when dealing with call centers of any kind i immediatly ask for a supervisor, it saves time headaches and hassels and remember to get the name of the person you are speaking with and their extension number.

That is why I book on the internet

Yes waterguy....i understand that.

Another thing we realized today after printing out our reservation is that all 4 names are spelled wrong.

The other 6 in our party made their own reservation and all of their names were spelled wrong.

also most airlines charge extra to purchase by phone

It's trouble with all companies. Credit card....airline...stores...etc...

Connie, go to Youtube and look at the music video "press 1 for english" my new favorite and a lot of others by the # of hits, it seems that most of our call centers are in India and they don't understand the American way of life! would like to hear reactions from you all on the song. Donna

Book online, we have never had problems and my husband flies to STT every month. Also, Delta and Continental are our favorites. U.S. Air still has our luggage from three years ago and American will cancel our flights out of San Juan pretty regularly. We shop online as well with no issues. We have fraud protection on our cards, but found the only time we had an issue is when we used our credit card over the phone (first use on a new card). We feel online is safer and less hassle.

Also, the more you use one airline the better the treatment...usually.

Teresa

No problems today with changing the names. Actually, I work with one of the girls who's going and we were laughing about it.

I still have a big problem with people not being able to speak English or understanding English with these airlines. It's frustrating.

One of the reasons we went with US Air was because it was a direct flight.

Teresa....it's terrible to lose your luggage. I still miss my favorite t shirts, shorts, etc. I'm sure somebody stole our luggage because I had a tag inside and outside with our address and phone numbers.

Just glad everything has worked out and we're going back.

One thing we do at our place of business when we have to call any large company is first ask where the person is located that we are speaking with. If it is plainly obvious that English is a challenge for the operator, we don't continue with them. We politely ask to be directed to a location in the US. Most companies are willing to do this for you no questions asked. If we can't be directed by them, we ask for another phone number that will get us someone in the US.
I also try very hard to avoid going through PR. They have a very very bad track record when it comes to luggage. There has only been one time I've gone through there and NOT lost my luggage. They have always gotten it back to me, but I live on St. John and it is a hassle to "retrieve" the found luggage. They have gotten better about the theft out of luggage though. That used to be very common, but it isn't heard of as much any more.

Actually most call centers located in India are staffed by college graduates who's primary language is...you guessed it...ENGLISH. Yes guys, most schools in India are English speaking. Those call center representatives often have a strong accent and are often bi or tri lingual, but they often speak better english than a lot of city kids in America. Unlike American kids, almost all kids in India speak two or more different languages.

I admit that occasionally you will get a rep who has a very heavy (difficult to understand) accent, but I find that true when trying to speak to a lot American kids as well. The move to off shore call centers is economic. India offers a vast highly educated english speaking, worker pool, who unfortunately (because of competition) are working for sub-standard wages.

It appears that we are experiencing a bit of xenophobia here.

the last time i landed here on st croix after a flight back from the states i had sombody else's small pocket video cam stuffed into one of the side pockets of my checked bag, it had to have happened in PR or here on st croix because the pics were of cane bay beach and hills.

lol xenophobia? PLEASE. I have had the hardest times lately trying to get airline tickets confirmed and dealing with cell phone issues with Sprint, because I can't understand a single person. So in turn, I ask to speak to a supervisor because I cannot understand them, and you know what they do? Either hang up on me or send me back to the main prompter. That is not right, when I'm spending my hard earned cash, I deserve to have someone who I can UNDERSTAND. It is not xenophobia, and I think it's disgusting and sad that people bring that up.

umm native son after working here with local men and women on a daily basis for many years i even have a hard time understanding them speak alot of the time, if i pick up every third word or so i generally get the gist of the conversation,as far as call centers go when using a cell phone conversation is difficult at best because of the crappy service here.

Xenophobia? That's not true at all...just tired of trying to get a phone call done and everything today seems to be a problem, especially language barriers. I'm actually surprised when I get someone who speaks English when I make a call. It's as simple as that.

These companies try to save mone by moving call centers out of the country and in turn, they lay off people in the states. It's all about money.

It is COMPLETELY about money. And if the "CSR'S" I have personally talked to in outsourced call centers are THAT well versed in English, then maybe I need a refresher course.

The Social Security Administration outsources call centers to India. Now do tell.........someone who has probably never been to the United States.................can hardly speak a word of English, let alone explain the machinations of the SSA........................

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmm..................

I get it..........................$$$$$

Problem is the call centers are in India & they work out of their homes. This no supervisor if you ask for one they say hold on & come back sounding a bit different but same person

bjm: have to disagree a bit on that one where you say they work out of their homes. HBO recently aired a very interesting documentary on Indian call centers run by American companies. It was truly an eye-opener and followed the daily lives of half a dozen of the call center employees.

Out-sourcing has become big business for American companies. Try and locate/catch that programme if you can. Cheers!

Could be but the ones I dealt with was working out of their homes. How could I tell kids & babies crying in background & when I asked they said yes they were at their homes working but maybe I just get the ones working out of the homes. Still what we pay for tickets & the jobs needed here in the states it should be located in the states. JMHO