Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!spool.mu.edu!telecom-request From: ehopper@attmail.com Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Airfone Charges Message-ID: Date: 16 May 91 15:15:04 GMT Article-I.D.: eecs.telecom11.365.6 Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Organization: TELECOM Digest Lines: 34 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 365, Message 6 of 10 A couple of points: First regarding the acceptance of AT&T Calling Cards by GTE AirFone and some surprise by one correspondent at that fact: AT&T & GTE announced that the AT&T Calling Card would be accepted some time ago with a fair amount of fanfare including advertising in in-flight and regular magazines. I recall an ad with an AT&T Calling Card that had sprouted wings. Second, with regard to Kath Mulholland's difficulty in finding a way to contact AirFone, a word in defense of GTE. Please keep in mind that big companies are segmented and that it is common for front line grunts to NOT have information on divisions other than their own. Should they? Perhaps. We have an 800 number within AT&T to call in order to attempt to find "who's in charge" of a particular area. Not everyone, unfortunately, has the presence of mind to use it. (No I can't tell you what it is, I am specifically prohibited from doing so. It is considered an "internal" number). While a perfect world would have every rep totally knowledgeable about every aspect of the business, I don't really think it is realistic. YOu wouldn't go wandering into a Chevy dealer to ask questions about EDS would you? Now with regard to a logical approach to things, if I had been confronted with Ms. Mullholland's problem, the logical approach to me would be to contact the airline. Additionally, I believe some printed materials in the plane (either ads for the phone in the in-flight rag or the dialing instruction card) contains a customer service number. Ed Hopper