's a matter of practicality.

If the elite hotlines were to become diluted into just another general reservations/service line for anyone to dial into, elites would rant and rave to have their own, once again.

But if the elites themselves are unwilling to, or incapable of, maintaining the integrity of their program benefits, at what point do the airlines declare that it's just a cost ineffective or impractical perk to offer?

Further, on the matter of practicality, I, for one, do not want to be stuck on permahold when there's a slew of cancellations or delays, and I want to get as quickly connected as possible to a live agent who knows s/he's there to provide enhanced service in getting me re-routed, whether that's to make a meeting, not have to sit in a lounge for 6 hours, avoid a bus or train ride, or to get home to loved ones.

Again, the next guy waiting in line to get re-routed in the midst of mass irregularities or to get on a standby flight, or on hold to get an upgraded seat, might just be you.

[This message has been edited by FQTV (edited 07-17-2000).]

I am proof of the danger of giving out Elite phone numbers:

I am CO Silver. I happen to have the Infinite Platinum Elite Phone Number, passed on to me by a very close friend.

I find that when I am told on the Silver line that "you hold time will be 7 minutes", I can call the Infinite Plat. number and get through to a live person almost immediately. The rep checks only that I am Elite before working with me. Is this cheating? Maybe. Would I want other people to have the number? Heck, no! Then my hold time for Silver Elite # would be 107 minutes and I would have to wait a long time on the Infinite line.

------------------

He who dies with the most miles, is dead.

No arguement here has convinced me yet that we should not ban posting of elite level numbers.

I'm not going to render an opinion on posting the numbers, but I do have a scenario to ponder. Numerous times I have been delayed in an airport with a colleague. I called my UA or AA Elite number and talked to customer service about rebooking me, then handed the phone to my partner who has no Elite status. Should he/she be hanging up first and calling the airline's main number?

Nah!

Craig6z..I know elites who have checked me in at their elite check-in line (Beckles did it for me at SAN, NJDavid checked me in at the President's Club.) I do the same for friends with my United PRemEx membership.
(I checked in Christine once at Heathrow and once at the RCC.)

In your case, I don't see a problem. You are the elite and you can say your friend is traveling with you. If there was a problem the reservationist would say something. I don't see a problem.

Give out elite #'s that's another issue.

I don't see a problem with checking in a non-elite member provided you are traveling together. For me, I do it infrequently, but when I do it is to get seats toghether. And then there's my wife...I just couldn't get away with popping to the elite check in and make her wait in the cattle turnstyles!

Ahh, situational ethics!

Situational ethics, preserving my marriage...potAto, potTOTo!