mert wrote on Feb 5
th, 2010 at 10:27am:
You don't mention Flybe. They have 0871 numbers charged at 10p per minute. As you have to hold on for at least 20 minutes (I have had to wait 50 minutes to change a flight) this mounts up. I tried using the numbers listed on "Saynoto0870" (01392 268529 for instance) only to get the same recorded announcement saying calls would be charged at 10p per minute. How can they do this with an 01 number?
This "Hall of Shame" is intended for companies changing their numbers and I don't know what Flybe used to use. I know that a number of the airlines, including the folded FlyGlobespan use(d) 0871 numbers.
On the subject of the message about being charged at 10 pence per minute, don't worry about that; you will be charged as per a call to a geographic number.
What happens is the 0871 points (or diverts if you like) to a geographic number. That number has the recording on of the call rate so when you ring the 0871 number, it tells you the cost. So if you ring it directly, you will still hear the message even though it doesn't actually apply.
The fact that it does tell you the price suggests strongly that it gets to the same place as ringing the 0871 number, which is what listing the alternative is about.