Continental Hold times 10x worse than United
Feb 6, 2012, 2:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: BER
Programs: United 1MM 1K, KLM/AF Plat, BA Gold, Marriott Plat
Posts: 273
Continental Hold times 10x worse than United
Hello,
Every time I need to be transferred to the Continental desk I'm on hold at least 10 minutes. Contrast that with United's 1K line were I'm usually talking to an agent right away.
Anybody else having this experience? Since I don't have a Continental Platinum card (am a 1K with status match) don't have a direct dial number to compare the response times.
EndlosLuft
Every time I need to be transferred to the Continental desk I'm on hold at least 10 minutes. Contrast that with United's 1K line were I'm usually talking to an agent right away.
Anybody else having this experience? Since I don't have a Continental Platinum card (am a 1K with status match) don't have a direct dial number to compare the response times.
EndlosLuft
Feb 6, 2012, 2:30 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,167
While it's not usually 10x longer for me, the difference is noticeable, both in trying to get reservations as well as the mileage service centers.
Feb 6, 2012, 2:37 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: ORD / DUB / LHR
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA Silver; Marriott Plat
Posts: 8,243
Feel free to send me a PM if you want the direct number that's on the Plat elite card you don't yet have 
Generally am connected in a few seconds on that number. I've rarely had to call the 1K line so I can't comment on how noticeable the difference is but it can't be much better than my experience calling CO.
Generally am connected in a few seconds on that number. I've rarely had to call the 1K line so I can't comment on how noticeable the difference is but it can't be much better than my experience calling CO.
Feb 6, 2012, 2:37 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Radisson Premium
Posts: 6,638
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)
Everyone's elite at Continental! :-)
Everyone's elite at Continental! :-)
Feb 6, 2012, 2:40 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ORD/SFO
Programs: UA 1K (pmua), Hhonors Gold
Posts: 51
You can find the priority elite phone number at http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...emberCard.aspx. I've only had to call once, but the wait time was 2-3 minutes, which is 2-3 minutes longer than I usually have to wait on the 1K line.
I suspect this is something that will matter less after March 3rd.
I suspect this is something that will matter less after March 3rd.
Last edited by mgaiman; Feb 6, 2012 at 2:41 pm Reason: OP is 1K/Plat
Feb 6, 2012, 2:52 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: UA Plat, 2MM
Posts: 1,860
I have the CO matching Platinum for 1K with UA and I agree, I always have a wait with CO. It is never long, just a minute or so, but it is different after the 1K at UA.
Feb 6, 2012, 3:05 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: PDX (wish I was in HNL)
Programs: Platinum
Posts: 1,687
Tried to upgrade a flight purchased on co.com, but the web sited wouldn't work. I called, got an oversea call center, then put on hold for 15-20 minutes. I was then transferred to the star alliance desk (US, I believe) because of a UA metal code share (!). Took about 30 minutes total.
I'll have to remember the elite line, UA automatically gets me the correct desk based on my MP number.
I'll have to remember the elite line, UA automatically gets me the correct desk based on my MP number.
Feb 6, 2012, 3:13 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: UA 1K 1.6 MM, AA EXP, SPG Gold, MARR Plat (Premier) Lifetime, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 117
I have had to wait over 5 minutes on CO (I am a 1K with CO match and hold the Platinum card).
Feb 6, 2012, 3:21 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K/MM, MC Life Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 722
The Pres Plat line works pretty well. 
As a 1K (Platinum match), I only have that number because of a computer glitch last month. I feel a little funny about using it, but the agents don't seem concerned and I figure that next month they'll give me some new 1K number.
Has anyone heard what the future plans are for the 1K call center? I'd be perfectly happy to stick with the one from PMUA, but that seems too much to hope for.
As a 1K (Platinum match), I only have that number because of a computer glitch last month. I feel a little funny about using it, but the agents don't seem concerned and I figure that next month they'll give me some new 1K number.Has anyone heard what the future plans are for the 1K call center? I'd be perfectly happy to stick with the one from PMUA, but that seems too much to hope for.
Feb 6, 2012, 4:11 pm
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
I waited 4 minutes the other day on the GS line. It happens some times. I've learned not to get so caught up on the little things and my life is much more pleasant. :-:
Feb 6, 2012, 4:26 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,893
Are you really getting help rather than a bewildered "how did you get this number"?
Feb 6, 2012, 4:44 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K/MM, MC Life Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 722
On the other hand, needed to call the CO refunds number recently and was on hold for an hour before I gave up and disputed it with my credit card company, which seems to be what CO wants you to do.
Yes, they've been helpful and quite pleasant. Not one of them even mentioned that I'm not Pres Plat.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Feb 6, 2012 at 5:26 pm Reason: merge
Feb 7, 2012, 8:10 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 4
29 minutes and still holding!
Just checking a future reservation and flight has been changed, so trying to get things settled with Platinum Elite desk.....31 minutes and still no answer! Just lots of invitations to visit the website!
Feb 7, 2012, 8:38 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP, AS MVPG
Posts: 226
The worst is if you call CO and have any need for supervisor and/or integration desk approval...there goes at least 20 minutes.
For years, I have made a habit of calling CO when I know I have at least 30 minutes so at least I can multitask...
For years, I have made a habit of calling CO when I know I have at least 30 minutes so at least I can multitask...
Feb 7, 2012, 9:14 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: MCO
Programs: UA1K/2MM; LT United Club; HH Diamond; MR LT Titanium; IHG Plat; National EE
Posts: 467
25 minutes and counting...
I'm on hold right now, calling to arrange an int'l UG w/miles & $, geez
For the last several weeks I've been having issues with the elite line like this
For the last several weeks I've been having issues with the elite line like this