Delta Sky Miles. ?How to get around the automatic service.

[DawnCt1]

In 8 days, I start calling just before midnight to secure seats to Hawaii exactly 331 days prior to departure. I have found now when I call, that I a faced with an automated system that asks for departure city, destination and dates of travel. Is there a way to bypass that and get right to an agent. I need to be speaking to someone at 12:01 in the EST zone or we won't get our tickets. of course, with Delta stock dropping below $1 yesterday, who knows. but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Usually when someone actually does answer I ask if they are in the Eastern time zone. If they aren't, I hang up and call back. Any suggestions are helpful. My miles are valid on other airlines too but I still have to book through Delta and they book through their computer, (at least two years ago it was like that) and they go by the 331 days out. Some airlines, Northwest I believe, book 365 days ahead.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Try it before hand but I am pretty sure you can bypass it by saying out loud "AGENT" every time the computer starts talking.

Good luck and have a fun trip!

 

[DawnCt1]

Try it before hand but I am pretty sure you can bypass it by saying out loud "AGENT" every time the computer starts talking.

Good luck and have a fun trip!

You are right! It took 12 seconds before it was transferred. It beat the 90 seconds of saying nothing and the 145 seconds of providing the information. Now if I can only get someone whose primary language is English, working midnight in the eastern time zone, I will be all set. I had gotton through to the agent after providing the dates (practice run) and she said to say nothing but that was the 90 second wait.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

You have to enter your pin before you can ticket the reservation so you will have to go thru the automatic system to complete the ticketing process. You can do it online as well.

 

[DawnCt1]

You have to enter your pin before you can ticket the reservation so you will have to go thru the automatic system to complete the ticketing process. You can do it online as well.

I need to make the reservation first. I can't do it on line because I need to book the outbound 331 days ahead, the return 18 days later and the connection the day afer that due to a time zone change. I can't get ticketed until all segments are booked. They will hold the first reservation for 10 days and then I can call at 9 days and ask for an extension. If I wait until the outbound and return are in the system, there will be no seats available.

 

[CarolA]

Agent doesn't work often (nor does cussing the DL voice)

As SOON as you hear the IDIOT VOICE push 9... That gets you to a numeric prompt... then press 4 for US reservations.. This is by far the fastest method....You don't have to enter your acct number and pin the agent can do that for you.


I complained LOUDLY to DL every time I called about that voice system. Technology at it's worst!!! Apparently due to complaints the 9 option was added.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

It always kills me too that if you do go thru the motions and enter your Skymiles number and PIN, most of the time the human voice asks you for it AGAIN anyway. Ugh.

"Agent" works for me on DL and AA automated systems all the time. I didn't know about "9" but I'll try that one next time too. Thanks for the tip!!

 

[CarolA]

Delta has the worst system. The problem is if there is ANY background noise it gets confused. So.. when you call from the airport all bets are off...

Delta seems to think that all calls will be made from quite offices where the caller has nothing better to do they fight with it's stupid system.

 

[DawnCt1]

Agent doesn't work often (nor does cussing the DL voice)

As SOON as you hear the IDIOT VOICE push 9... That gets you to a numeric prompt... then press 4 for US reservations.. This is by far the fastest method....You don't have to enter your acct number and pin the agent can do that for you.


I complained LOUDLY to DL every time I called about that voice system. Technology at it's worst!!! Apparently due to complaints the 9 option was added.

Which Delta number do you and should I use. I usually use the 1-800-221-1212 or is the 1-800-323-2323 number better? I tried 9 and then 4. The first time I didn't get connected although the voice prompt indicated I would. The next time I got forwarded in 12 seconds. About the same time as my"agent" experiment. I probably will do the 9 and the 4. Thanks.

 

[DawnCt1]

P.S. Can you spell OCD HERE?? I know, I know, guilty as charged.

 

[CarolA]

Not a clue on which number would be better. I have never done the 331 day thing... LOL! Good luck!

 

[BigTigger]

Here's the quick way through the Delta Automated system:

Domestic reservations: 9,4,#,Skymiles_number+pin

International Reservations: 9,5,3,#,Skymiles_number+pin

Automated Arrivals/Departures: 9,3

 

[clkelley]

What's all the big brewha for?? I usually use one or two Skymiles flights per year and I have always been able to get my flight online 6-7 months in advance for the SkySaver option. Of course, it's usually just one person, and I'm willing to take weird flights. Maybe that's the difference.

Carol

 

[CarolA]

What's all the big brewha for?? I usually use one or two Skymiles flights per year and I have always been able to get my flight online 6-7 months in advance for the SkySaver option. Of course, it's usually just one person, and I'm willing to take weird flights. Maybe that's the difference.

Carol

Actually for prime destinations this is not unusual. Hawaii is by far the HARDEST destination to get tickets for. It's the number one FF redemption spot and the airlines have VERY few tickets on each flight. I don't do this since I am fairly flexible, but just recently I checked for some Europe destiantions next Spring. (8 to 9 months out) and got very very few options.

 

[DawnCt1]

What's all the big brewha for?? I usually use one or two Skymiles flights per year and I have always been able to get my flight online 6-7 months in advance for the SkySaver option. Of course, it's usually just one person, and I'm willing to take weird flights. Maybe that's the difference.

Carol

Hawaii is tough and there are lots of Delta Sky Miles out there. Summer is a busy time in Hawaii. I usually book on odd days. I don't think most people leave for vacation on a Monday or Tuesday but we can. I am also looking for two first class seats in addition to three coach seats. On our last trip, DH "paid" for his first class seat but had to be in coach from Maui to LAX. That segment never came through. Even if only one segment in FC comes through, you will be debited all of the miles for FC. I found it was easier to get seats into HNL and fly out of Maui, than to fly into Maui. There are fewer flights.