heidelberg
Include Aer Lingus in the above statement. Their Irish '0818' number is a premium one. In America they use a '1800' freefone number. Why?
Because they can get away with it! Countless large companies in the UK (and, it seems, Eire) changed to premium rates and everyone dialled them. One reason is because the telephone numbering scheme in the UK is a dogs dinner and allows misunderstanding. You may with to look at, and contribute to:
www.saynoto0870.com
Also, in every European country except Sweden & Ireland, it is possible to contact them by email! Why has AL decided not to give the same email facility to its Swedish and Irish customers?
Because they have more customers there and the volume of emails will overload the numbers of staff that have been reduced to minimum to save money? Or am I just too cynical for my socks?
If only AL realised it they could get a lot more customers back from the likes of the Ryanair's of the LCC world if they were more user friendly. I think the time has come when many of us are prepared to pay a little extra for a more 'human' service and this includes AL providing all of its customers with a '1800' number for contact plus email.
Unfortuantely, all too many want to pay as little as possible and everyone is chasing FR down the slide.