It is SO frustrating to called United and get someone overseas who I can't understand. The connection is usually always bad, I've been disconnected while on hold several times, been transferred to the wrong department, etc.. This has happened every time I've planned a trip over the past 5 years or so.
Is there a magic phone number that keeps the call in the US?
Have you tried the frequent flyer phone number?
Speak to them in their language.
The closest I got when I called United was from a call center located in Costa Rica.
Which was great since I was purchasing a United package trip to Costa Rica.
He gave me a lot of ideas too, it was an English line but we spoke in Spanish.
This doesn't answer your question, but I'm venting.
Not so long ago they had a call center in our town that they shut down, firing our friendly, local, competent, hoosier-speaking neighbors who were paid a whopping 8.50 an hour. So sorry for your frustration.
I might be able to muddle my way through Spanish but the reps I talk to are in India (or maybe the Philippines).
I'm on the west coast (comma), Cali (as opposed to Oregon or Washington state :)
I feel your pain. My company outsources IT help desk to India and I don't speak Hindi either. That's the way it works nowadays. Whichever offers the lowest price gets the job. I was surprised to learn that even in my own Italy they outsource call centers to Romania and Albania.
PS: Regarding your choice of location, writing "West Coast, California" to distinguish it from Oregon/Washington is redundant. "California" would be enough to indicate that you are from the West Coast, but not from Oregon or Washington.
Roberto - North America, USA (as opposed to Canada or Mexico :).
When airlines used to have ticket offices, I'd sometimes go there.
If you're not far from an airport, you might want to take a trip and speak to someone at the ticket counter. Try to go at a time when there aren't a lot of flights.
I was just going to post the same thing as Nancy regarding calling Delta for a United Question. Altho I always fly Delta I have not had much occasion to call CS but when I have it has been an understandable English speaker. Perhaps that is just a coincidence though.
To answer why you can understand the person at Delta/Air France/ KLM, it's because it's all one call center located in Atlanta. You do get a choice of English or French if you call the Air France number, however.
Cali does NOT exist. California does. There's no Frisco either, it's San Francisco says the native CALIFORNIAN. Oh and yes, the Land of La is real. Known as Los Angeles.
Claudia, are you saying that only you are allowed to use a nickname instead of a place's real name? :) And there is a Frisco in Texas. It's where my alma mater's football team played in the FCS national championship a couple of weeks ago.
Geez, why are people commenting on such stupid things as where we locate ourselves in our profile and that I spelled California 'Cali' for short cuz I was in a hurry? I'd rather read constructive comments regarding my question (which others have thankfully given).
I'm considering the suggestion of going to my local airport and booking directly with the ticket agent there but I wonder if they have access to the same info as a call center would have? I'm thinking yes but at our airport the United counter isn't always open for business.
Cali does exist, it's in Colombia.
The computer system they use at the airport is the same as the computer system they use at the call center.
They can both access the same information.
I second Sam's (first answer) suggestion. If you haven't done so already, you might have better luck trying contact thru their frequent flyer customer service team. I don't really know about United, but some of the best customer service I've encountered (of any vendor) has been the with the people at Ameican's Aadvantage program.
I called 1-800-UNITED-1 and spoke to a CR in the Philippines. The lady spoke very good English & the line was clear of static.
May you have a wonder trip!
Other Posters FYI . . . United charges if you use a customer representative ($25), or an airport agent ($35) to make reservations for you. There is no charge if you make the reservations yourself online. (Source: www.united.com)
I don't know if this would work for the US, but it usually does for Canadian companies. When you get a representative with frustratingly poor English skills, ask for a representative that speaks French, you'll be transferred to a different call centre, then request a rep that speaks English. Your call will usually remain within Canada at that point.
I have not tried this myself as I rarely call customer help lines, if I can avoid it. But I have heard from several sources that it works well, bonus if you speak French.
Being that United is a very large company that serves many different companies, they should different languages available.
